The hubbub; or, The history of farmer Russel, the hard-hearted overseer

"THE oldest man living at Compton-Ashby, cannot call to mind such another Hubbub as that which happened there some months ago, on the common, just before the poorhouse door. A number of men, women, and children, had formed a ring round one farmer Russel, a sullen, down looking fellow, whom no one loved, and every one feared: for his love of money had led him to be hardhearted, and his power over the poor had made him insolent. Never was there such a hissing and hooting, and hallooing heard. Many of these people had been grievously oppressed by the farmer, and now they had him in their power, they seemed resolved to shew him little mercy."
This is an edition of a classical book first published in the eighteenth century.