University of Virginia Library

7. CHAPTER VII.

The next morning dawned dismally and darkly on the Pond
and over the town. Rumor of what had fallen out at the husking
party was rapidly distributed through the region. Early
in the forenoon an inquest was holden on the body of young
Smith, at No. 4, and it was declared that he came to his death
from violence inflicted by one or more members of the family of
Pluck. The uncertainty of the affair, aggravated by the bewildered
state of the witnesses, rendered it expedient to arrest
the entire household. Shortly on the Brandon road, which,
but a few days before Margaret and Mr. Evelyn had traversed
with so much serene hopefulness and in the midst of such inspiring
beauty, appeared the Constable, Captain Tuck, armed
with a warrant, and supported by a large body of people, bearing
sundry instruments of offence, and hastening along with
mingled imprecations and laments. At No. 4 were still greater
confusion and alarm; and there turned up the Delectable Way
a multitude large as once bore Margaret in triumphal procession
over the same ground, who now were in pursuit of her
and her friends with tempers exacerbated by the recital of
atrocious deeds, imaginations inflamed by horrific suggestions,
and a purpose which nothing short of her own life or that of those

dear to her, could qualify or extinguish. From the Via Salutaris
and Via Dolorosa poured in numbers more with swords,
axes and pitchforks, who halting at a distance, and forming a
cordon of defence and affright about the premises, awaited the
arrival of Capt. Tuck. The several parties mutually reinforced,
commenced their approach to the house. Those behind pressing
forward with a zest and courage proportionate to the interval
between them and the scene of danger, the mass became
wedged about the door which was opened without the usual
formality of knocking, or pulling the string. Sibyl Radney,
who stood barring the door with her back, obliged to yield to
the energy with which the entrance was made, was the only
moving person they saw. Pluck and his wife, stupified by an
intoxication that had probably been enhanced after the fatal
event was understood, Sibyl had dragged to their bed. The
wantonness and disorder of the night she endeavored to correct,
and was busily employed gathering up the fragments of food,
broken bottles and decanters that strewed the floor. Over
the decayed and blackened embers of the fire, sat Margaret
and Chilion in rigid silence and haggard immobility; his face
dropped into the palms of his hands, she with her arms closed
about her brother's neck into which her head was sunk. Hash
was discovered, overpowered by his fears and his potations,
under the bed in the garret. Nimrod and Rose, the Widow
foremost in execration of the family and loudest in clamor for
vengeance, declared had fled on horseback together during the
night. The Master was found in a thicket near the water,
whither in his own frenzy and the turbulence of the hour he
had betaken himself, plunged to his knees in mire and shaking
with cold and alarm. Margaret and Chilion, without remonstrance
or delay, prepared to obey the summons of the officer, and
went forward a-foot. The other three were carried in a cart to
the Village, where they were all consigned to the Jail, there
to lie until the returning senses of the inebriated should justify
an examination. The Master was taken to his bed, where, with
fever superadded to his surfeit, he had a prospect of remaining
for some time. The people, a portion of them, staid about the
Jail, in earnest conference on what had transpired; others
went to their old resorts, the Meeting-house steps, the Tavern,
the Barber's Shop, and the Store of Deacon Penrose. In the
Counting Room of the latter collected Parson Welles, Judge
Morgridge, Dr. Spoor, Deacons Hadlock, Ramsdill and Penrose,
Esquires Weeks, Beach and Bowker, the latter a junior
member of the profession, and recent settler in Livingston,
Captain Tuck, Ex-Captain Hoag, Mr. Adolphus Hadlock, Mr.
Whiston a Breakneck, Mr. Pottle a Snakehill, and other
citizens.

“Mysterious is the Providence of God,” outspoke Parson
Welles, the first to break the dubious and oppressive silence.
“Some are appointed to damnation by a just indeed and irreprehensible,
but incomprehensible judgment of God; some he
brings to repentance unto life. Let us not rebel against his
most righteous sovereignty. In what has now eventuated, my
brethren and friends, we behold the Scripture verified, that the
carnal mind is enmity against God. And let all of us, whose
desert is the same, not be high-minded but fear; let us humble
ourselves before the mighty hand of God, who in this administereth
a needed rebuke for our manifold sins.”

