Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-09-28
BARABBAS FOX.
BY ST. JOHN BYER.


"Now Barabbas was robber"-and
the name was given by the suspicious
community to an old man yclept Fox,
who, they thought, did not heave due re-
spect to the laws OF property in chickens
and roasting ears Of their corn patches. In
fact, this Barabbas was a cobbler, who
blew in upon the town from the northern
bank of its river, bringing with him nu-
merous litter OF Foxes, large and small;
also Madame Vixen, who finely exenl-
plified that old English form as the femi-
nine of Fox. She was tart skinful OF
hot tomales, and woe to him upon whom
she pounced and whom she peppered.
They lived in the first house beyond
the Reformed Church, where he made a
feeble attempt to carry on his trade-hon-
estly, perchance- it was uphill work
against the prejudices OF his neighbors.
One of these was a Mrs. Winebrenner,
living in the corner across the street, who
in a small yard kept large flock of chick
ems that foraged generally upon the coun-
try around and the graveyardS anear,
kindly way, not yet abandoned hereabout,
of getting your chicken pie and soup by
the wreck ofneighbors' gardens and peace
of mind-and maugre the ensuing pro-
family and malignant feelings thereby en-
gendered.
Now Fernando, the Oldest of the young
Foxes, was handy with gun. Further
more, he had no consideration for the
tender nerves of the widow Winebren-
ner when he fired blank charges rounda-
bout, as explained by Nanny Vixen, ITO
keep the chickens off the corn, in fact,
it was charged that he exploded his heav-
lest artillery right under her window in
order to frighten andavex her, also TO
keep her in terror and pay her up for her
meanness in snubbing the Fox family in
a social way. This offense grew so rank
that the weak widow felt she must resort
to the strong arm Of the law-have him
punished and bound over to keep the
peace. She laid in her complaint with
the Town Sergeant, Jake Entler, war
rant was duly sworn out, and Fernando
Fox was arrested as criminal diSturber
of the peace, to be hailed ignominiously
before the town court.
1t was a bright summer afternoon.
Entler rang the bell in front OF that len-
pie of Justice, above whose wide portal
was emblazoned in the circling raylet OF
faded gilt that Everlasting, All-Seeing
Eye which the bad, ireverent boys so
often tried to bung up with their gumballS.
The bell summoned all the gentlemen OF
leisure, of whom this old Virginia town
could boast so many, to gather up for
aught ofinterest or amusement that should
waken them from sleep. Entler remark
ed in an aside, "Boys, there's goingto be
some fun here-a regular henfight," so
quite crowd was on hand in short Or
der.
In the palatial courtroom, already ar
rested, sat the criminal, Fernando, on a
wooden prisoners bench, lad OF seven
teen years, his head bent over in his
hands and weeping copiously, as he fear
ed he might be hung or burned at the
stake, at least if Mrs. Winebrenner could
have her ideas of strict justice put in
force. Soon after came old Barabbas,
carrying the youngest Fox in his arms and
followed by the whole litter. He placed
them on long bench, according to age,
making row OF steps upward TO himself
at their head - evidently intending to
prejudice and work upon the sympathy
of a heartless Judge. Last OF all came
Madame Vixen. She glared around on
the assembly, then let loose tartly:
Fernando, what they got you here
for ?''
With boohoo between his sobs he
answered, "For shootin' Mrs. Winebren-
ner p
"Humph People must have thought
you wanted TO pepper and salt and swall-
er the tough old thing. They'd better be
home minding their own business"
Neighbor Dan Brooks had been sum-
moned as witness. Besides reading
his old family Bible for the whole townto
hear, every Sunday morning, he had
peeped through Fox's Book of Martyrs,
and one OF its pictures still haunted his
mind, so he broke silence:
"Egad, men, history repeats itself.
Here we are again-the Reverend Preach
er Fox burned at the stake-his wife and
nine children, one at the breast, looking
on"
The idea of burning at the stake brought
an additional boohoo from poor Ferdy,
as they called him Familiarity. Madame
Vixen chirped: "Shet up, Fernando,
they darent burn you. Some OF them
will get scorched first"
A hush OF silence came upon the crowd
as the tall form OF Col. Hamtramck, with
a military march, stalked into the court.
He was Mayor, and by virtue OF that OF
flee the Magistrate and guardian OF the
peace ofthis substantialtown, before whom
this breach of peace should be tried. AS
he took his seat he shrugged his shoul-
ders, with grim smile of humor, himself
fond of a good hearty laugh, as the fol-
lowing anecdote will show. He had
brought with him from the Mexican CAM
paign a young black mustang colt, flne
rider, though at times exhibiting the quail
tiles of the broncho. Though he was a
Catholic, he kindly loaned this pony to
Methodist preacher to 60 out to some
country chapel, and surely not with any
malicious intent. Methodist preachers