Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-05-05
AZ uNExpUcTED RACE.

ia one of the largest towns of Worcester
Co., Massachusetts, used % live a clergyman
whom We viii call Hilcweil. lie was of the
Baptist persuasion, and very rigid in his
ideas of moral prlpriety. He had in his en-
Vl1v an old negro named P0mpey; and If
th.s latter individual was not 80 strict in his
morals as Dbl, master, be was az least very
cunning dog. and PASSED IN the reverend
household for % pattern Of Tropriety. Pom
rey was % useful servant, and the old clergy
man never he,ilat4d to trust him with the
most important business.
Now It So happened that there were, dwell
ing iu and about the town, sundry indIyid-
uals who had not the fear of the dreadful
penalties which Alr. Rilewell preached
about, before their eyes, FOR 1t was the won't
Of rha.e people to c1ugregate on Sabbath
evenings upon level piece of land in the
outskirts Off The village. and there race horses.
This spot was hidden from view by a dense
piece %. woods, AID for q long while the Sun
dav evening races were carried on there with
out detection hv the officers, OF those who
might have stopped them.
IL also happened that the good old clergy
man owned one Of the best horses in the
county. This horse was one Of the Morgan
stock, With a mixture Of the Arabian blood
in bic veins. and IL was generally known
that few beasts could pass him on the read.
Mr.. Riicw5il, with a dignity becoming his
calling, s.out.y doclar d thar the Aeetness Of
his horse never afforded lin any gratiEca-
ton, and that ilr ais own part he would as
lief have any other. y ct money could not
buy bis Morgan. nor any amount Of argu-
ment persuade linn 90 swap.
The church was so near % the good cler-
cyman S dwelling that be always walked to
meeting. and his horse was consequently al
lowed % remain in the pasture.
Pompcv discovered that the races were on
tie tapis, and be resolved to enter his mast
er's horse on his own account, for he felt
sure that old Morgan could beat anything in
the shape OF horse flesh that could be ur0duc-
ed in that quarter. 81 on the very next sun
dav afternoon he hid the bride under his
JACKET, went out into the pasture and
caught the horse. and then rode of toward
the spot wlce the wicked ones were con-
gregatcl. Here he found some dozen horses
assembled. and The racing was about to COM
mcucc plprcv mounted his beast, and at
the signal be started. Old Morgan entered
into the -piri, of the thing, and came out
two rods ahead Of everything. 50 Pompey
won quite a pile, and before dark be was
well initiated in horse racing.
Pompey succeeded in getting home with
out exciting any suspicious, and he now
l0ngcd for the next Sabbath afternoon 10
come, for he determined to try it again. He
did 20 again. ana again be won; and this
course of wickednoss be kept up for two
months, making his appearance on the rae
ing ground every Sunday afternoon. as soon
as he could after " meeting was out" And
during this time PJmpey was not the only
one who had learned to love the racing.
No, f0r ola Morgan himsclf had learned u
love the excitement of the thing, too, and
his every motion, when upon the track,
showed how zeai0u.ly he entered into the
spirit of the game.
But these things were net always 10 re
main secret. One Sunday pious deacon
beheld this racing from distance, and
stmightway went To the parsln with the
alarming intelligence. The Rev. Mr. Ride
well was utterly shocked. Ills moral feel
iu-s were outraged. and he resolved at once
t) put a stop to the wickcdness. During
the week he made many inquiries, and he
learned that this thing had been practiced
all summer, On every sabbath afternoon.
lie babe his parishioners keep quiet, and
told them that or the next Sunday he would
make his appearance on the very spot and
catch tn EN- IN their deeds of iniquitv.
On the following Sabbath, after dinner,
Mr.. Ridewell ordered Pomrey to bring up
Old Morgan and put him in the stable. The
order was obeyed, though not without many
missiyinss On the part OF the faithful negro.
As soon as the afternoon services were closed,
the TWO deacons, and some others Of the
elAneI7 oi tie church. accompanied the
minister home with their horses.
II Is the most tagrant piece Of abomina-
non that ever came under my observation -
sad the indignant clergyman, as they rode
on.
- 1t IS, most assuredly," answered one Of
the deacons.
d" Horse-racins on the Sabbath - uttered
the minister.
Dreadful! echoed second deacon.
And so the conversation went on urtil
they reached the top Of gentle eminenee
which overlooked the PLAN where the rae
ing was carried on, and where some dozen
h0rsemcn. With a score of lookers-on. were
assembled The sight was one which chill
ed the good parson to his soul. lie remain
ed mutionless until he had made out the
whole alarming truth.
Now, my brothers, said he .'let US
ride down and confront the wicked wretches.
and if they viii fall down upon their knees
and implore Gods mercy, and promise to do
50 no more, VIC viii not take legal action
against them. o, that my own land should
be desecrated thus - for it was indeed a
section Of his own farm.
As the good clergyman thus spoke, he
started on toward the scene. The horses of
the wicked men were just drawing up for a
start as the minister approached, and some
OF the riders, who at once recognized old
Morgan" did not recognize the reverend
individual who rode him.
Z, Wicked - commencedj the parson,
a. he came near enough for his voice to be
heard " ehlldren Of SIN and shame"
- Come on, old hoss," cried one of the