The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-02-10
PARSoN PLADLEY.
A Word Picture Of Old Puritan
Days.

field, Massachusetts bay colony. on n
Sunday morning in June. 1876 The
fifty or sixty log buildings which made
up the settlement stood silent us SO
many tombs among the black stumps
Of the half-eieaned fields for every
soul 10 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 dea-
con and tithing- man, and counted sec
ond only to the minister himself in
rigid piety. was actually playing tru-
ant from meeting: and this in village
which looked upon Plymouth and Wey-
mouth as dangerously worldly towns,
relaxed Ii morals and manners BY
oyer-nuch prosperity
BIft 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 be done.
Ii seemed to him too hard that, on
this one day Of rest, he should be
obliged to sit upon backless plank
bench all the forenoon, 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 Ave
hours.
So when Deacon Amos, with his wife
meeting, no Abner could be found.
Hidden In the little hay NOV of the
rough barn, he saw the family depart
his father marching ahead, equipped
with musl1et, bandoleer 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 accoutred,
paced solemnly along toward the rude
sanctuary upon the hill, until Abner.
seeing that all Huddersfeld had passed
felt that he was safe-for the present
and Jay down upon the soft hay to pre-
pare for the sound nap he had SO longed
for
The time went on. The old house
was still now; tho hens uttered only an
occasional croalr. From the far dis
tance the preachers voice came down.
on-the warm breeze in softened MUIR
muir. Abner was doing.
What was that7 He heard sound
that wakened him quite, and he sprang
up to listen.
Nothing but q slight swishing sound
in the tall grass behind the barn
nothing but that II was probably
some fox or polecat on the watch to
snatch chicken. Abner peered out
through crack to see if he could dis
cover the animal, for the swishing
sound seemed drawing nearer.
In the meeting house Parson Pladley
had turned his big hour glass twice,
and now the sands OF the third hour
were almost spent Before him rows
Of serious men. women and children
looked up in reverent attention, not
once removing their earnest eyes from
the minister.
The heavy door was flung open and
shut again with loud bang that start
led every member Of the congregation
A boy, staggering and screaming with
perspiraticn, ran up the broad aisle
and fell exhausted at the foot Of the
pulpit.
Every man stretched out his hand 70
the musket that stood beside him, but
no one rose, no one said q word Of utes
tered an exclamation.
Whatever the danger was-and they
knew what it might bethis was Gods
house. and III II none but Gods servant
n
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- full
Eve score stealing up--to take us nm
awarey''
The minister returned TO the pulpit.
aKindle your matches, brethren, r
said he. in voice Of perfect tranquil
lily
The ring Of flint and steel sounded
all over the house.
MAKE ready your guns. continued
the minister, taking up heavy mus
ket, and blowing the match Or fuse by
which it was discharged .Musketeerss
to yonr stations. Ye that have but
SWOrdh OF pllteS, SlJ IlSL.
The congregation obeyed these orders
as calmly as they had been given.
Twenty-Five men, headed BY Deacon
True, silently ranged themselves at the
loopholes 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 stif1y on the
benches with the women and children,
mostsof whom had not looked behind
them since Abner rushed in.
ParsoA Pladley looked ut the hour
kglass, which still continued to run, and
quietly resumed his sermon Around
the sides Of the room the musketeers
stopped at the foopholes amid the light
vapor from their srnoldering matches
On the benches the body Of listeners
kept their composed countenances
| turned upon the preacher Save, his
| voice, there was no sound bnt an infra-
| quent metallic rattle, as some mus
keteer examined his gun or loosened his
| iron-hilted broadsword in the scabbard.
| The words Of the preacher sounded
| through the house.
Il "And even as aforetim the heather
did furiously rage, and did compass the
| children of the covenant with spear
and with javelin round about--r
A high pitched. thrilling screech
filled the dir without, and now rose
4 A.. .,S.tna xs,an en-