The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-08-08
BROWN, THE DOCTOR.

DkUWN, THE DVCTUR.
"What that man said is true, IN,
lord that child carried. am Brown
the doctor, Brown of Beaccnsfield.' >
And as the murmur of approval which
ran through the court was promptly
checked, the one who had spoken push.
ed his way to the witness box, and then
by his lordship's permission, went into
ii; and all eyes were turned to him.
lie was short, stout, rcsolute-look-
ing man, in appearance fifty, but whose
age was fifty-seven; and he had good
frank fiorid face, and dark gray eyes
Coolly surveying the crowded court in
front of him, he took the oath as he re-
moved his gloves and answered to his
name; and then, as unembarrassed as
though he had made the simplest state
ment possible, he passed his hand
through his brown hair and looked al
his lordship.
"Tha's the man, sir" said the pris-
oner to his counsel; land he rode a
cob"
"Silencel' cried the Judge, as those
i'll the court approved, and the windows
ratified as the dust rose up again-the
dust from the crowded street, where
hundreds walled.
1t was blowing, gusty day, tn, 5th
of March, the second day of the Lent
assizes; and the spacious court in the
county town was completely filled with
people, townfUlk and countrymcn, who,
in spite of close packing and increased
discomfort, had Kept their places there
for manv hours, waiting for the conclu-
sion of the trial-in which the majority
of those there were deeply Interested
the trial of Ralph Perks the poacher,
and against whom true bill had been
returned for the murder of Walter
White the keeper-kecper to Sir Nor
man Digby of Beckton Hall-who, q
few months previously, had been found
in the Home Wood, shot through the
chest.
The evidence that was then brought
against the prisoner was purely circum-
stantial but it seemed conclusive, and
he was committed to Jail to await his
trial on the full charge. But in short
time lie escaped by the connivance, as
it was thought, of one of his jailors, q
man who was known to him; and IT
was only within a week of the com.
mencement of the assizes that he had
been retaken.
He was 1.-the, wiry, dark complex.
ioned man, thirty years of age, and by
trade blacksmith; and although his
poaching propensities were well known
TO all, his trade stuck to him; for he
was not only the best shoer for miles
around his own neighborhood, and shod
all the "hunting horses" but he was 9
Jack of all trades, and clever at most
things, from locks and clocks to brass
work bells and baskets; and at the lat.
ter, no matter what they were, usefu
or fanciful, no basket-maker could beat
him. Hence being able to turn his
hand to so many pursuits, his services
were much sought after; for whatever
was needed in the mending line Ralph
the handy man." was sent for. d
He was a good mole-man, too, ant
useful to the farmers; crack fisher
man, and of service to tho villagers
famous runner, and hence great will
hounds.
1t was this latter quality which con
tributed so much to his popularity will
those whose horses he shod and will
the huntsmen generally; as he was al
ways present during the season at every
meet within distance, had much hunting
knowledge, and kept we'll with hounds
his ringing "gone awayr" which mad,
tho woodland echo as the fox brok,
cover was always listened for, for /
was ever reliable; "Ralph the runuer'
being an old hand al woodSraft, and 81
we'll versod in vulpine tactics that un
less the fox went out at one end as th,
hounds came in at the other, Ralph wa
the man to see him; and as he neve
gave tongue until the 'varmint' wa
well away, and the hounds on a lin,
with him, each man then out grippet
his reins as he heard him, and galiop
ed tho hardest.
Such voice as Ralph had for shou
loud, clear and ringing-few mel
had; 1t was "piercer." like the voic,
of the famed Tom Moody; aud as mosI
of the woods in that part of the countr,
West Observation-Disclosures thick
dense, and tangled, when he was GU
il was gain for the last ones, many o
whom would have frequently misse.
the hounds. altogether, had not his rat
Ting "Gone away" which could b
heard from one end OF the wood to tn
| Othctg ptOSieALuOd u hicWp anu BiiOtS'
them into the open.
lie was q pleasant, merry fellow
ever CHEEKY and always civil, ready 1
help those who came to CRIES, and will
ing to aid tho distressed ones; for N
matter what was the form it took o
what WAS the special diHiculty-whetl
er the catching Of horses, the lifting G
heavers, the pulling out of stakes, O
tho slipping of puzzle-locks - wer
Ralph but at hand. il was done with
and though many coin was thrown /
him, he never waited for IL; his wor
once over, his place was with tn
hounds; and as he could run and lea
better than most men, he was never ia
behind them.
lie was a very useful man, too ,amon
the cattle. and also among the horses
rs he understood their ailments, an
was up TO doctoring them; and ne wa
clever as a breaker with young horses
as he had good seat, good hands, fri
nerve, and plenty of patience, so
soon made them fit aud handy. Wit
the people of his hamlet-the hamlet {
Beckton-he was great fayorite, ali
at the wakes and club walks, the villae
feasts and festivals, Ralph was the mai
man there; tor he had fiddle and coul
play il well, and was strong in jigs al
dances; land his various feats anon