“Can any one tell us how this melancholy affair was brought
about?” enquired Judge Morgridge after a pause.

Deacon Penrose. “As I learn from Mr. Wilcox, who was
providentially present and able to make a distinct report, it
was an unprovoked and malicious attack of some members of
that depraved family on the unfortunate young man.”

Esquire Beach. “I think I can inform your Honor more
explicitly, that it is probably a result of anterior and long cherished
animosities on the part of the persons named in the precept
against the family of Mr. Smith, arising from indentures
in the hands of said Smith of grants and convenants, on the
part of said persons, yet unfulfilled and for a considerable period
delayed.”

Deacon Hadlock. “Why do we mince the matter? I can
tell you all it is owing to defect of justice; that we havn't
heavier penalties, tighter execution, more wholesome laws. If
these persons had only been kept under, or been enough broke
by the chastisements they have already had, they never would
have come to this. Truly we can say, we let the wicked go
unpunished. Magistrates are set for the terror of evil doers;
our commissions enjoin us to look arter the good and safety of
the State. For their Sabbath-breaking, their disobedience
to rulers, their unbelief, their blasphemies, their hardness of
heart, their stiff-neckedness and perverse ways, has this come
upon them. They have fallen into a pit which their own hands
have digged. And for our sinful remissness has this judgment
lit upon the town. We ought to have hewed to pieces these
Agags before the Lord. God teareth them in his anger who
hate his church and despise governments. We have been slower
in rendering justice than the Almighty in executing his
fierce wrath; we have spared the rod and spoilt the child.”

Parson Welles. “It behoveth us in truth that we consider
of our wicked declensions and great provocations before
God, whereby he hath reached forth to us this bitter cup of
shame and sorrow. And, brethren, is it not meet that we
appoint a Fast, touching this matter, as has been the practice
of our Fathers in all calamitous visitations?”

Little Girl. “Daddy wants a quart of pupelo.”

Deacon Penrose. “Mr. Wilcox, wait on this child, and
when you have done that, bring in some glasses and a measure
of our best New England.”

Captain Tuck. “We had a heavy frost last night, the air
is raw and piercing this morning, and this is trying business.
I well remember during the War standing sentry by the
General's Markee half the night, in the depth of winter, on
the solid snow, barefoot, with never a drop to cheer or warm
one with.”

Deacon Ramsdill. “It takes two to make a quarrel, and I
count there must have been something hard said or done on
t'other side.”

Esq. Beach. “Our worthy Deacon would do nothing that
should prejudice the case, or compromit the parties concerned;
nor interpose obstacles to the due process of justice
and impartial effect of the laws. His generous feelings we
know always tempt him to act in behalf of those who may be
called to suffer; but he should remember that Law, Law is
the essence of the Deity, the genius of the Bible, the guardian
Angel of humanity; and that Law ever must be and ever
shall be sustained.”

Deacon Ramsdill. “I don't know much about law, but I
know something about nater. A cow won't kick when she is
milked unless she has either core in her dugs or chopped
teats, and is handled roughly; and she always knows who is a
milking of her. Cappen Tuck speaks about the last War.
I recollect when we was in the Provinces down to Arcady,
where the Black Flies come out as thick as birds arter a
thunder-storm, they won't let you feel the sting till arter you
see the blood. I guess there has been a Great Black Fly
about here, and now the blood has come we begin to feel the
sting.”

Parson Welles. “We have convened on a serious intendment,
and Brother Ramsdill would be in the way of Scripture
to avoid foolish jesting which is not convenient, and whereby
the brethren may be offended.”

Judge Morgridge. “Is it understood how many persons

are supposed to be involved in this crime? Is it thought the
younger female member of the family is to be accounted
either principal or accessory? I know not that, in the present
stage of the affair, I ought to make this inquiry; nor, considering
my own position, whether it becomes me to raise any
question at all. I do it, not on my own account, but for the
sake of others.”

Deacon Hadlock. “I know of no vessel of wrath more
fitted for destruction than that gal. She is so hardened in
iniquity that any abominable conduct is to be looked for in
her. We have compassionated her ignorance, but it is of no
avail; we have done all that could be done for her, but she
braces herself agin God, despises divine truth, breaks the holy
Sabbath.”

