Volcano weekly ledger., 1855-12-01
An Unexpected Race.


ideas of moral propriety. lie had in his en-
ploy an old negro named Pompey, and if this
latter individual was not so strict in his NOR
ais as his master, he was at least very cum
ming dog, and passed in the reverend house
hold for pattern of propriety. Pompcy was
a useful servant, and the old clergyman never
hestated to trust him with the most import
ant business. Now, it so happened that there
were dwelling in and about the town, sundry
individuals who had not the fear Of the dread
ful penalties which Mr. Ridewell preached,
about their eyes, for it was the want of these
I people to congregate on Sabbath evenings
upon level piece Of land in the outskirts of
the town, and there race horses. This spot
was hidden from view by a dense piece of
woods, and for long while the Sunday eve
ming races were carried on without detection
| by the officers, or others who might have
stopped them. 1t also happened that the
good old clergyman owned one of the best
horses in the country. This horse was one of
the old Morgan stock, with mixture of Ara
bian blood in his veins, and it was generally
known that few beasts could pass him on the
road Mr.. Ridewell, with dignity becom-
ing his calling, stoutly declared that the fleet
ness of his horse never afforded him any graf
ifcation, and that for his own part he would
as lief have any other. Yet money could not
buy his Morgan, nor could any amount of
argument persuade him to swap. The church
was SO near the good clergyman's dwelling
that he always walked to meeting, and his
horse was consequently allowed to remain in
pasture.
Pompey discovered that these races were
on the tapis, and he resolved to enter his mas
ters horse on his own account, for he felt as
sured that old Morgan could beat anything
in the shape of horsehesh that could be pro-
cured in that quarter So on the very next
Sunday evening he had the bride under his
jacket, went out into the pasture and caught
the horse, and then rode off toward the spot
where the wicked ones were congregated.-
Here he found some dozen assembled, and the
race about to commence. Pompey mounted his
beast, aud at signal he started Old Nor
gan entered into the spirit of the thing, and
came out two rods ahead of anything. Pom
pcy won quite pile, and before dark he was
well initiated in horse-racing.
Pompey succeeded in getting home without
exciting any suspicious, and he now longed
for the Sabbath afternoon to come, for he
was determined to try it again. He did so,
and again he won and this course of wick
edness he followed up for two months making
his appearance upon the racing-ground every
Sunday afternoon as soon as he could after
meeting was out' And during that time
Pompey was not the only one that loved ra-
cling. No, for old Morgan himself had come
to love the excitement of the thing, too, and
his every motion when upon the track showed
how zealously he entered into the spirit of the
game. But these things were not always to
remain a secret One Sunday pious deacon
beheld this racing from distance and straight
way went to the parson with the alarming ln-
telIigence The Rev Mr. Ridewell was ut
terly shocked His moral feelings were out
ragged, and he resolved to put stop to this
wickedness. During the week he made sew
eral inquiries, and he learned that this thing
had been practiced all summer on every Sab
bath afternoon He made his parishionerS
keep quiet, and on the next Sunday lie woull
make his appearance on the very spot, and
catch them in their deeds of niquity On
the following Sabbath, after dinner, Mr.. Ride
well ordered Pompey to bring up old Morgan
and put him in the stable. The order was
obeyed, though not without misgivings on the
part of the faithful negro. AS soon as
the afternoon services were closed, the two
deacons and some others Of the members of
the church accompanied the minister home,
together with their horses
1t is the most fragrant piece Of irreligion
that ever came to my knowledge" said the
indignant clergyman
Horse-racing on the Sabbath uttered
deacon
Dreadful" echoed a second deacon.
And so the conversation went on, until they
reached the top of gentle eminence which
overlooked the plain where the racing was
carried on, and where some dozen horsemen,
with score of lookers-on, were assembled
The sight was one that chilled the good par
son to his soul He remained motionless un-
til he had made out the whole alarming truth,
then turning to his companions, he said:
Now, my brothers, let us ride down and
confront the wicked wretches, and if they will
down on their knees, and impore Gods mer-
cy and promise to do so no more, we will not
take legal action against them Oh, that my
own land should be desecrated thus p for ii
was indeed a portion of his own farm
As the good clergyman thus spoke he start
ed on towards the scene. The horses were
drawing up for start as the minister APP
preached. and some uf the riders at once re-
cognized q" old MGR a." though they did not
recognize the individual who rode him.
Wicked men !" commenced the parson, as
he came near enough for his voice to be heard:
children of sin and shame
"Come on, old hoSs, cried one Of the Jock
les turning towards the minister "If von