Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-02-01
Giterarp Selections.
AN UNEXPECTED RACE.

was one of the Baptist pursuasion, and
very rigid in his ideas OF moral pro-
priety. He had in his employ an old
negro named Pompey; and if this latter
individual was not so strict in his morals as
his master, he was at least very cunning
dog, and passed in the household for a
pattern of propriety. Pompey was an
useful servant, and the old clergyman
never hesitated to trust him with the most
important business.
Now it so happend that there were dwell |
ling in and about the town, sundry indi-
viduals who had not the fear of the dread
ful penalties which Mr.. Ridewell preached
about before their eyes, for it was the
wont of these people to congregate on
Sabbath evenings upon level piece of
land in the outskirts of the town, with
their race horses. The spot was hidden
from view by dense piece Of woods, and
for long while the Sunday evening
races were carried on without detection
by the officers, or others who might have
stopped them.
1t also happened that the good old cler-
gyman owned one Of the best horses in
the country. This was one of the old
Morgan stock, with a mixture of Arabian
blood in his veins, and it was generally
known that few beasts could pass him on
the road. Mr.. Ridewell, with dignity,
becoming his calling, stoutly declared that
the feetness of his beast never afforded
him any qualification, and that, for his
part he would as efhave any other. Yet
money could not buy his Morgan, nor
could any amount of argument pursuade
him to Swop.
The church was so near the good cler-
gyman's dwelling that he always walked
to meeting, and his horse was consequent
ly allowed to run in the pasture.
Pompey heard that these races were
on the tapis and he resolved to enter his
masters horse on his own account, for he
field assured that Morgan could beat any
thing in the shape of horse-hesh that
could be produced in that quarter. So
on the very next Sunday evening he hid
the bride under his jacket, and went out
into the pasture and caught the horse and
rode off towards the spot where the wick
ed ones were congregated. Here he
found some dozen assembled, and the race
was about to commence. Pompey mount
ed his beast, and at the signal he started.
Old Morgan entered into the spirit of the
thing, and came out two rods ahead of
everything. So Pompey won quite a
pile, and before dark he was initiated into
horse racing.
Pompey succeeded in getting home with
out exciting any suspicious and now he
longed for the Sabbath afternoon to come.
for ne determined to try it again. He
did go again, and again he won and this
course Of wickedness he folio wed up for
two months, making his appearance upon
the race 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 racing.
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 secret. One Sunday a pious dea-
con beheld this racing from a distance
and he straightway went to the parson
with the alarming intelligence. The
Rev. Mr.. Rideweu was utterly shocked,
his moral feelings outraged, and he re-
solved to put a stop to this wickedness.
During the week he made several in
quiries, and he learned that the thing had
been practiced all summer on every Sab
bath afternoon. He made his parishion-
ers keep quiet, and on the next Sunday
he would make his appearance on the
very spot and catch them in their deeds
OF miquity.
On the following Sabbath, after dinner,
par' Ridewel ordered Pompey to bring
up old Morgan and put him in the stable.
The order was obeyed, though not with
out mlsglvlngs on the part of the faithful
negro. AS soon as the afternoon services
were closed, the two deacons, and some
other members of the church ac-
companiedthe minister home, together
with their horses.
1T is the most fragrant piece of abomi-
patton that ever came to my knowledge
said the indignant clergyman as they rode
On.
It's, most assuredly, answered one of
fhe deacons.
Horse-racing on the Sabbath ? uttered
fhe minister.