Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-10-14

ueuyefeu vOiIey That appeared FOR a
minute to clear the passage. There was
yet some sand in the hourglass. The par
sons lips could be seen to move, though
his voice WAS not heard.
a renewed yell, and the crashing blows
once more beat upon the door. No shots
answered this time. for the mcskets were
empty
| An arrow whistled across the church
| and stuck quivering in the front of the
pulpit. Around the edges of the shattered
| door matches and Cubs were brandshed in
the faces of the defenders, who dashed
them aside with the butts of their guns,
The women began to scream.
The last sand ran out of the hourglass.
Parson Pladley bowed his head and said
"Amen!" And all the congregation an
| swered together, "Amenv' =
Up sprang the hitherto motionless
listeners-women to the rear, men to the
| the front-and from the pulpit the old
| minister with sword and gun led the way
to the aid of the others, who were begin
ming to give ground before the mass of
hideously painted figures who were
forcing their way through the entrance.
Then came out another side of the Puri-
tan character. The fierce energy-almost
| joy-with which the colonists fought was
as surprising us the stony self control they
had shown but a moment before. Ahead
of them all, Parson Pladley swung his
mighty sword with cries which betrayed
the old horse soldier of Cromwell and Har-
rison, for such he had been, and of those
who followed him more than one had stood
in the ranks of the pikemen who met the
charges of Prince Rupert's cavaliers and
repealed them too.
AS if he remembered this, the minister
lifted up his strong voice in II stern psalm
which had Numbered over the battlefields
of Naseby and Marston Moor-the war son.,
of David, the king, rejoicing over his vic
tory:
81 have pursued mine enemies and over
taken them neither did | turn again till
5hey We're consumed.
81 have wounded them that they were
not able to rise; they are fallen under my
feet.
''For thou hast girtied me with strength
unto the battle; thou hast subdued under
.le those that rose up against me.'
The Indians were like wolves combating
lions. They shrank, wavered and were
pressed back to the door, through it and
outside OF it. Then by one last rush they
were broken, scattered 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 pur-
suers. Huddersfield was saved
Within the meeting house, now half
| ruined, dim with powder smoke and heaped
with broken benches, arrows and dead
bodies, the congregation gathered around
its minister, who, blackened and bloody,
with gown torn to shreds and great slash
across his forehead. once more raised up
his voice-this time in the glorious strains
Of one of their triumphant hymns
All joined in it-even the wounded, who
could scarcely lift their heads from the
ground, and the dying, who sang their last
breaths away in the grateful chorus.
When the injured had been cared for
and there was once more time for ordinary
matters Parson Pladley called Abner True
to him.
"Son Abner, thcu didst we'll so cunning
ly to avoid those ruthless sayages and
privily warn us betimes. For this thou
meritest reward"
Abner looked up .stoaished.
"And this shall he thy reward-that for
thy willful tarryiny away from the sane
tuary thou shalt receive no discipline
from the church."
But my father WHIP stammered the
boy.
"Of surety he WILL" placidly replied
| the minister, land l trust it may do thee
| good"
Come with ne, Abner," said Deacon
Amos.-Manley II. Pike in Youths Com
panion.