The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-03
TRAGEDY OF THE FIFTH.

clean and comfortable. And in tho even
ings, would often go and smoke my
pipe In the tap-room, and amuse myself
by listening to the quaint conversation
OF the simple rustics who frequented it.
80 IL was from the lips OF one OF these
men, that heard the story which / am
about TO relate. He was queer old chap
quite character, brimming full OF local
lore and legend; and he interested me SO
much, that / lost no opportunity OF
drawing him out.
One evening-it was Novem Der in last
year-I happened to say to him:
LET me see, to- morrow's Guy Fawkes's e
day. Isuppose you have great goings on
in the village, don't your"
He shook his head solemnly and an
swered:
Nay. nay, Measter. We don't keep
no Guy Fawkes's day here. Used to do.
once upon time. But it's been given up
ever since what happened about Parson
Elves"
"What was that?" inquired.
Haven't you heerd, then!" he replied.
"May be you'd like me to tell 'ee?'
signihed assent, and, seating mysel;
comfortably in my chair, prepared to
listen to what knew (from the old fell
lows discursive style Of narrati ion) would
be tolerably long yarn.
"Well," he began, "it's a main long
time ago; forty years as reckon il. But
l can rec'ilect 1t all clear as though 10 had
happened yesterday. Parson Elves he
wer Vicar o. this parish. A fine young
man he wer too; strong and tall, and
lithesome as any one ever see. Heart
alive! How he could play cricket and
run and iumpI 1t wer a sight to watch
him. Her wer only twenty-seven. Too
young, / sez, for to be parson of a parish.
For he hadn't got, and couldn't have, the
experience OF rs poorer folk, and our
ways and feelings, which q parson amt
no use at all without.
He wer good in his heart, wer young
Parson ELVES, and meant as we'll as any
one. But he didn't 60 the right way
to work with US. He had newfangled
notions about the services, and would
have this altered and that altered, all as
headstrong as could be, never saying
with your leave, or by your leave, to the
wishes OF the congregation.
"Well, we didn't like this, for we've
always been old fashioned folk here, and
the old-fashioned ways had done very
well for the likes OF we. So we got into
a regular feud with Parson. And there
sprung up another cause OF discomfort in
Parsons treatment Of Dissenters. He
was always saying things agin 'em In his
ermons-preaching about the deadly sin
of schism, and what not-until he not
only stirred them up to wrath, but also
good many OF the Church folk as well.
For there was hardly family but where
some were Dissenters. And people didn't
like having it preached at 'em that their
parents, it might be, or husbands, or
wives, were in danger of the unsquen-
chable fire.
"And SO matters got terribly bitter
betwixt Parson and people, until, by the
time he'd been in the place a year, many
on US were ready to join in any mortal
plan for spiting 'un."
The old fellow here paused to relight
his pipe, which had gone out in the course
OF his narration. When he had got it
fairly started again, he resumed:
"It wer just as the fifth o. November
wer coming on, and Farmer Scrivner--
him as had Brookleaze, where Farmer
Giles do live now-and were the principal
Dissenter in the place, set on foot the no.
ton OF buring Parson in effigy on Gun
powder day, with hooting and groanings,
and all sorts of insults.
"Well, Measter, as / have said, folks
was then just about ripe for spiting Par
son; and the proposal took on like any
thing. We went in for carrying of it
out, regular heart and soul, and We made
, figure just Parsons height and size,
and Bill Noda, as wer village tailor
then, he made a suit Of broadcloth, Just like
Parson wore, and all OF us paid SO much
towards the value OF the stuff. And then
some one else went into town and bought
, proper hat-Parson's 1t were, exactly
md when the figure wer dressed up, ready
or carrying round and burning, shure IL
night almost have been taken for Par
sons very self.
"God bless my soul and body-how
we'll do remember that night We car
led the effigy along as far as the vicarage
rate, and there we stopped and set up
7elling and Kissing. And Farmer Scriv-
,er, he calls for three groans for Parson,
md we gives 'em, and three times three
Ifterward. Then Parson comes
'ut and tries to speak to us, but we
irowns his voice with shouting and
yroaning, so that he goes in again and
huts the door.
w hen we'd done that part OF the Job,
We took up the dummy again, ana carried
on toward Brooks's piece, the big field
lard by Brookleaze, which is the highest
'oint in the village, and where we were
'oing to burn Parson in efigy. ss
Ih, what scene il wasi The great pile Of
agots cracking and blazing and Parsons |
ffigy a. thrown on the top, while every
me was pelting it, and poking it with |
ticks, and groaning and hooting like a
OF of savage beasts; and the flames and |
smoke leaping up against the |
ky, as eager as though they enjoyed |
heir share in e all.
"We kept this up for close on an hour, |
ntil the fire was almost burned out. |
md then lot of the men among US |
anne down here to the Ring o. Bells to
Wind up the evening with a drink. And |
'e needed IL, most on us; for our throats
fer wellnigh raw with yelling. Farmer |
crivner, he were in great feather that
light. He stood drinks all round, and |
aughed and jested about the burning OF
arson's effigy; and We all chimed in,
nd joked and jeered merrily away, until
We minutes past eleven by that very
i1rlr 4.tt IL