Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1895-04-18
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HISTORIC WESTMINSTER.
Events of Other Days as Related
by Son and Citizen.
TContinued.l


by a Son and Citizen.
[Continued.l
There stands i'm lot about 20 rods
west of the main street in the village,
and about the same distance southerly
of the old burying ground, stately old
elm tree, notedsfor its beauty and SYM
metry, which has not apparently
changed for the last fifty years in its
general appearance. In the writer's
early boyhOod he was the interested
spectator and listener of an incident, of
Mr.. Bradley's characteristic wit, humor
and oratorical power and pathos. On a
dark, cloudy and misty forenoon in the
latter part of May, Mr. Bradley was
sitting in the old brick store, as was his
custom sometimes, to pass away an idle
hour in pleasant conversation with the
customers that came in.
On the occasion to which we refer
there came in an old man by the name
of John Priest, living on the hills of
Westminster West, whom Mr.. Bradley
had not seen for long time, and he
cordially greeted him and kindly in
quired after the health of his family,
and the news. The old farmer was
much f1attered at this cordially and in
quired of Mr.. Bradley the village news,
to which he replied there was nothing
new and then hesitating moment,
"except,-perhaps you have not heard
of the great convention held here last
he had not. Mr.. Bradley pointing
can see that great elm tree over there in
hn folds 9 Wall anH around that
great tree, thousands were assembled
last week in convention to consult on a
great and important matter, of life or
death" And then he went on, to tell
how the crows had been making great
havoc, by pulling the young corn just
coming through the ground, and SO
great the damage, that the farmers had
become eXasperated, and determined
on destroying or DISCRIMINATING the
crows, unless these depredations ceased
Immediately. This determination COM
ing in some manner to the knowledge
of the crows, they held a council and
after grave deliberation, decided that
for their own safety, these depredations
must cease at once, and passed a solemn
decree that no more corn should be
pulled, and that any crow breaking this
law should forfeit his life, and be execu-
ted by the other crows. There was a
pair of old crows having large brood
of young ones dependent on them for
sustenance and their extremity was
great, for their young We're starving by
reason of this ironclad law.
Then he told how in the midnight
hours the old crows discussed the
weather, of their reasoning and argu-
ments, pro and con, and how finally
they decided that absolute necessity re-
quired them, notwithstanding the dan
ger Of breaking the new stringent law,
to pull few hills of corn, just barely
sufficient to save the, lives of their
young. So in accordance with this de-
cision the old father crow as soon as the
first gray streaks of morn appeared,
flew to a neighboring field, and pulled
a few hills of corn; but he was imme-
diately caught in the act, by the watch
full crow sentinels, and arrested. Swift
winged messengers We're dispatched in
all directions and soon there assembled
thousands of crows on and around the
old elm tree in convention for the trial
of the poor old law breaker.
He then went on to explain and re-
peat the learned arguments for convic-
ton and full vindication Of the law,
and the eloquent and touching appeals
for mercy, and how just before the final
vote was taken the old mother crow
made the most eloquent and touching
appeal of all for clemency and mercy,
and how after all these grave delibera-
lions it was decided by large prepon-
derence of votes that the old crow must
die. Mr.. Bradley went through these
imaginary transactions in great detail,
and the finest and most thrilling elo-
quence to the close of the trial, which
took him nearly two hours.
Meanwhile the old farmer was sitting
with open mouth in wrapt attention,
his countenance lighting up or blanch-
ing, according to the varying mood of
the orator At the conclusion and sem
tence of death, Mr.. Bradley cane in
hand, abruptly rose from his chair and
started for his home, but before he could
reach the door, the old farmer was at
his heels and touching Mr.. Bradley's
elbow ,ibreathlessly and eXcitedly asked
"did they execute him?" Mr.. Bradley
without moving his body turned his
face over his shoulder, while his large,
brilliant brown eyes went piercingly
through and through the eager enquir-
er replied, II don't know, 1 didn't stop
to see."