Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-08-16

puzzled look and vacant stare OF an idiot
Brother Simpson, whom met Just sOutl
of buckingham street, looked very mucl
as if he had severe attack of bilious col
10, so agonized was the expression of hi
features
Notwithstanding the rapidity of m,
flight, L found time TO pray for one thing
and that was that Deacon Shepard, who's
store is near the little bridge, might no
under the guidence Of Providence, b
anywhere about there. For | dreaded the
look of withering scorn which L felt woulC
flash from that holy mans eyes, more thar
the combined gaze Of all others As
shot past College street my eyes rested or
his doorway, and to my utter despair there
stood Deacon Shepard, who seemed to
have espied me just at that very instant
That he recognized me even at that distance
vas patent from the fact of his stepping
briskly out on to the sidewalk for a better
view. L was in agony, but so swift went
the animal, it was of brief duration
When got opposite to him | gave vent
to great blurt Of anguish, and tried tc
cry out that could not help it, but the
eSAAADAS ACCN HhlCI nC BAb Ou was oH4u
to behold, and froze the words in my mouth
| do not believe that the concentrated
agonizes Of all the wretches who have per-
ished on Tyburn Hill would have much
surpassed the Mortified look Of my good
friend Deacon Shepard He looked as if
ready to exclaim, Great Heaven has it
come to this, tnat Deacon Brown has gone
over to the enemy
On | went, faster and faster, by this
brothers and that friends house, scatter
ing wagons and drays in confusion, until
[ neared Central Row, where l intended
to turn, so as to head the infurjated ami
NAL for the river | stopped forward and
Stacked up on the lines so as to get bet
ter hold, when the horse stopped so sud-
denly that it liked to have pitched me out
head first In all my life l was never 50
astonished. and up to this minute 1 am not
quite clear as to the cause of such tricks
as these. have thought that Satan, for
the time being, to bring a worthy man and
uncompromising enemy of his kingdom into
disrepute, had located himself within that
sleepy looking quadruped with that wicked
intent. At all events, the horse went as
if the devil was in him.
Brethren. this is q true story of that
unfortunate occurrence. If fmourning with
sackcloth and ashes can in any measure
atone for my wickedness, unintentional
though it was, then the evil example shall
be fully atoned. And, brethren, before [
sit down let me caution you all to beware
of skeletons in whatever form they come.
And above all do not judge of horses BY
appearances alone. If two animals stand
side by side, and one looks high-spiritsd
fiery, and untamed, and the other lop-eared,
poor, riHgboned and spawned, with head
down and sleepy, and you desire to ride
moderately, | charge yoI as you value
your Christian reputation, and your souls
salvation, avoid the sleepy horse as you
would avoid Satan himself, for such an
animal will surely and speedily carry you
to destruction.
After this frank and open confession the
society unanimousIy y voted that their broth
er retain his good standing in the church,
and agreed to forget this unlucky event !;
but the boys about the town laughed and
grew fat over the thrice told story Of Dea-
con Browns Ride.