Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-10-03
AFTER THE FAIR.

Pitchcroft Fair is held on Pitchcroft
Hill, which lies just at the edge of
Pitchcroft Park. It was q great fair
once, but has declined of late years, SO
that the respectable inhabitants of
Pitchcroft-where villas are springing
up, and parks are being cut up into
building land-are trying to put it
down as nuisance. It is still great
day for the countryside, however
farmers, kinds, and servant-maids re-
sort to it from far and near. It is q
good pitch for itinerant vagabonds of
all descriptions, and shows and whirli-
gigs and similar amusements find there
the opportunity for good harvest. y
One fair-day, tall, good-looking
young fellow, dressed in a respectable
velveteen suit, with light straw hat
on his head, bound by very faded
blue ribbon, his face as brown as a nut,
and his eyes of a steely blue, steady and
clear, was making his way up the hill
a plump, comely looking young
woman leaning on his arm, and rosy
checked fat little boy, in a scarlet
frock and big straw hat with faded
blue feather, hanging to the young
woman's arm.
These are Harry Smith, the keeper
on the Pitchcroft estate, and his wife
and boy. He is not one Of your grand
head-keepers, with score or more of
underlings, but plain working keep
er, under plain old English squire,
neither more nor less. His wife, Han
nah, was the daughter of one Ebenezer
Brown, an elderly shoemaker, and also
a local preacher Of some little repute in
the neighborhood. She had been
thought by her fathers friends to have
demeaned herself sadly by marrying a
goddess gamekeeper, and the village
saints looked coldly upon her in conse-
quence, while her father came to see
her stealthily, for he and his son -in-law
had quarreled fiercely, and young Smith
had forbidden the old man to darken
his doors any more.
"You won't stay long, Harry?" said
Hannah, looking up at him beseech-
ingly with her soft brown eyes.
You'll come back with me and Tom
my, dear, won't you2"
ooh, never fear," carelessly; "I1l
have turn at the knockemdowns, and
one glass of ale in the booth, and then
I'm your man." g.tg g..
Smith lounged indolently through
the press and throng, clearing path
for himself and his belongings with
easy insolent force. Presently he came
TO an open space close by the park rail-
ings, where brown-faced man had set
up his knockemdowns. The heavy
thud of the sticks as they struck against
the canvas screen, the provocative yells
of the attendants, and the hoarse cries
and laughter at the rustic patrons of
the game-these noises and the whir
of the flying sticks struck terror inte
the heart of Master Tommy, and he be-
gun w IOal luoOlly anu w CllhB w LIS
fathers CATERS, as if to drag him from
the scene of danger. y,l ss.4 - e.,a
Take the boy away, Nanny" said
Smith, hastily. I" hate to hear him
roar like that; and just you hook it off
home if you can't enjoy yourself and
look pleasant.
Hannah took up the boy into her arms,
trying to pacify him, and walked slow
ly away with an air of resigned mel
ancholy. She didn't go very far, how
ever, but took her place on little knoll
that commanded q view of the fair and
of the place where her husband was
standing. Harry was an excellent shot,
with steady hand and clear cold eye,
aud not only good shot with the gun,
but at quoits, at bowls, at skittles.
Whatever required coolness and steadi-
ness Harry excelled at. The knockem-
downs had no chance with him. Every
shot brought down a. cocoa.notA Aand
even in their cheapest form, and in the
most Wholesale way, cocoa-nuts are not
to be had for six penny, which was