The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-02-10

the advance OF the Indians. inaSFaucla
as the war-cry grew fainter. and the
patiering Of the arrows diminished
Parson Pladicy bad not interrupted
his sermon, although his voice hae
been temporarily drowned Is the NOISE
OF the assault and defense. except foi
the instant that he cast one glance al
the mnsikct beside him and another Al
the hour-glass
An the men who could act were ii
their posts: why should be not continue
to the end, while waiting for the des
perate struggle which must Gomez His
sense Of duty told him that he ought not
to cease his holy Office before the APP
pointed time. exceptfunder eompulsior,
in which he must recognize the hand Of
God
Ills hearers understood this as wei
as II he Ind declared his determination
IN 50 many words They did their part
by listening with steady attention
Again the cries grew louder ane
arrowsfights thicker The guns re
piled, but this time The attack was moi
repulsed a ponderous humping or
the door, which shook the whole build
ing, told that some kind 81 battering
ram was being employed TO break II
down, A few more such shocks anc
the door must fall
Only apinch or two OF sand remained
in the honr-glasa Still it was not quite
empty, and Parson Pladley preached
on
Crash Tho door was half OF III
hinges The frearm men crowded be
hind it, and delivered volley that ap
peared for minute to clear the pas
sage. There was yet some sand in the
hour-glass The pason's lips could be
seen to move, though his voice was moi
heard
a renewed yell and the crashing
blows once more beat upon the door
No shots answered this time, for the
mnskets were empty
An arrow wbistIed across the church
and stuck quivcringsin the front 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 out of the hour
glass Parson I'ladley bowed his head
and said: "Ameni And all the con
gregation answered together. "AmenI.
Up sprang The hitherto motionless
listeners women to the rear, men 10
the front--and from the pulpit the old
minister, with sword and gun. led the
way TO the aid Of the others. who were
beginning to give ground before the
mass Of hideously painted Ggures who
I were forcing their way through the en-
trance.
Then came ont another side 81 the.
Puritan character The herce energy
almost joy with which the colonists
fought was as surprising as the stony
self-control they had shown . but
moment before Ahead of them all.
Parson Fladlcy swung his mighty
sword with cries which betrayed the
the old horsc-soldier of Cromwell and
Harrison, for snch he had been. and Of
those who followed him. more than
one had stood Iii the ranks Of the pike
men who met the charges Of Prince
Rupert's cavaliers, and repelled them.
too.
AS If he remembered this, the minis
ter lifted up his strong voice In the
stern psalm which had Numbered over
the battlefields of Naseby and Marston
Moer-the war song Of David the king,
re oicing over his victory
II have pursued mine enemies and
overtaken them; neither did turn
again till they were consumed
II have wounded them that they
were not able to rise. they are fallen
under my feet
''For thou hast girdedseme with
strength unto the battle; thou hast
subducd under me those who rose mp
against me. :
The Indians were like wolves com
batting lions They shrank. wavered
and were pressed, back to the door.
through itand outside Of it Then. by
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 f,ursuers
Huddersfeld 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 hy INNS
All joined in it-even the wounded.
whocould scarcely lift their heads from
the ground, and the dying. who sang
their last brcaths away III the CRATE
full chorus
When the injured had been cared for,
and there was once more time for or
binary matters, Parson Pladley called
Abner Tfiie to him
''Son Abner, thou didst well SO cum.
ningly to avoid those ruthless sayages.
and privily warn us betfrnes For this
thou meritest reward
Abner looked up. astoniShed
sAnd this shall be thy reward that
for thy wiliful carrying away from the
sanctuary thon Shalt receive no disci-
pine from the church
But my father will stammered
the boy
a0f 4 surety he will, placidly re-
piled the minister. ''and thrust it may
do thee good
Come with me, Abner, said Deacon
Amos Manley H Pike. in Youths
Companion
Union Butter.
Thanks, remarked the star boartler