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

l. dllOO1N l. IADLL L.
1t was Injecting time" in Huddersfeld,
Massachusetts Bay Colony, on a Sunday
morning in June, 1916 The fifty or sixty
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 and counted second only
to the minister himself in rigid piety, was
actually playing truant from 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
a score of other tasks to be done.
1t seemed to him too hard that on this
one day of rest he should be obliged to sill
upon backless plank bench all the fore
noon, if 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 short one this day, even according
to the preachers idea Of brevity, and the
more be 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 he
saw the family depart-hls 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 solemnly along toward the rude
sanctuary upon the hill until Abner, see
ing that all Huddersfield 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 in
the sunshine with a drowsy note that
should have been favorable enough for
sIumber But between his guilty con-
seriousness of what he had done and his
dread of what Deacon Amos would do
Abner could not manage to go to sleep.
He began to wish himself upon that
backless plank bench, even if the sermon
were to last all day; yet tardy arrival
would be nearly as great an offerse as not
to come at all. and he had not the courage
80 meet the public reproof which Parson
Pladley might administer, or to hasten the
private chastisement that Deacon Amos
would surely infict.
The time went on. The old house was
still now; the hens uttered only an oc-
casional croak From the far distance the
preachers voice came down on the warm
breeze in softened murmur. Abner was
DOING.
What was that? He heard a sound that
Weakened him quite, and he sprang up to
listen.
Nothing but slight swishing sound in
the tall grass behind the barn--nothing
but that. 1t was probably some fox or
polecat on the watch to snatch a chicken.
Abner peered out through a crack to see
if he could discover the animal, for the
wishing sound seemed drawing nearer.
In the meeting house Parson Pladley
had turned his big honrglass twice, and
Tow the sands of the third hour were al
most spent. Before him rows of serious
men, women and children looked up in rev.
erent- attention, not once removing their
,pact ayps from the minister
The heavy door was flung open and shut
again with loud bang that startled every
member of the congregation. A boy,
staggering and streaming with perspi-
| ration, ran up the broad aisle and fell ex-
| hausted at the foot of the pulpit.
Every man stretched out his hand to the
musket that stood beside him; but no one
rose, no one said word or uttered an ex-
clamation.
Whatever the danger was-and they
knew well what it might be-this was
| Gods house, and in it none but Gods serv-
| ant should raise voice or venture upon
any action unless he permitted.
| The minister descended from his place,
leaned over the painting Abner and caught
the few words the boy had strength to
| whisper, "Savages- fvescore- stealing
| up-CO Take us uudWdre!
The minister returned to the pulpit.
| .'Kindle your matches, brethren" said
| ne in a voice of perfect tranquility.
The ring of flint and steel sounded all
| over the house.
make ready your guns" continued the
| minister, taking up a heavy musket and
| blowing the match or fuse by which it was
| discharged. "Musketeers, to your stations.
Ye that have but swords or pixies, be fast. "
The congregation obeyed these orders as
| calmly as they had been given. Twenty
| live men, headed by Deacon True, silently
| ranged themselves at the loopholes which
| which were pierced in the door and along
the walls Each knew his position and
| took it without delay or hesitation, while
| the fifteen men who had no firearms sat
! stiffiy OH the benches with the women and
| children, most of whom had not looked
| behind them since Abner rushed in.
4 Parson Pladley looked at the hourglass,
| which still continued to run, and quietly
g. Ii: sermon. Around the sGss of
| the room the musketeers stopped at the
loopholes amid the light vapor from then
| smolderirg matches.
On the benches the body Of listeners kept
their composed countenances turned upon
the preacher. Save his voice, there was
no sound but an infrequent metallic rat
tie as some musketeer examined his gun
Or loosened his iron hilted broadsword in
the scabbard The words of the preacher
sounded through the house:
"And even as aforetime the heather did
furiously rage, and did compass the chill
aren Of tne covenant with spear and will
| javelin around about
A high pitched, thrilling screech filled
the air without and now rose above the
minister's voice. 1t was sustained and
prolonged in many savage threats. There
came quick, sharp gatherings on the ROOF
and walls, like hailstones
Enoch Brett fell backward from his loop
hole with an arrow through the brain
Another man rose from his seat, picked uI
the gun whieh Brett had dropped md tecccs
the vacant station.
A dozen muskets answered the storm Of
missiles. Their fire seemed to check the
advance of the Indians, inasmuch as the
war cry grew fainter and the pattering Of