Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-08-06

SmOhc lcdplnS up dSdllloI VllO 9Nl
as eager as though they enjoyed |
their share in it all!
eve kept this up for close on an
hour, until the fire was almost |
burned out, and then a lot Of the
men among us came down here to
the Ring O Bells to wind up the
evening with drink. And we need
ed it, most on us, for our Threats
wer' well nigh raw with yelling.
Farmer Scrivncr, he wer' in great
feather that night. lie stood drinks
all round and laughed and TESTED
about the burning of parsons elligy,
and we all chimed in and joked and
jeered mcrrily away until five min
utes past II by that very clock
pointing to the old timepiece over
the fireplace five minutes past
Il! | remember the time as clear
as though it wer' yesterday.
"Then all on. sudden Jem Sand
ford-he wer' the farmers cowman
comes rushing in at yonder door,
with his face all pale and startled
like and sorely out Of breath.
"NGeaster,' he gasps, Measter
Scriyner, come quick Thy house
be on fire. l saw the flames burst
ing from thy roof as | come along
the road, and I've run straight to
tell theep
GARNER didn't wait to ask any
more questions, but went off sharp
for his house, and we all followed
to give what help We could. We
we're sobcrcd and made serious at
once, | warrant you. As We ran
toward the house we saw the flames
breaking sayagely from the win
dows Of the upper floor and twist
inc and licking around the roof as
the draft blew them first one way
and then another.
"a few on us was going to turn
the poor beasties loose when we was
stopped by summat which at once
turned our thoughts away from
them and made us well nigh sick at
heart WI dismay. For the rumor
ran like lightning through the
crowd that Farmer Scrivner's wife
and her babe as had scarce been
born week wer' still in the upper
bedroom. cut off from the rest Of
the house by the fire. And then
we looks and sees her at the window
waving her arms wildly for help
and shrieking, poor SOUL like one
daft WI terror.
ga ladderp goes the cry. "A
ladder! A ladderp But somehow
there weren't no ladder to be found
upon the spot, and while they was
hunting for one and we was stand
ing looking on in sort of palsy
| like from helpless dismay a tall,
dark figure bursts through us,
brushing us aside like SO many
childer, and begins to climb a pipe
which ran down from the Shoot
| ing Of the caves.
ave knowed the figure. Not an
other man in that place could have
gone up that pipe so active and so
strong. But the flames was dart
inc right across it near the top,
and we held our breath WI sus-
pense whether parson, for all his
strength and courage, would be able
to get past. But he never hesltated
or shirked-no, not a second. Nay,
through the belt Of fire he went,
brave as a lion, and, grasplng the
sill of the window, swung himself
in.
1--WE didn't boot him this time, |
warrant YOU, but we set up such a
cheering as, they told us afterward,
was heard over at Rcyelsham yon-
der. ten good mile away. And our
cheering didn't lose nothing when
A minute or two later we seed him
lowering mother and babe WI a rope
of sheets and blankets safe into the
score of arms stretched out below to
take EN-.
'But the flames had gained terri
bic now, and all the roof wer
ablaze. Parson wer' in deadly per
il. he wer', and we called to him to
lump and save himself and wed
help to break his fall, and he wer
lust about to when we seed HIM
suddenly stagger back, choked,
suppose, by the thickening smoke
and the flames filled the window
and the roof groaned and swayed
then fell in WI a fearsome crash
And that wer' parsons end.
1--WE thowt that sparks from the
ashes of tn. bonfire must have light
ed on the thatch and so started the
fire there, for the wind did blow
that way. And that didn't make II:
feel less guilty like. But anyhow
we've none of us had no stomach
since then for keeping GunpowdeI
dav. and | reckon we shan't have
leastways so long as Parson ELVES
i remembered in Il.
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