The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-02-17

4
pattering Of the arrows diminished
parson Pladley had not interrupted
his sermon, although his voice had
been temporarily drowned by the noise
of the assault and defense, except foi
the instant that he cast one glance al
the musl<et beside him and another al
the hour-glass
An the men who could act were nj
their posts: why should he not continue
to the end, while waiting for the des,
perate struggle which must come? His
sense of duty told him that he ought moi
TO cease his holy office before the ap.
| pointed time, except under compulsiou
in which he must recognize the hand OF
God
His hearers understood this as well
as II he had declared his determination
in SO many words. They did their par,
by listening with steady attention.
Again the cries grew louder and
arrow-flights thicker The guns re
piled, but this time the attack was not
repulsed A ponderous humping on
the door, which shook the whole build.
ing, told that some kind OF battering,
ram was being employed to break II
down, A few more such Shocks anc
the door must fall
Only pinch or two of sand remained
in the hour-glass. Still it was not quite
empty, and parson pladley preached
on.
Crash The door was half Off its
hinges The flrearm mon crowded be-
hind it, and delivered volley that APP
peared for Il minute to clear the pas.
sage. There was yet some sand in the
hour-glass. Tho pason's lips could be
seen to move, though his voice was no,
heard.
A renewed yell and tho crashing
blows once more beau upon the door
No shots answered tins time, for the
muslSets We're empty
An arrow whistled across the church
and stuck quivering in tho front of the
pulpit Around the edges of the shat.
tered door hatchcts 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 Pladley bowed his head
and said: "Amenl" And all the con-
gregat.on answered together: "Amenf"
Up sprang the hitherto motionless
listeners-women To the rear, men to
the front-and from the pulpit the old
minister, with sword and gun, led the
way to the aid of the Others, who wero
beginning to give ground before tho
mass of hideously painted figures who
were forcing their way through the en-
trance.
Then came out another side of the
Puritan character The fierce energy
almost joy-with which the colonists
fought was as surprising as the stony
self-control they had shown but q
moment before. Ahead of them all.
Parson Fladley swung his mighty
sword with cries which betrayed the
the old householder OF Cromwell and
Harrison, for such he had been; and of
those who followed him, more than
one had stood in the ranks of the pike
men who met the charges of Princes
Rupert's cavaliers, and repealed them,
too.
As II he remembered this the minis
ter lifted up his strong voice In tho
the battlefelds of Naseby and Marston
Moor-the war song Of David the king.
rejoicing over his victory
~ 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 girded me with
strength unto the battle; thou hast
subdued under me those who rose up
against me-"
The Indians were like wolves COM
batting lions They shrank, wavered
and were pressed back 10 the door.
through it and 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 pursuers.
Huddersheld was saved.
Within the Westinghouse, 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 a 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 CRATE
full chorus.
When the injured had been cared for.
and there was once more time for or
binary matters Parson Pladley called
Abner True to him.
''Son Abner, thou didst well so cum,
ningly to avoid those ruthless savages.
and privily warn us betimes. For this
| thou meritest reward"
| Abner looked up, astonished
Sand this shall be thy reward-that
for thy willful tarrying away from the
sanctuary thou shalt receive no disci-
! pline-from the church"
"But nv father will" starnmered