Deacon Ramsdill. “Sows over-littered eat their own pigs.
Perhaps you have done too much for her, Brother Hadlock.
Mabby she hasn't forgot the bed you spread for her when she
was down here to Meetin' a few year ago, and when she had
the School this Summer past.”

Deacon Penrose. “Will the Parson taste a little of our
New England? We call it a prime article, and think this the
very best we ever manufactured.”

Abel Wilcox. “It has as handsome a bead as I ever saw;
and we think it possesses a flavor very much like the West
India.”

Parson Welles. “Truly, in the words of Scripture, we
may say, Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish,
and wine to those that be of heavy hearts. We need something
to make our faces shine these dark times.”

Deacon Penrose. “Gentlemen, help yourselves.”

Deacon Ramsdill. “Down to Arcady, when a rattlesnake
bit one, his comrade sucked out the pizen; if he didn't, the
fellow died. I think we had better try and see if we can't
get some of the pizen out of these poor folk, instead of taking
it into our own bodies. I know it's a cold morning, but sap
runs best arter a sharp frost, and my blood, old as it is, is
enough moved without any urging.”

Deacon Hadlock. “Dark times, indeed, Brother Penrose;
we have contempt in the Church, as well as abuse in the
State. Things are getting worse and worse every day. We
are all at loose ends. Judgment follows judgment. The
Christan religion itself is just tottering to fall. The Universalists
I heared yesterday had appeared a little to the west of
us, at Dunwich Equivalents; their preacher, John Murray, is

drawing away people by hundreds. The Socinians have
broke into the fold at the Bay. But for the elects' sake, who
should be saved! The good man is perished out of the earth,
there is none upright among men. We cannot trust in a
friend or put confidence in a guide. We know not on whom
to rely.”

Judge Morgridge. “It is an old story, Deacon, that the
times are deteriorating; I have heard it ever since I was a
boy. The world has stood some pretty hard shocks, and it
seems to be able to survive a good many more. So the old
Worthy Fuller records, more than a century ago, `I have
known the City of London forty years,' says he, `their shops
did ever sing the same tune that trading was dead; and when
they wanted nothing but thankfulness, this was their complaint.'
Let us be patient, Deacon, and the coming tide will
lift us from the rocks. The hand that has smitten will heal
our wasted and torn condition.”

Deacon Ramsdill. “Time is the stuff that life is made of,
as Poor Richard says. I think if we would spin and weave it
better, we should not have so much raggedness to complain
of; and things wouldn't be falling to pieces so.”

Captain Tuck. “Raggedness and ruin! what do gentlemen
mean? Have we not had a glorious War! Are we not
independent! Isn't this a great country? Was there ever an
era like the present, and will there ever be another such a
one? Isn't America the envy of all worlds, and isn't it honor
enough to have fought her battles even if we had lost our
all? Does she not shine like the meridian sun in his splendor?
Our children will sigh and pine for the golden period
in which we now live.”

Esq. Bowker. “I think, if I may take the liberty to express
my thought, that I partially agree with our friend Captain
Tuck. We discern indisputable signs of improvement.
There is an amelioration in the order of events; there is a
softening of the crude and undigested matter with which the
breast of the ages has been so long gorged; Influence has
a vigorous but better regulated pulse, gladness and love are
on its countenance; History is emerging from its corruptions
and appears in a regenerated form; there is a tendency to
individualization and perfection; if there be a breaking up in
what is about us it is the Preparatory movement towards the
great Unity; the iron and mailed hand of Public Opinion
greets you less violently; the strictures of Organization are
less heavy and embarrassing; Prerogative is disposed to relinquish

some of its self-will and austerity; Literature is
beginning to replenish itself from the infinity of Virtue;
Religion is becoming more humanized; and we can scarcely
hope to enter upon the new century that is now opening to us,
without leaving at the threshold much trumpery and feculence,
and bearing with us abundant elements of a renovated
condition.”

Deacon Hadlock. “Alas the day, that I should come to
this! Alas the day, that my old eyes should see what they
now see! I stand like a man cutting the grave-stones for his
own wife and children. I sarved under the old king, I fought
agin the Spanish, the French and the Indians; I buckled to
among the first for our liberties, I gave a hand through all the
tug of the War, I have helped build up our Constitution and
Laws, and now we are worse off than ever. Woe is me! A
sorer pest than any before has overtaken us.”

