Under the Storm

em here as to

UT

the seventeenth century, when Englishmen were at war w

als, Cavaliers and Roundheads, but this story is to help us to think how i

ations to keep out the enemy, and their houses spread out beyond the old walls; and the country houses had windows and doors large and

ld by men who did all the work thems

hed one another in the summer, and the mud and mire were very deep in winter; but that mattered the less as nothing on wheels

e was seated Steadfast Kenton, a boy of fourteen, sturdy, perhaps loutish, with an honest ruddy face under his leathern cap, a coarse smock frock and stout gaiters. He

ristol Channel; and nearer, on one side, the spire of Elmwood Church looked up, and, on the other, the woods round Elmwood House, and these ran out as it were, lengthening and n

ll had watches in their pockets, and they never failed to go down

the side of the ravine. Steadfast followed, looking about him to judge how soon the nuts would be ripe, whi

for his sisters, Patience and Jerusha. They used to come with him and have pleasant games, but it was a long time since Patience had been able to come out, for in the winter, a grievous trouble had come on the family. The good moth

knew he must get home as fast as he could to help Patience in milking the cows, feeding the pigs and poultry, and

ayed on hot days. It had been their secret, and a kind of palace to them. They had sat there as king and queen, had paved it with stones from the brook, and had had many plans

square cap and black cassock tucked up, and then a bit of brown leathern coat, which he knew full well. It was the Vicar, Master Holworth, and his father John Kenton was Churchwarden, so it was no wonder to see him and the Parson to

ed the clergyman. "Is a

ence, no one sa

his father. "Someone has

d I, father,

one

sticks when we made a fire there last yea

Holworth thoughtfully. "Not

would not let them know, because

een much disturbed by the rough elder brother who teased and laughed at them

ooked at one another, and John K

I was told this morn by a sure hand that the Parliament men, who now hold Bristol Castle, are coming to

n them!" mut

Church from the ancient times-and which bearing on them, as they do, the figure of the Crucifixion of our blessed Lord, would assuredly provoke the zeal of the

ut above that he got the fall that was the death of him at last. I've never gone nigh the place with mine own good will since that day-nor knew the chi

they will," sai

of the King's ca

o knew the secrets of the cave even better than his father, showed them a little hollow, far back, which would just h

n a hiding pl

resently, pointing to some rude carvings-one something like

r-a Papist-as lived in hiding. He did no hurt, and was a man from these parts, so none meddled with him, or gave notice to the Queen's officers, and our fol

in it, though it ran about twelve yards back. There were white limestone drops like icicles hanging above from the roof; and bats, disturbed by the light

hn Kenton, as he tried to replace the ta

ays for bringing it for

n let John help him down the steep scramble and descent, and looked up to see whether any sig

this judgment! Mayhap the boy will be the only one of us who will see these blessed vessels restored to their Altar once more! He may have been sent hither to that very end. Now, look you, Steadfast Kenton-Steadfa

orth will be in distress a

mind is fast going, and he cannot safe

cavern," murmured St

nor young maids in such a

fer in her breast than in mine own. Not that I would have her told without need. But sh

id the Vicar. "It is a great trust we place in you, my son, to be as it were

he be slower in speech than some

after the minister and before God, never to give up that which lies with