The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-08-26
\. THURSDAY. AUGUST &C., 1869.

49, ~ W ~ ~ 90 y - - = ~
opened for the admission of a visitor rs
Hawkins, blacksmith and wheelwright and
as had occasion to afterwards know, con-
stable-had his establishment just fronting
the "cage" AS passed, the said function
ary stood smoking his pipe at the. door Of his
shop, whiea journeyman and apprentice was
working at the forge. He did not seem to
notice me, though | yentured to peep through
the small grating Of the cage door, and could
not help taking an interested survey Of the
arrangements for safe custody ofthe criminals,
if such existed in Esterwold. Close to the
cage were "tfe Stocks" but, like their neigh
Dor, the stocks seemed to be, if not for orna-
mont, still less for use.
Just beyond the green lane to the right
led to the parish church, and thither'l bent
my steps as the only object Of interest in this
slowcst of places AS [ turned into the lane
I inyoluntarily looked up the village and saw,
if was not mistaken, the landlord walking
briskly across the green towards the shop
where stood the blacksmith His energy rath-
er surprised me, for it was quite contrary to
my first impressions of his nature that he
should do anything in hurry. However,
his proceedings were no business Of mine, SO
I sauntered into the churchyard, read several
Inscriptions of more than ordinary stupidity,
and then, finding a side door open, entered the
church itself. There was more to interest
there, and half an hour was we'll spent in ga
zing at some beautiful monuments and the
internal construction Of the church itself. =
Then I cssaycd to open another door, and
shook it somewhat roughly, supposng it led
out Of the building. AS did SO fancicd /
heard slight noise. and certainly, as | look
ed round, the door by which had entered
was opened, though had closed it behind me.
Ny eye caught the befry staircase, and having
a mind to see country from the tower ascen-
ded some distance and looked from window
on the scene below. But what sudden fit of
excitement had transformed the quiet village
into a S, exc of animation such as [ there wit
n ,ssed Below, and just outside the church
side door, stood the landlord talking earnest
ly with the blacksmith. A knot Of young
sters gathered round, all listening attentively
and gazing with awe on the painted staff OF
authority which the constable held in his right
hand. Ever and again the two men looked
as thought, a little nervously at the door,
and then anxiously towards the villages as
though expecting reinforcements. Presently
a loud "Hallo p was raised, and their faces
wore a relieved aspect as a posse of farm la
borers, some dozen in number, wereto be seen
running at full speed towards them Each
man was armed one with pithfork, anoth-
er huge cart-whip, third carried pickaxe,
and the rest either stout cudgels or some 9TH
er handy weapon. Behind them came group
of women, all breathless, every one with a ba-
by, and more than one dragging with her Sc
cond youngster Then they all gather togeth-
er, and there arose clamor Of voices that, be-
ing little used to the country dialect, bafled
all my efforts at comprehension.
[ fancied, however, that at last the consta-
bile had assumed command, for, with the cx-
ccption Of the landlord, who waited outside
with the women, all the men made as though
to enter the church. / could hear them, in
fact, as the clatter Of their hobnailed boots
echoed through the place, Of which they seem
ed to search every corner, and at last approach
ed the belfry stairs. Here council of war
was held, and, anxious to know what was the
cause Of this strrnge upstir, and having at
last some dim presentiment that | might be
"the party wanted" I slowly crept down till
within earshot "Go up to 'un, Sammy" said
one sTake 'un in the Queens name, Sam
N.Y." said another; Stick pithfork into 'un,
Sammy" Hit 'un with the staff, Sammy;
saDoant be coward, constable" were some
Of the various items Of advice by which the
official was stimulated by hisssfollowers to the
capture of some one But :'Sammy" was a
prudent man as we'll as constable, and as my
position, if was the object of the clamor, was
one in which the advantage was largely on my
| side, his hesitation did not reflect much on his
valor. Still, he came quite close to the steps
| by which had assembled, and not many feet
from where [ stood concealed by a curve il
the staircase All were still fer while, al
the constable, fancied, endcavored to peer
| through the dim light, and discover if his en-
envy were near, or higher up the ascent.
moved my foot suddenly, and could hear ;
rush, certainly not in advance. Then came
loud cries of invitation to me to coGle down
and awful threats If persisted in remaining
I had half mind to rush down upon them
convinced that they would scatter like chaf
but if once through the group unscathed, the.
would certainly pursue, and chase with men
women, and it might be dogs at ones heel
would not be diguifed operation for mem
Der Of the legal profession, even if some mis-
sile did not cut short my fight
! I determined to parley, and with all goot
temper called to know what they wanted
But the reply was only fresh volley of threat
and coarse abuse, whilst above all could hea
the loud voice of the constable commandin
me to surrender. I descended at last, hopn
even then to satisfy them that they were need
lessly troubling themselves, aud if grain {
sense were TO be found in their united head
I could soon persuade them to retire in peac'
but this was not allowed. [ had nearly reacl
ed the foot when seeing, | suppose, | We
unarmed-the constable sprang at me, seize
me with his great grimy hand by the throa
and dragged me into their midst. I'd show
fight at this indignity, but in a moment the
had closed round me, half dozen had hol
Of me at once and with their rough embr'
ccs thus unpleasantly forced upon me, an
their savage implements Furnishing in all d
, rections Especially near my head), [ ";
5 rudely hustled out of the church, to be t
cnived NV . chnrus of iuhilant chouts fro