Mr. Adolphus Hadlock. “What, Uncle, what, the Small-pox
has not broke out anew? Aristophanes, my son—”

Deacon Hadlock. “No, Adolphus, worse than that; worse
than Throat Distemper, or Putrid Fever, or anything else.
The Jacobins, the Jacobins are in amongst us; all the blood-hounds
of the French kennel are let loose upon us, Free-thinkers,
Illuminatists, Free-Masons, Papists.”

Judge Morgridge. “Don't you remember, Deacon, when
the news of Braddock's Defeat, in the year '55, was brought
here, what an alarm we had? Every man, and woman, and
child, ran out of their houses to learn the news, all was
despair. `The country is betrayed by Government.' `We are
undone, they have sold us to the French.' `They'll make
Catholics of us all,' were cries that filled the streets; and
your father, a greyheaded old man, and our good minister,
then a young man, spoke to the people from the Meeting-house
steps, and told them not to be afraid, but put their trust
in God. We recovered from our reverses, and have passed
safely through a good many difficulties since. The French
indeed have done us much good, and in the War we courted
their alliance and were glad of their aid.”

Deacon Hadlock. “I know what you say, Judge—I never
liked the French, I was always agin that contract. But we
never had such trying times as these; so many intarnal as
well as extarnal foes to our peace and prosperity. Things
never looked nigh so dark.”

Mr. Whiston. “I agree with the Deacon exactly; he has
put the case right on its own legs. For one, I am near about

done for. I havn't hardly a hair left to my hide, or a pewter
fip in my pocket. Taxes, taxes are eating us all up; taxes
upon your whole estate, then on the parts of it, horses, carts,
tools; taxes on all you eat and drink; taxes paid by taxes,
taxes breeding taxes; and when all is gone, then tax the body
and lug it off to Jail.”

Deacon Ramsdill. “Misery makes us acquainted with
strange bed-fellows, Judge.”

Judge Morgridge. “You see, Deacon Hadlock, into what
company you fall; Mr. Whiston is one whom I believe you
committed for being concerned in the late disturbances in
these States.”

Deacon Hadlock. “Just as I say, Judge, we are too
lenient, we didn't put on the screws half hard enough. The
Insargents ought to have been hung, or banished from the
country, or else condemned to imprisonment for life. The State
was not cleansed of the plague that was upon it, and the sore
waxes fouler every hour.”

Mr. Whiston. “'Tis true I harbored the men; 'tis true I
fell in with the movement; and I wish to heaven we could
have a rebellion—I will say it here if I have to swing to-morrow
for it. I wish Shays could have carried the matter
through all the States. I helped throw off one government,
but I little calculated how I was going to be sucked in by
another. Courts, lawyers, sheriff-fees, constable-fees, justice-fees,
imposts, excise, stamp-duties, continental bills, paper
tender, forced sales, have swept off everything. The grubs of
the law have gnawed into us, and we are all powder-post.
How many actions did you try in one term, Judge? Was it
less than a thousand?”

Judge Morgridge. “Well, let that go, Mr. Whiston; it is
past, and we will endeavor to forget it.”

Mr. Whiston. “I shan't let it go, it an't past, and it can't
be forgotten. Can I forget the cries of Bly and Rose, up
there in Lenox? Not so easy. We fought for liberty in the
War, and if a man hasn't liberty to own his own, to use his
own, to be his own, what are our liberties good for? Government
is Lord God Almighty, and skin-flint besides. Where
is my title to my estate? Government has got it. Where is
my income? Government has got it. Where is the disposal
of my person? Government has got it. Where is the control
of my actions? Government has got it. Where are my
boys? Gone to fight the Government battles agin the Indians.
Where are my gals? Spinning out taxes for Government.

What is the Government for? To protect me, you say; yes,
as the wolf did the lamb, by stripping me of all I have. We
help make the Government? No. Didn't we petition to have
the Constitution altered, some of the courts abolished, and the
under officers set aside? And were our petitions granted?
No, they were not admitted; Government spurned us and our
petitions together. Such bungling and frippery never were
seen. I wouldn't give a fiddlestick's end for all the governments
in creation. They take the best of everything, and
leave us only the orts and hog-wash. Times are mopish and
nurly. I don't mean to be scrumptious about it, Judge, but I
do want to be a man, if I am a Breakneck, and havn't so
much eddecation as the rest of you.”

