The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-09-30
PARS0N PLADLEY.


log buildings which made up the settle
ment stood silent as so many tombs among
the black stumps of the half cleared fields,
for every soul in the place, from the old
man of ninety to the youngest child, was
in the meeting house on the hill-every
soul, that is, except Abner True.
Abner True, whose father was a deacon
and tithing man Accounted second only
to the minister himself iSrigid piety, was
actually playing truant froIl meeting, and
this in village which looked upon Plym-
outh and Weymouth as dangerously world
ly towns, relaxed in morals and manners
by overmuch prosperity.
But Abner had worked from sun to sun
every day of the last week, and knew he
must do the same every day Of the next
week and the week after that, for the corn
was to be hoed, the grass crops got in and
score of other tasks to he done
1t seemed TO him too hard that on this
one day OF rest he should be obliged TO sit
upon a backless plank bench all the fore
noon, IL indeed he did not find himself
forced to sit there longer, since Parson
Pladley, who rarely preached less than
three hours, sometimes preached four and
once or twice had been known to exceed
five hours.
Abner felt sure that the sermon would
not be a short one this day, even according
to the preachers idea OF brevity, and the
more he thought of it the more he dreaded
it until he became willing to incur any
punishment for the sake of escaping that
discourse.
So when Deacon Amos, with his wife
and younger children, were ready for meet
ing no Abner could be found. Hidden in
the little haymow Of the rough barn lie
saw the family depart-his father march
| ing ahead, equipped with musket. bando-
leer and powder horn, for King Philip and
his Indians were at war against the whites,
and no man throughout the colony went to
| field or church without his arms.
| Similar groups, similarly accoutered,
paced soleninly along toward the rude
sanctuary upon the hill until Abner, see
ing that MI Huddetsfleld had passed, felt
that he was safe-for the present-and lay
down upon the soft hay to prepare for the
sound nap he had so longed for.
Below old Fly. the farm horse, stamped
and munched; without the hens crowed IL
the sunshine with a drowsy note that
should have been favorable enough fol
slumbeu. But between his guilty con
sciousAess of what he had done and hi,
dread Of what Deacon Amos would Dc
i Abner could not manage to go to sleep.
Il He began to wish himself upon thai
back less plank bench, even If the sermon
n were to last all day; yet tardy arriva
d would be nearly rs great an otfense us mo-
to come at all, and he had not the courage
ito meet the public reproof which Parsot
Pladley might administer, or to hasten thu
lprivate chaStisement that Deacon Amos
would surely iniiict.
| The time went on. The old house was
,Istill now; the hens uttered only an &C
casional croak. From the far distance til,
preachers voice came down on the warn
breeze in a softened murmur. Abner wal
dozing.
What was thatH He heard a sound tina
! Weakened him quite, and he sprang up L
i, listen.
Nothing but a slight swishing sound il
III the tall grass behind the barn-nothin,
but that. II was probably some fox o
{ polecat on the watch to snatch chicken
4 Abner peered out through a crack to Sc
il he could discover the animal, for tn
, lswishing sound seemed drawing nearer.
: In the meeting house Parson Pladle
had turned his big hourglass twice, an
= now the sands OF the third hour were a
d most spent. Before him rows of seriou
q men, women and children looked up in rev
erent attention, not once removing thei
-'esrnest eyes from the minister.
The heavy door was flung open and shI
again with a loud bang that startled ever
q. member Of the congregation. A 10,
staggering and streaming with pcrsp
ration, ran up the broad aisle and fell el
IS hausted at the foot of the pulpit.
nj Every man stretched cut his hand to tt
u muslSet that stood beside him; but no OF
Z rose, no one said word or uttered an e
lclamation.
JSl Whatever the danger was and tn,
ii knew well what it might be-this W
Gods house. and in it none but Gods ser
ant should raise voice or venture up,
10 any action unless he permitted.
The minister descended from his plac
Il leaned over the painting Abner and caug
lp the few words the boy had strength
whisper, "Savages-full ilyeseore-stealii
up to take lis unawarei"
10 The minister returned to the pulpit.
"kindle your matches, brethren" sa
II. lie in II voice Of perfect tranquility.
nj The ring Of flint and steel sounded
over the house.
eS MAKE ready your guns, " continued I
blowing the match or fuse by which il W
discharged. "Musketeers, to your station
Ye that have but swords or pixies, be fast
10 The congregation obtyed these orders
n talmly as they had been given. Tweni
All five men, headed by Deacon True, silent
as ranged themselves al the l0opholes viii
which were pierced in tire door and alo
the walls. Each knew his position n
III took it without delay or hesitation, VIII
the fifteen men who had no firearms
llc stifiiy OH the benches with the women n
children, most OF when had not look
behind them since Abner rushed in.
parson Fladley looked at the hourgla
d. which still continued to run, and gaie
-, resumed his sermon. Around the sides
49, the room the musketeers stopped at I
l5oph0les amid the light yapor from til
M enoldering matches.
On the benches he body Of listeners k
= their COMPOSED countenanceS turned NJ
-, the preacher Save his voice, there y
no sound but an infrequent metallic /
JeS tie Us some musketuer examined his 4
-, or loosened his iron hiltcd broadswurl
l"O the scabbard. The words of the preacl
rat sounded through the house:
I And even rs atoretime the heather
NV turiotsly rage, and did compass the ci
IT, dren Of the covenant with spear and v
ire javcliu around about
Al, A hi4h pitched, thrilling screech ii
uli the air without and nov rose above
minister's voice. 1t was sustained
-, prolonged in many savage throats. III
ri came quick, sharp gatherings on the
Ird and walls, like hailstoncs
to Enoch Brett fell backward from his Il
hole with an arrow through the br
ard. Another man reese from his seat, picked
- d the gun which Brett had dropped and I
the vacant station.
.., A dozen muskets answered the storr
IN missiles. Their fire seemed to check
advance of the Indians, inasmuch as
75c war cry grew fainter and the PATTERN
the arrows diminished.
Ibo Parson pladley lad not interrupted
sermon, although his voice had heen
nam porarily drowned by the noise of the
~, sault and defense, except Tor the ms
Ard that he cast one glance at the musket
"a. side him and another Mt the hourglass,
All the men who could act were at I
W posts; why should he not coutinne TO
ms end while waiting for the desperate st