Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-08-31
Romance Of OIdSt. D0Vid'S

tle maids of Radnor.
Indeed twas said her beauty was
greater than that of many n fine lady
in Philadelphia. Thither she had just
been. having gone chiefly to buy material
for a gown to wear when Gerald Harper
would presently lead her to the altar Of
~. David's.
The buxom country lass, with COM
plpNion not made before the mirror UNI
wittingly captured a heart that had been
pruuf against Cupid's arrows. Rowland
Burgess, whom many n city girl would
have been glad to wed, had asked her to
Lr his wife. When she hesitated, the
petted child of fortune was annoyed.
when. with becoming candor, she con-
fessed she was to marry another, he
vowed his sword would settle the right
to her hand.
Not little fearful, Prudence broke her
engagement with Gerald.
"Yc will never see me again. I'm GO
ing to drown myself" the young farmer
declared. But on reflection he did moth
ing of the sort. He dug his cornfeld
with redoubcd vigor and resolved to
marry the first comely girl who would
have him.
Gossips whispered unkind things about
Prudence, but it was plain envy was at
heed to them.
Young Burgess gave her little time to
change her mind again. He began at
once to build a house near st. David's,
and scarce six months had gone by ere
all the country folk were hidden to the
wedding.
Twas day long to be remembered.
None who could go staid away. E'er
Gerald was there.
It's an i'll wind that blows no good"
observed the honest farmer. To him eti-
Quette was an unknown art.
Prudence, upon the arm of her lord and
master, smiled indulgently. She could
scarce have been expected to regret her
choice.
Ere many months Of the honeymoon
had sped there came into the quiet valley
news that the warcloud had at last burst
Far though it seemed from the busy
world, the young men soon began to talk
Of enlisting. The first to proclaim him
self as anxious to bear arms against the
mother country was Gerald Harper.
mo maid wants me. | may as well
60 to the war;" was his decision.
Prudence gave him godspeed as he set
off for Philadelphia to join Proctors ar
tillery.
Her husband looked on smilingly.
There will be enough single men to sat
isfy British bullets" he declared.
And as the days went by he kept say
ing so, though it became more and more
evident if the colonies were to win there
could not be too many men in the field
But it's hard for a man to leave an APP
parently never ending honeymoon to face
the common enemy-death.
Twas now more than year since in.
dependence had been proclaimed, and the
word was yet mockery, sounding hope
lesSly as it did amid the din of battle.
st. David's had been closed as a place
of worship. William Currie, the rector
having deemed it his duty to read the
English liturgy, had been driven out as
Tory. The church was a barracks fol
a company of Continental soldiers. 4
communion set given by Queen Anne ant
the lead of the windows had been nodded
into bullets. Such was the loyalty o
these sturdy Welsh settlers to the
adopted country.
And still Rowland Burgess RENAME,
by his wfe's side.
One day Prudence received letter
"'Tis from Uncle Davy," she said. III
is with General Wayne near Chadd'
Ford, and he's coming here to preach"
Next Sunday morning Mad An
thongs" chaplain arrived. He was GOV
cred with dust, his left arm was band
aged, but he sprang from his jaded hors
with the agility of lad
He well deserved the title of "Fightin
Parson." Somewhat below meduI
height and weight, he was put togethe
like a soldier His keen gray eyes ha
a merry twinkle; his face was firm, W
kind.
He seemed like n man who would el
joy being at war with one half of IL
world if he could be at peace with Il
other half He was, indeed, typical
the bygOne days when the church WI
close to the daily life of the people.
Your arm, uncle!' exclaimed Pr
dence, as she greeted him.
only scratch from British bull
a few miles down the road-it can wal
You see, l have come prepared" Al
XXI he drew dozen sheets of closely write
paper from beneath his coat
But surely you will have somethiI
to eat and drink, uncleT
Fighting first, lass-am fighting &
devil today"
They went to the little church, viii
was already flled-for the most pa
with women and old men. Here al
there was a young man in civilian
clothes. A score of soldiers loitered
lue uOOTWdy. IuGy Cu6eIeu luSllJ WI
the Fighting Parson" appeared.
He donned the black gown of the ba
ished rector and presently mounted t
high pulpit to read the sermon he h
prepared.
His keen eyes wandered around
church, settling for an instant upon ca
high backed pew, apparently seeing IL
the utmost recess of the balcony, wh(
the bellows boy was preparing for nj
Again he looked around, this til
slowly. He seemed to be counting
young men in civilians dress. Els
cially did he gaze upon Rowland j.
beneath him.
He hurled his sermon upon the flo
"Thirteenw he exclaimed. "Why do
you go with the American army a
fight the British?"
TheU he waited for a reply that ca
not. There was no sound save the Chi
ing OF bird in the burial ground.
"Tm not afraid to go. They ca
hurt me. They can kill me If they Ii
they can make a drumhead OF my
hide, but they'll play humy drum, dru
humy drum, drum, till the British
scared out of the cOuntryW
Then, as if realizing it was a IL
gown he wore, he threw it of, reveal
his Continental uniform.
The women and children were aw