Judge Morgridge. “It is getting warm here; we shall be
called to the trial soon, and we need all calmness of mind.”

Mr. Whiston. “I am ready to stay and argufy the matter
out with anybody. I have no notion of hushing it up so.”

Dr. Spoor. “More parties than one have been implicated.
I think our worthy Deacon named the Free-masons, a Fraternity
to which I deem it an honor to belong.”

Deacon Hadlock. “Yes, I did mention them; they are
rising in France, Germany and England; they are leagued
with the Jacobins on both sides of the water, and threaten the
destruction of all this 'varsal world.”

Dr. Spoor. “They acknowledge the three cardinal doctrines
of Faith, Hope and Charity.”

Deacon Hadlock. “I know it, they are as bad as the Socinians;
under cover of religion they would destroy religion
itself. Hasn't Tom Jefferson threatened he would burn up
all the Bibles in the land, if he comes in President? Isn't he
the jaw-bone of Jacobinism in this country? Havn't there
been town-meetings called agin Jay's Treaty? Hasn't John
Jay himself been burnt in effigy? Yes, in Boston he was
carted through the streets, with a watermelon shell on his
head, carried past Governor Adams's house where they made
him salute the old man, and then took and burnt on the Common.
Houses were broken open, persons assaulted. What is
all this but playing into that whale's hands, Buonaparte, and
he means to swallow us all up?”

Captain Hoag. “These things are jest so. We heard in
our part of the town last week, that he had taken the city of
London, and was burning over all England; that he had made
the Pope God of the whole airth, and that they were both
coming to America, were going to put us all into the Inquisition,
and then set fire to't.”

Deacon Ramsdill. “You eat nothing if you watch the
cook; I think we had better be thankful for what we have,
and God will give us what we want.”

Mr. Pottle. “I believe the Deacon made a fling at the
Universalists?”

Deacon Hadlock. “They are the seed of the old Sarpent;
they are leagued with the Devil himself; they take advantage
of the natural heart to entrap us with their soul-destroying
doctrines; they make a fling at the righteous justice of God.”

Mr. Pottle. “For one I must say, my eyes have been
opened; I an't a going to be hood-winked any longer. I
do not believe God is a wrathful being, I do not believe he
will keep us in red-hot Hell to all Eternity for what we do in
this short life.”

Deacon Hadlock. “Oh! oh! What will come next?
We are undone,—I am the man that has seen affliction.”

Mr. Pottle. “I believe the Atonement is broad enough to
cover the whole race.”

Parson Welles. “God be praised, his decrees shall stand
against all the lying deceit of man!”

Esq. Weeks. “We do indeed seem to be quite in a toss.
I have said nothing hitherto, because I have had so many
other things to think about. There are sometimes domestic
and personal calamities which seem for the moment to out-weigh
all public concerns; and how many in our midst are at
this moment, we must believe, in deepest affliction. But I
cannot well let what has been here expressed pass without at
least offering a word of encouragement and hope. I agree
with Mr. Whiston, that our Government is not all we could
desire. I did not vote, as you well know, for the Constitutions
either of the State or the Nation. But having been
adopted by a majority of the people, I am willing to give them
my cordial support. I have confidence in the people; and
believe that they will right what is wrong, and better what is
bad. I concur in the old maxim, that that government is best
which governs least, and I think the evils we deplore will be
remedied in time.”

Esq. Bowker. “There is a principle of health in Time
itself, agreeably to which we may hope that the diseased body
politic will ultimately recover, the tumid aspect of society
subside, noxious sentiment be thrown off, and the clouded
atmosphere of our public life clear away.”

