St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-12-17

A dozen muskets answered the ssoeu
OF missiles Their 6rc seemed to check
the advance Of the Indians. inasmucl
as the war-cry grew fainter, and tn
pattering OF the arrows diminished
Parson P,adlcy had not interrnpeeS
his sermon. although his voice had
been temporarily drowned by the noise
of the assault anS defense, except fol
the instant that he cast one glance u
the rnus<ct beside him and another q,
the hour-glasA = -
All the men who could act verc n
their posts; why should he not continue
to the end. while waiting for the des
perate struggle which must come? Ills
sense of duty told him that he ought moi
to cease his holy Office before the ap
pointed time. except under compulsiou
in which he must recognize the hand o1
God.
Ills hearers understood this as wei:
as il lac had declared his determination
in so many words. They did their Part
by listening with steady attention.
Again the cries grew louder and
arrow-dights thicker. The guns re-
piled, but this time the attack was not
repulsed. A pondcrous humping on
the door, which shook the whole build
ing, told that some kind Of battering.
ram was being employed to break II
down. a few more such shocks. and
the door must fall.
Only pinch or two Of sand remained
in the hour-glass. Still it was not quite
empty, and Parson Tladlcy preached
on.
CrasM The door was half OF its
hinges. The firearm men crowded be-
hind it. and delivered volley that ap
pearcd for minute to clear the pan
sage. There was yet some sand In the
hour-glass. The pason's lips could be
seen to move, though his voice was nos
heard
A renewed yell and the crashing
blows once more beat upon the door
No shots answered this time. for the
muskets were empty.
An arrow whistled across the church
and stuck quivcring in the .ront Of the
pulpit Around the edges Of the shat
tered door hatchets and clubs were
brandished in the faces Of the defend.
ers. who dashed them aside with the
butts of their guns The women began
to scream.
The last sand ran ont Of the hour.
glass Parson Pladlcy bowed his head
and said: "Amen." And all the con
grcgation answered together: "Amenr
Up sprang the hitherto motionle4
l;stcners-women to the rear. men to
the front-and from the pulpit tho old
minister, with sword and gun. led the
way TO the aid Of the others, who were
to give ground before the
mass Of hideonsly painted figures who
were forcing their way through the en-
trance.
Then came o:t another size OF the
Puritan character. The fierce energy
almost joy with which the colonists
fought was as surprising as the stony
they had shown but =
before. Ahead Of them all.
Parson F;adlcy swung his mighty
sword with cries which betrayed the
the old horse-soldier Of Cromwell and
Harrison. for such he had been; and OF
those who followed him. moro than
one had stood ia the ranks OF the pike
men who met the charges of Prince
Rupert's cavaliers. and repelled them,
too.
As il he remembered this. the minis
ter lifted mp his strong voice in the
stern psalm which had thundered over
the battleficlds of Nascby and MarstOn
war song Of David the king,
re ioicing over his victory:
II have pursued mine enemies and
them; neither did ! turn
again till they were consumed
Il have wounded them that they
were not able to rise; they arc fallen
under my feet.
For thou hast girded me with
strength unto the battle: thou hast
subdued under me these who rose up
against me-"
The indians were like wolves COM
batting lions They shrank, wavered
and were pressed back to the door.
it and outside Of it. Then. hy
one last rush, they were broken, scat
tered and dispersed. They ran in every
direction for the shelter of the woods;
many Of them fell by the way under
the pixies and swords Of their pursucrs.
was saved
Within the Westinghouse, now half
:,lined. dim with powder smoke and
heaped with broken benches, arrows
and dead bodies. the congregation
gathered around its minister, who.
blacl1encd and bloody, with gown torn
10 shrcds and q great slash across his
forehead, once more raised up his voice
this time in the glorious strains of
Dnc of their triumphant hymns
All joined in it-even the wounded.
scarcely lift their heads from
The ground. and the dying. who sang
lneir last brcaths away in the CRATE
ful chorus.
When tho injured had been cared for,
and there was once more time for or.
binary matters, Parson Pladley called
Abncr True to him.
.'Son Abncr. thou didst well 50 cum
ningly to avoid those ruthless savageA
and privily warn US betime& For this
thou lneritest reward"
Abner looked up. astonished.
''And this shall bc thy reward-that
for thy willful tarrying away from the
thou shalt receive no disci.
the church"
''But my father will stammered
INC boy.
',Of . surety he WILL" placidly re-
Piled the minister. '.and trust 1t may
10 thee good"
Come with me. Abner." said Deacon
u. Pike. in Youths