LITTLE JOHN: Methinks I see the flash of steel adown the forest glades.

ROBIN HOOD: Yes, yes, of a surety here he comes! Little John, Will Scarlett, Allan-a-Dale, run and greet him

for me.

RICHARD LEA rides up with a richly dressed band of attendants and several pack-horses loaded with bundles.

ROBIN HOOD: (Coming forward and seizing SIR RICHARD by the hand) Welcome, welcome to Sherwood, Sir Richard! SIR RICHARD: Ah, Robin, 'tis good once more to see thee. (Gets down off his horse.)

ROBIN HOOD: But how, now! Methinks thou art a gayer bird than when I saw thee last.

SIR RICHARD: Yes, thanks to thee, good Robin. But for thee I should be a homeless wanderer. But I have kept my word and have brought back the money thou did'st lend me. (Takes a leather bag from one of his men.) Here, Robin, are the four hundred pounds that thou did'st lend

me.

ROBIN HOOD: Sir Richard, it would please me best if thou would'st keep the money as a gift.

SIR RICHARD: I thank thee, Robin, but do not feel hurt if I take it not. Gladly I borrowed it of thee, but I cannot take it as a gift.

ROBIN HOOD: So be it then. Here, Little John, take the money and put it into our treasury. Never was loan more wisely used.

SIR RICHARD: And now, dear Robin, I have some gifts for thee. (To attendants.) Open the packs. Here are tenscore bows of finest Spanish yew all burnished till they shine again. And here are tenscore leathern quivers embroidered with golden thread, and in each quiver a score of arrows with burnished heads and feathered with peacock's plumes. And now, Robin, for thee I have this bow and quiver all adorned with gold. Take these gifts and with them my heartfelt thanks for all thy kindness.

ROBIN HOOD'S MEN: Hurrah! Hurrah! for Sir Richard Lea! Hurrah for the noble knight!

ROBIN HOOD: Words fail me, Sir Richard, when I try to thank thee. "Twere best we now sit down and break our fast. And while we feast thou can'st tell me all the news. Come, Allan-a-Dale, give us a song!

ALLAN-A-DALE: (Sings)

"Under the greenwood tree,

What folks so gay as we,
In rain or shine,

Rough days or fine,

Time passes merrily.

CHORUS: "For we are Robin Hood's merry men all

Merry men all, merry men all;
Ready to answer his every call,
Under the greenwood tree."

R. H. BOWLES.

THE AMERICAN FLAG

When Freedom from her mountain height
Unfurled her standard to the air,

She tore the azure robe of night

And set the stars of glory there.
She mingled with its gorgeous dyes
The milky baldric of the skies,

And striped its pure, celestial white
With streakings of the morning light;
Then, from his mansion in the sun,
She called her eagle bearer down,
And gave into his mighty hand

The symbol of her chosen land!

Flag of the free heart's hope and home!
By angel hands to valor giv'n,

Thy stars have lit the welkin dome,

And all thy hues were born in heav'n.

Forever float that standard sheet!

Where breathes the foe but falls before us,

With Freedom's soil beneath our feet,

And Freedom's banner streaming o'er us?

JOSEPH RODMAN DRAKE.

UNCLE SAM AS A FLAGMAKER

Did you ever see a fleet of Uncle Sam's war-ships steaming into harbor? If not, you have missed a thrilling sight. The mighty battleships come first, ploughing majestically through the water, like floating forts, with long wickedlooking cannon projecting from their turrets. The rakish destroyers glide swiftly after them, their bows buried in spray. Low-lying submarines, their decks awash, their slender periscopes and tall wireless masts seeming to rise almost out of the sea, follow in line. Then there are other craft of various kinds-gunboats, despatch-boats, repairships, perhaps even an old-fashioned monitor or two, following in the train of the bigger and more dangerous fightingships.

66

Perhaps you have even gone on board one of our big 'dreadnaughts. At any rate, you have watched them from the shore and wondered at them. You have heard the bands playing in the distance or listened to the notes of the bugle ringing sweetly over the water, calling the jackies to their various duties.

Perhaps you have seen the fleet when the President or the Secretary of the Navy has come from Washington to pay it a formal visit. Then what a display of flags there was! From the great

military masts of the battleships

lines seemed to run to every part of the ships, and from

these lines hung flags of all colors and sizes. It was a glorious sight!

But did you ever think where the flags all come from? Probably not. Those same flags, however, that you see flaunting by the hundred from the masts of Uncle Sam's ships were all designed and made in Uncle Sam's own workshops. Uncle Sam himself is the big flagmaker of this country.

If you should get a pass and go over to the Brooklyn Navy Yard you would find the place where all these flags are made. Here are dozens of expert needlewomen busy making flags of all colors and sizes for the many ships in our navy, ranging from the mightiest battleship down to the tiniest launch.

The business has to be a big one, for every one of our ships has to carry constantly on board about four hundred flags. Perhaps half of these are for signal purposes and the rest for decoration or ordinary use. A great many are needed, so that the proper naval etiquette may be observed. For example, when the President comes on board, his flag is raised over the ship he visits; and when any distinguished official visits a ship, certain flags are raised as a mark of respect. When, also, one of our ships enters the harbor of a foreign country, the flag of that country must be raised at the forepeak. Think what this means! The flag of every nation in the world must be carried in the storeroom of every one of our big ships.

Some of these flags are elaborate, and call for very