Esq. Beach. “There are some gentlemen who have all the
urbanity of the Original Tempter himself; who pursue by

indirection what they dare not openly propose, and under the
guise of flattery harbor the deadliest intent. Heavens! has it
come to this! shall driveling be substituted for sound reason,
phrenzy for dispassionate conduct! Oh, Humanity, where is
thy blush! Oh Virtue, where hast thou fled! Was it not
the firmness of President Washington in resisting the overtures
of the French, that saved us from that gulf? Was it
not the explosion of Randolph's connection with Fauchet that
prevented the worst of calamities? Are not French emissaries
scattered through the land, corrupting our citizens, and
disturbing our politics? Have we not seen the Tricolored
Cockade, that emblem of massacre and blood, voting at our
polls? Has not France twice dismissed our envoys with
ignominy? No Festival is so celebrated in this country as
the Birth of the Dauphin; yes, we revere the birth of a
Monarch more than the virtues of Washington! You cannot,
gentlemen, have forgotten the refined patriotism of one of our
Judges, who recently invested the city of Providence with a
regiment of soldiers, and endeavored to arrest the Celebration
of the Anniversary of our Independence, and prevent the
Ratification of the then ninth pillar of the Federal Constitution,
New Hampshire. The Gazettes of that clique are distributed
with a diligence worthy a better cause. Our own
mails, yes, to my shame and sorrow I repeat it, the mails of
this good old Federal town of Livingston are loaded with their
prints; Chronicles, Auroras and Arguses are circulated in our
midst, through which the great Monster of Evil belches forth
his falsehoods, seditions, blasphemies and calumnies upon our
population. This Anglophobism is the most malignant and
incurable of all diseases.”

Esq. Weeks. “Yes, enough of it worse than Gallophobism.
We have no dastardly Refugees voting at our polls—
no. Reams of Russell's Gazettes, Courants, Centinels, Spys,
are not every week brought to our village—no. They are full
of truth, religion, candor, sweetness—yes. We have no
readers of Porcupine's Gazette, a writer who is an avowed
British subject—no. The Editor of the Aurora was not
recently whipped in the streets—no. How many Black Cockades
could I count in this room? But, soberly, Sam Adams's
threadbare coat must give place to John Hancock's lace and
ruffles. Our ladies must have negroes to bear their trains
through the streets as their mothers did. Captain Hoag,
here, would have us kneel to his Spread Eagle and Blue
Ribbon, and we must barter our old-fashioned pewter for

Cincinnati plates, and cups and saucers. We must import
mustard, muffs, tippets and Flanders lace. We must baptize
all things into the mild spirit of Federalism; we have a
Federal Congress, Federal Gazettes, Federal Hotels, Federal
Theatres, Federal Circuses, Federal Streets, Federal Ware-houses,
Federal Flour, Federal Babies; we have long had a
Federal Gospel, no offence to our good Minister, and must
look for a Federal Heaven.”

Esq. Beach. “I shall make no reply to matters like these;
I know we are somewhat diverted from the objects that
brought us here. But one thing I would have impressed on
all minds; there are three political sects in the United States.
The first in number, as well as in sense, without umbrage to
Brother Weeks, are the Federalists, who believe mankind are
in need of the restraints of good government. The second
are the Jacobins, who see in every book of acts and resolves,
gibbets, pillories and jails. But there is a third sect, who are
less despised and yet are more contemptible, the Illuminatists.
These will have it that government is unnecessary. They
want common sense to such a degree, that they do not know
their want of it. They are under-workers to the Jacobinical
purpose of power, plunder and vengeance.”

Abel Wilcox. “'Lexis Robinson is here again with his
notes, Sir.”

Deacon Penrose. “I dare say. He is punctual to a day.
He holds some of the Consolidated Notes and Quarter Master
General's Certificates, and comes every year to dispose of
them. I offered him eight and six pence on the pound; then
as they depreciated four shillings, and at last when they were
good for nothing, in pure compassion, I told him I would give
one and six; but he wouldn't be easy without the full face.
He might have taken advantage of the Funding.”

Mr. Whiston. “That is what we tried to bring about, a
means to pay the old soldiers; but we could not do it. Poor
Lex, his face half gone, his wits nigher done for, his old sores
still a running—well if the country for which he fought can
give him sward enough to cover his bones!”

Deacon Ramsdill. “He that lives upon hope will die fasting,
as Poor Richard says; if this belongs to 'Lexis I guess it
will apply to some other folks. What is the hour, Judge?”

Judge Morgridge. “I think we had better give attention
to the prisoners. The warrant was issued from your office,
Squire Bowker, I believe; shall we not adjourn there?”

Parson Welles. “God send the right.”