Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1857-05-28


promised a fine hasscst, but for sewers al
Successive Sundays there was q great des
] strnction IN his corn fields. In vain he
j made scare,crows and set traps, and even
4 put one of his old coats on pole, a sight
Ithat. would frighten the worst boy in the
village, for he was the tithing man, that
terror Of rogues. But the next Sunday
the mischief was repeated, till the pa
thence Of the old gentleman was nearly
worn out. But he belonged to church
\ remarkable for the rightly Of its tenants
and the strictness Of its discipline, to have
4 permitted any one to stay at home to
watch corn field would have been con
sidered a grievous offence.
9 declare" said the old deacon one
i Sunday after shutdown, we shall lose all
4 our corn unless we catch those rascallv
thieves, who knows but they are Indians?
As he spoke he looked at Polly. She
sat in a corner of the great oak settee
! which stood before the fire. watching the
putting steam from the teakettlc, and look
ing somewhat sad. r As4
/" Why Polly" said the deacon, with
more animation than usual, among the
rest Of all my troubles lately, have been
bothered by three young men who want
you for wife. Now | have mind to
say, that whoever will shoot or take pris
oner the thief that steals my corn, shall
have YOU for wife" N
\ Polly looked up in surprise at this nov
ell mode ofidisposing of her hand; bui the
next instant there was rogueish twinkle
in her black eye, and turning to her faith
err, she said gaiEy, "a bargain if you
please"
She very we'll knew who wonld be the
first upon the field, and whose courage
and perseverance would be the most like
i ly to hold out longest
= But will you keep your promise, faith
err"
" I wouldn't have it said that deacon
of a church ever told lie, so say it now
whoever will shoot or take prisoner the
thief that steals tnyeorn. shall have Polly
ISas,,.alss- .s, his mife2
4 This conversations was overheard by Che
! hired boy, aud soon circulated through
the neighborhood. Great was the com.
motion among the young men of the place.
/ As for myself rode far and near; ex-
: ahmed the corn field by night, and de
vised every way inmy power to ascertain
2 the offender. Indeed one whole night |
watched behind a stump of an old tree
Bat it was of no arail
But the very next Sunday, when Par
son Goodman was SAYING, : the ninth
head of my DISCOURSE" the conversation
was startled by the report Of a gun.
4 There was general rising and great
! commotion among the women Our first
! thought was Of Indians or tories. There
was rush for the door, tumbling over
children and screaming of their moth
ers. But what was our surprise when
landed upon the green, to see young SAT
7 ford dragging with all his might a huge
, bear that to all appearances had just
: brea thed her last.
/ - I've caught her. deacon!9 he shouted;
} -" I've caught the rascal at last!n he re.
peated; :. and caught her too. III the very
act, you can see for yourself" he added
pointing to the distended mouth, half fill
Ell with the unchewed corn The poor
:. fdeacon stood mute with astoniShment for
4 he recollected that, Jeptha like, he had
made a rash VOW a
i The minister was the first to break 81
: lence. His indignation at being disturb-
ed in his discourse and his anger at such
an open violation Of holy time, were at a
boiling point. He exclaimed III his loud
est tones, Young man who are you that
i you should disturb the worship of the
Fsanctuary. Know. you not that you are
breaking the lawsof God and man? Con
stable Chapman, arrest this man aud hold
him prisoner until further disposal can be
I made Of his person"
i Poor Stafford was thunderstruck; he had
intended no harm, but III his eagerness to
display his prize, and surprising service
over, he had FASTENED towards the village
d itihad not once occurred to him that he
was church member, and as such liable
to censure.
He knew that it was wrong to absent
i himself from meeting, but he thought the
offence would be pardoned, because of the
benefit conferred. Seeing he was about
4 to be taken prisoner, he at first resisted,
but recollectiDg that he was in the hands
of legal officer, he thought best to sub
nit quietly. His confinement was how
| ever short, and another mode Of punish
ment was proposed. .es
! During the week church meeting was
called, and young Stafford cited to appear
thereat, and give reasons why he should
not be expelled from the church for
} his high handed wickedness. The deacon.
was present. but Polly was no where to
be seen. When her father proposed So
, summarily to dispose Of her hand, her first
Thought was Of Stafford, aud knowing his
i bold and daring spirit, she felt sure he
would win. Poor girl! she little thought
i of such sad termination of the affair. 10
: be lex,communicated from the church, was
4 in that little community a grieyous attic,
q ton, Such upfortunates were considered
as losing caste, and were ranked among
: pagans and infidels. -
Stafford pleaded his own cause with all
the eloquence he could command. In