The Plymouth pilot. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1851-1852, 1851-07-02
Who TOlled the Bell aud Run away with thl
Parsons Horse.
BY WILLIAM STANLEY.

Do you see that church, little to the
right of those trees yonder. with its anti
qua;ed spires, pointing up to Heaven?
Silent but eloquent monitors, directing
us to the way we should turn our
thoughts? But how little do we heed
their admonition The sight of the old
church recalls wildly to mind scene
which | witnessed there when | was but
thoughtless careless boy ere the sands
Of time had silvered my once flaxen hair.
But was speaking of the old church,
and Of one of the thousand associations
which cluster around that ancient and
ha allowed edifice. Next to il, on the
same side of the way, is large house of
more modern style. it was occupied at
the time of which | am speaking, by a
worthy man named Blake, who had two
boys Hiram and John, both as perfect
scamps, as ever escaped the halter; and if
there was any mischief TO be done in the
town, they were sure 10 have hand in
it.
Hiram was noted in the village for his
courage; nothing could daunt him in the
least--he would 60 any where, and at any
time, night or day Not so with John;
he was known to be as great coward as
the other was hero. but notwithstand-
ing this, he would follow him in all that
he did, believing himself perfectly safe
when under his protection. 1t so hap
pened that the boys procured a copy of
the "Three Spaniards,' and were deter
|
meeting for the purpose of reading it. but
all in vain, 60 they must and go they did,
but not without making up their minds
TO be revenged.
That night at twelve o'clock, Hiram
took ball of twine, got into one the
church windows, and proceeded to the
belfry, then made slipnoose around the
tongue of the bell, so that he could re-
move it at pleasure. This accomplished
he threw down the ball, and then de-
scended, leaving the church by the same
way he entered il; he then passed it to
John, who was waiting to receive it,
This done he proceeded to his own room
and then the music began ding dong,
ding. went the old bell. in rapid success
sion, for about three minutes, then all
was still for the same period of time
Then followed long succession of rings.
| BY this time Deacon Davis, who lived on
the opposite side of the way, was up
looking out of the window to ascertain
the cause of The trouble, but all was qui-
ct; so after listening few moments he
closed his window and retired again to
bed.
Now the deacon was one Of those men
who would sometimes, (if not always)
take the best side of bargain, and it
had been limited in the village, that he
had rather Cver-reached one widow Wig
gins. in the purchase Of lot of land,
which she had, in her faith in his piety
trusted him to survey; but it fell short
one sixth Of a former measurement; but
he was a church member and must be
right, and Eone dared to dispute it; so
the deacon paid the widow two hundred
and fifty dollars and put the other fifty
in his pocket.
But to re turn. the deacon had scarcely
got into dose, before the bell played the
same old tune, this brought him to his
stumps again, b. this time several of the
neighbors had got up. and were gathered
around the church TO ascertain the cause
of this unusual tollirg of the bell; at this
juneture, orc of the bravost of the party
attempted to open the door, but it was
| locked.
This was soon overcome, however. by
the timely arrival of the deacon with the
keys; the door was unlocked, and on en-
tering the porch. the bell rope was found
hanging motionless, yet the bell contin
ued TO strike in rapid succession, This
was unaccountable; soon a superstitious
awe fell on all present, and no one could
be found with sufficient courage to as
cend to the belfry. At this crisis Blake
who was present volunteered TO have his
his boy go up; to this all readily agreed,
knowing the boys daring. Hiram was
soon called, and soon on the spot, when
the deacon in sanctifed manner, asked
him if he would take the bible and go up
into the belfry and see what the matter
was. The boy replied that he was will
ling to 60, but he did not want TO take
the book; so he was permitted to 60
without it. ] a few minutes he return
ed in great haste.
well. Hiram, said the deacon, what
is the matter?
'0h sir, he replied. 'the old chap with
horns is sitting down on stool, with
blue light, tolllng the bell!'
This information sent thrill of hor-
ror through the company.
Did he say any thing to you? interro-
gated the deacon.
Yes, sir, he asked me if Deacon Davis
was down stairs; i said he was; he then
requested me to go down and say that he
} was tolling the bell for him, and that he
should do so two NIGHTS more. and then