The Book of Peasant Market
By Linda Horn
The Legend of the Peasant Market
This being the text of a manuscript from the Middle Ages of the Church of St. Stephen happened upon during the annual de-cluttering of the store room.*
Long ago, in the Land of Green Mountains and Otter-Filled Creeks, in the Bury of Middle, there dwelt a people of upright character who were full of energy and of great kindness. In the midst of their village and surrounding their modest church, lay a fine grassy tract whereon a smallish market was set forth each summer and where-at the townspeople bought and sold, bartered and visited. For many, many, many, years this happening happened on the Village Green in the Bury of Middle and the people were glad of it.
But LO, one day a stranger, Sir Thomas of Turley by name, happed upon their summer fete. “For why” quoth he, “such paucity of purchasing and such a beggary of booths at thy marketplace?” The people were bewildered and murmured amongst themselves worriedly until erelong a voice from the crowd called out “May hap we languish in such wise for lack of one to lead this company into plentitude of profiting” And again spake Sir Thomas: “Be fretful no longer!! From this time henceforth I (and the Lady Kate) shall lead yon company and there shall be plentitude of profiting and bounteousness of booths upon the village green.” And with a motion of the hand--mystic and wonderful--he summoned energy from earth and harmony from heaven. Yea and in such wise, that straightaway attics were rifled of their treasures, and pilgrims came bearing relics artsy and craftsy, and White Elephants were seen again in the land. Forsooth, secret caches were looted yielding up gems and jewels, thereof, and parents brought forth the outgrown toys of their children. Bakers, in great numbers, opened their ovens delivering up breads, cakes, and sweet pies in amazing quantities; and treasured objects were unearthed from hither and thither and rendered unto the auctioneer. Succulent meats, yea even tacos, were roasted over the fire and a choice of diverse and delicious comestibles was proffered. Verily, all who feasted there upon were mightily pleased.
And thus there came to be--by the efficacious working of this power of heavenly harmony--a burgeoning of booths, a thronging of pilgrims, wending thitherward with weighted purses and wakened wills, and withal, an unprecedented plenitude of profiting. And LO, never thereafter in the Middle Ages of St. Stephen’s Church-on-the-Green-in-the-Bury-of-Middle was outreach deemed out of reach.
*Excerpted and adapted from the Works of Horton and Urang, c. 1985, Ceil Murdoch, 2010, the year Tom was chair!
