Litchfield enquirer., 1855-09-06
AN rsExpEcrEDRAcE.

county. Massachusetts, used to live clergy. man, whom we will call Ridewell. He was one of the Baptist persuasion, and very rigid in his ideas of moral propriety. He had in his employ an old negro named Pompey, and it this latter individual was not so strict in his morals as his master, he was at least a very cunning dog, and passed in the rever- end household for pattern of propriety.- Pompey was useful servant, and the old clergyman never hesitated to trust him with the most important business.
 Now 1t so happened that there were dwell ing in and about the town, sunday indiyid- uals who had not the fear of the dreadful penalties which Mr. Ridewell preached about before their eyes, for it was the wont oi these people to congregats 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 dense piece of woods, and for long while the Sunday evening races were carried on there without detection by the officers, or others who might have stopped them
 It also happened that the good old clergy. man owned one of the best horses in the country. This horse was ofthe old Morgan stock with mixture of Arabian blood in his veins. and it was genesally known tha, few beasts could pass him on the road.-- Mr. Ridewell. with a dignity becoming his calling, stoutly declared that the heeiness of his horse never afforded him any grati- 6cation. and that, for his own part, he would as lief have any other. Yet money would not buy his Morgan, nor could any amount of argument persuade him to swap.
 The churcl, was so near the good clergy mans 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 ,apis, and he resolved to enter his masters horse on his own account, for he felt assured that old Morgan could beat any thing in the shape of horsehesh that could be produced in that quarter So on the very next Sunday evening he hid the bridle under his jacket. went ou. into the pastuie and caught the horse, and then rode of towards the spot where the wicked ones were ron- gregated. Here he found some dozen horses assembled. and the race was aaout to com mence. Pomp mouated his beast and a. the signal he started. Old Morgan entered into the spirit of the thing, and came out two rods ahead of everything. So Pomp won quite pile, and before dark he was well initiated in horse racing.
 Poap succeeded in getting home without exciting any suspicious and he now Ionged Cor the Sabbath afternoon to come, for he was determined to try it agaia He did 20 again and again he won; and this course d wickedness he followed sp for two mouths, making his appearance upon the racing ground every Sunday afternoon as soon as he could afier meeting was out '' And during sha. time Pompey was no, the only one thai had loved racing. No, for old Morgan himsetf had cosne to love the ex- citement ot the thing, too, and his every motion when upon the track showed how aealoasly he entered iato the spirit of the game.
 But these things we're not always to re. main secret. One Sunday pious deacon beheld this racing from distance, and stIaightway went to the parson with the alarming intelligence. The Rev. Mr. Ride- well was utterly shocked. His moral feel. ings were outraged, and he resolved to put asiop to this wickednrss. During the week he made several inquiries, and he learned that this thing had been prac,iced all sum- mer on every Sabbath afternoon. He made his parishioners keep quiet. and on the next Sunday he would make his appearance on tho very spot and catch them in their deeds of iniqui,y.
 On the following Sabbath, afier dinner, Mir. Ridewell ordered Pomp to bring up old Morgan and put him in the stable. The order was oheyed though not without mis. givings on the part of the faithful negro. = As soon as the afternoon services were closed, tho two deacons and some others Of the members of the church accompanied the minister ho,ne. with their horses. "l, is the mos, Aagran, pirce of abomina. tion that ever came 10 my knowledge,a said the indignant clergyman, as they rode on u Is. most assuredly," answered one o the deacons.
 llorse-racing on the Sabbath :" uttered the minister.
 Dreadful!" echoed the second deacon And so the conversation went on until they reached the top of a grnils eminencs which overlooked the plain where the racing was carried on, and where some doxer
 horsemen. with score of lookers-on wers assembled. The sight was one which chilled
 the good parson lo his soul. He remained moiionless until he had made out iIne whol,
 alarming truth, then turning to his com panions:
 Now, my brothers" said he, "let U,
 ride down and confront the wicked wretche,
 and if they ~ill down upon their knees an, 1 implore Gods mercy and promise to d, 1! SO no naose, we will not take legal aetio,
 against them. o, that my own land shout,
 be desecrated thus !" for it was indeed ; portion of bis tarn,.
 As the good clergyman thus spoke, h, started on towards the scene. The horsel of the wicked men were just drawing aI for start as the minister approached. som
 of the riders who At once recognized N ol,
 Morgan" did not recognize the reveren,
 individual who rode him.
 : Wicked men !' commenced the parsou
 as he came near enough for his voice 10 b
 heaFi. :. children of sin and shame"
 "Come on, old boss" cried one of tn jockeys tarning towards the minister. !. you are in tor the first race you us sti .! your stamps- Now we go.
 ssAlass 0. my wicked--''
 "All ready." shouted he who led th
 affair.cutiing the minister short. ..AxD or