The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-11-08
LUKE'S LOAD OF HAY.

The affair which I nm going to relate
hnppencd some years ago, in an ancient
fishing town on tho coast Of New Eng
land.
The boys OF this place werc rude fel,
lOws, with an unreasonable and half.
savage antipathy to strangers, upon
whom they vented their dislike M Otter
ny they appeared among them, by cat
calls and hootings, aud not infrequently
by showers Of stones. 2
1t WIS really serious matter fol
strange boys to enter tho town, for il
was almost certain that they would be
attacked and roughly treated, and there
is moro than one case on record ol
fights between tho young ruflians oi
NARROW md the lads Of neighboriDg
towns that ended seriously for botl
parties.
One fine September day, towards
evening, q laughing group OF these same
qunrrelsome urchins spied in the dis.
tance load Of hay slowly advancing
along one OF the village streets. The
load was drawn by yoke Of oxen, and
the driver was a brown-faced, white.
haired boy, whose simple appearance
marked him rs an easy subject for in
sulting fun.
Instantly signs Of intelligence passed
among tho mischief.makers, and in II
moment more the group was REINFORCED
by half.n.dozcn other boys, but strange.
ly enough not hoot was uttered nor n
stone thrown. Tho boy with tho hay
came on in peace.
Tho streets OF tho town arc very mar
row, and often steep, and in places they
are so crooked that new comers aro likely
to get most ludicrously bewildered i'll
trying to follow them.
Seated on tho nearest fence, the town
boys, to the number Of II dozen or more,
awaited the approach OF the.young rus.
tic and his hay-wngon, i'll solemn and
ominous silence. lie came on, staring
about him with n perplexed look, and
presently stopped his oxen.
"Say you!" ho called out to tho boys
on the fence. as this the wny to
Hinckley's tverni" ~ ~
Hinckley's tavern !" cried the whole
group together, and most of them
tumbled of their seats with roars oil
hughter-ior Hinckley's tavern was n
mile the other side of the town.
The Questioncr ut first looked red, and
funbled his driving stick in awkward
embarrassment. Then no grew angry.
The ringlca,ler Of the boys, perccivine
this, got down and said to his compau'
ions:
"Hold up, can't ycrl or course it,
the way to Hinckley's." Then approach,
ing the driver, he asked: "D'ye want
to go therel' N.
"Yes," was the eager reply. aid
like 70 get rid of this loud Of hay fore
night"
"Thcn como along-I'll show yer, I"
cried tho boy. Then, winking to his
companions, he continued: fright
ahead here, and around the first corner
into Parsous street. There's where
Hinciley lives"
"Hurrah for Hinckley on Parsons
street yelled the boys, and broke into
another rOar OF laughter.
The confused driver put his team i'll
motion, aud before and behind the cart
the noisy crowd trooped on, fairly dane.
ing with mischievous delight.
Parsons street was the most. crooked
in the town, and it grew narrower as il
went on, until il finally ended at cliff
Of solid stone, beyond which was the
sea. The boys were gradually conduct
ing the unsuspecting fllrmer lad into
trap.
More than once he stopped short, rs il
suspecting some trick; but rs often Ii:
was induced to start again by the inge'
nious leader Of the gang.
As they went on, every house they
passed looked p oorer and older than the
last, aud more directly in tho way, and
tho road grew all the time rougher, and
crookeler and narrower. The load o.
hay began actually to brush the fences
and dwellings, on either side. .-...
Cross women rushed out 10 scold The
driver, and crosser dogs barked arount
the oxen's heels. The poor farmer boy
began to bo really terrified.
"Oh, 60 long" shouted the others
$50 long till the next turn, then YOU'RE
all right"
The next turn Tho road was al
turn, for aught that ho could 500. Bu
urged md pushed by his tormentors, h'
kept on, until rickety old house, iut
ting almost into the street ut one Of The
narrow win1ings, caught the soft load