The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-02-17
PARsON PLADLEY.
a Word Picture or Old Puritan
Days

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.
| Ahner 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 in morals and manners by
over-much 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 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 sit upon baclless 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 flvo
| hours.
So when Deacon Amos, with his wife
and younger children, were ready for
meeting, no Abner could be found.
Hidden in the little hay NOW OF the
rough barn, he saw the family depart
his father marching ahead equipped
with musket bandoleer and powder
horn; for King Philip and his Indians
were Mt 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 Huddersheld had passed
| felt that he was safe-for the present
and lay 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; the hens uttered only an
occasional croak. From the far dis
lance the preachers voice came down
on the warm breeze in a softened muir.
muir Abner was doing.
What was that? He heard 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 chicken. Abner peered out
through crack to see II 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 10y, staggering and screaming with
perspiration, ran up the broad aisle
and fell exhausted 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 ut
tered an exclamation.
Whatever the danger was-and they
knew what it might be-this was Gods
house, and in it none but Gods servant
should raise a 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-full
five score-stealing up-to take us I'M
awarer'
The minister returned to the pulpit
"Kindle your matches, brethren"
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
lSet, and blowing the match OF fuse by
which it was discharged. "Musketeers,
to your stations. Ye tn at have but
swords or pixies, sit fast
The congregation obeyed these orders
as calmly as they had been given.
Twenty-Five men, headed by Deacon
| true, silently ranged IHeuiSeiVeS db tno
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 stiffly on the
benches with the women and children,
raost of whom had not looked behind
them since A bner rushed in.
Parson Pladley looked at the hour
glass, which still continued to run, and
quietly resumed his sermon. Around
the sides of the room the musketeers
stopped at the loopholes amid the light
vapor from their smoldering 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 infre-
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.
"And even as aforetim the heather
| did furiOrslv rare and did compass the