g sermons, had preached some forty minutes
when a lusty snore brought the already straight listeners to an alert
posture. It awoke the sleeper himself, no other than Jonathan Fryer. The
preaching continued to its customary length of an hour or more. Then
silently, shamed beyond endurance, Jonathan, his goodwife, his Tom, and
his Jane, sought shelter in their small house. Words were useless. They
knew what would follow.

The tramp of four tything men was soon heard crunching the ice. Some
eight or ten men with that title had been chosen to "look after the good
morals" of the neighbors of their home district.

Tything-man Eliot was the spokesman as the four stood to administer
justice.

"We regret, Goodman Fryer, that since you have disobeyed the strict
orders of the Church, not only by sleeping, but also by disturbing the
meeting with an audible snort, we must comply with our laws and place you
in the stocks, within the cage built for that purpose."

There was no chance for reply, for like a tiger Jane pounced before these
men of dignity and burst forth, "It is not right. My father, in service
for the town, has faced great hardships and almost lost his life. That he
came to meeting at all, he should be thanked. If you place him in the
stocks, you shall place me there too!"

Her flashing eyes and angered face seemed to burn themselves into the
stolid four as she stamped her foot for emphasis. The spokesman turned
and quietly remarked to his companions, "There is need for further
council!" They left. Jane threw herself into her father's arms. He
dropped his head.

"My daughter, this conduct doubles the insult to the Church. Your action
is unrighteous, though well meant. Your father's disgrace was great
enough, but this from a child to our worthy tything men cannot be
overlooked. There was need for further council."

No greater punishment could have been given Jane than these words from
her father. The barley-cakes, porridge, and cheese were left untouched by
the shame-faced group.

Soon the heavy steps were again heard. The moment of suspense was
stinging. The door opened and the tything men entered. The same
spokesman, perhaps the gentlest of the four, began:

"Goodman Fryer, it is deemed best that the punishment to be administered
to your untamed daughter for her unruly tongue shall be determined by her
parents. It is left to their discretion. Yet there is truth in her words.
The council of the Church commends