Little John Meets Robin Hood
contributed by Deborah Purganon

http://www.benturner.com/robinhood/


Anyone seeing John Little immediately wondered
how he could ever have gotten his name, for
John Little was a giant.  Built like the mighty
oaks in the nearby forest, he towered over his
neighbors.  He was tall and strong, which belied
his gentle nature.  He used his strength to care
for the weak, such as the sheep he tended.  John
was a shepherd by trade.  Many a day one could
see him in his pasture, staff in hand guarding
and guiding his sheep.  But life was hard, or else
it was made hard by the Sheriff of Nottingham.
The high taxes were hard enough but the Sheriff
also began claiming the land, and thus the peoples'
livelihoods for the aristocrats used.  Land was
needed for war as well as for game hunting.  As a
result, John could no longer live his shepherd's
life.  He left his trade and headed for the nearby 
town in hopes of finding work.  But to do so he
would have to journey through the forest where many
dangerous outlaws lay.  However John was not afraid
and he set off taking only the clothes on his back
and his shepherd's staff.  Somewhere along his journey
he came to a ford.  Noting only the rushing waters
below he did not see that another was also crossing.
This posed a problem as the log lying across the
river allowed only one to pass at a time.

"Excuse me, gentle sir," said the man dressed in
green, "but as I was upon this log before you, you
must get thee back and allow me to cross first."  John,
wary that this may be one of the highwaymen he was warned
about, stopped to think.  If he were to turn his back
to go back he would subject himself to an attack.  Besides,
HE was the first to attempt a crossing (wasn't he?).  After
all, he did not see the man in green when he first
arrived (did he?).

So in reply, John said, "Nay, good sir.  I believe
it was I who was first.  You must go back."  The man
in green was not pleased, which was evident by
his frown.

"I will not."

"Well then if neither of us will go back then
we both must go forward."  The man in green raised
an eyebrow. "It only remains to be seen," said John, "of
who will reach the other side without falling into the
river."  With that John moved forward brandishing his
staff.  The other, also possessing a staff, advanced
as well and they began to spar.  John was a bit surprised
at the man's ability with the staff, but it was still no
match and John sent the man into the waters below.  He
then traversed the rest of the log, and once across, he
fished the man out of the river.  John was surprised
to see the man laughing.

"How can this be, that you send me a-ducking into
these waters and then pull me out?" said the man, his eyes
twinkling.  "I've misjudged you..."

"John.  John Little," supplied a grinning John.

"John Little?!  Nay, thy name is Little John!"

"And you?"

"My name is Robin..."

And so a new friendship was born, and Little John soon
had a new home...