The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-03-13
Extreme Unction;
Or the Horse Jockeys Spiritual Adviser.


A noted horse jockey in Connecticut, who
had, by his profound knowledge of Horse
ology, and various arts and sciences sadia
cent thereto,' accumulated considerable
property, was great hypochondriac, and
exasgeraie ed every slight disorder thai attack.
ed him, into dangerous disease .,-Some
of his neighcors were unchari,able enough
to assert that his conscience made him trem-
bic at the slightest menace of dealq. 1t is
certain that whenever he was laid upon his
bed with sicknes, he began suaightway to
talk loudly Of his approaching dissolution,
and bored his friends and neighbors with
querrlous complainls--Once when sick, an
old confederate who had travelled with him
and aided him in spelling the Egyptians. in
Ieyery county of the State, called TO ses him.
This friend comprehended the nature of his
complaint at once, and requested the family
to allow him TO manage matters in his own
way day or two. He changed the tactics
which others had previously employed, and,
instead of prophesying in smooth things, he
out-Heroded Herod in croaking over his
trends maladies, and soon pronounced him
a dying man. From time to time he Drop
ped IN, and so worked upon his feeling that
he brought the disease TO crisis.
He called upon him the second day about
noon, and taking his sick friends wrist be.
tween his fingers, he shook hls head mourn.
fully, aud with tear in his eye he murmur
ed,-'Poor fellow, it will soon be over.'
This is lard, Sam, said the sick profes
sor of horSeolose, and he groaued in bitter.
ness OF spirit.
Hard enough said Sam: Jus, as you've
60 this nice farm raid for. Your boysll
raise the devil with it when you are goae.'
'Oh-ohr
'Wha,'s the matterp
'Oh, such pain shot through me
'Hain't you got anything on your mind
mat you want TO say-preuy soon1 Tha last
horse you sod for colt was as old as a man.
you know
Oh, no! Sam, I've nothing TO say-,hat is,
I've got SO much to say that it's no use 10
try
Sam ?
|. what,
Can't 20 u-can't you pray for me. =.
wen, lrs something that ought to be dose
and think I'll try
Sam knelt down, and the sick one GOV.
cred his head with the blanket. and fairly,
Nyrlthad m IF
keeping sne cotcer Of an eye upon the
bed.
'Oh Lord, thy servant ihat's now lying sick
on the bed, having burnt out the cpndle Of
life in the service of the DEVIL (groans from
the blankeDi is now desirous of throwing
the snuff into his Makers face, (sick one
peeps out.) He lies here a broken down
nag, spavened, ring boned, and heavy, and
Thou knoweslh that he has f:s.isad the hardest
colts in this neighborhood-( (blanket jis.ked
down convulsively. Thou knowcst, Lord,
that he has been one of the greatest liars,
Enlightened color in the sick mans face J
and cheats, (fist doubled under the blanket,
and The d--est horse jockey that ever trotted
over thy foo,slool'
It's an iniernal lie, you scoundreln said
Inc reviving patient 'YouIe a cus> ed sight
worse than ever could be = and he lea2ed
from the bed. tYou cheated me twice your
sell, you cussed hypocrite!. roared-the furi-
ousinvadid, and he fairly turned his friend
out of doors.
The horse,iockey was abroad the next day
nd soon commenced sending his boys TO
school, and reforming his own manner of
life. He was changed from the very hour
that the prayer was made al his bed side,
and lived and died better man.