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

We call him Brown for convenience
sake. though that was not his real name
The good, kind, honest old soul has been
gathered to his fathers for some years,
therefore we will not consider it a breech
Of good manners to publish the following
actual occurrence, which many Of our
citizens can vouch for. The subject OF
our sketch was a deacon IN one Of our
churches, and his character was above re-
proach while his piety was a pattern for
Christians to follow. He deprecated from
the bottom Of his heart the many sinful
habits of the world that came under his
observation, but none more so than the
popular one Of hgrse-racing. We may say
here that the crOwning sorrow of his de-
clining years was caused by the dissolute
habits Of a grown up son. This young
man had broken loose from the parental
restraint and enjoyed to the fullest extent
the vices Of the community, and reyeled
In the company OF loose characters, and
loved the wine cup and fast horses, al
though his father was not aware Of his
wick edness in the latter respect. To be
sure, the deacon had noticed that his son
was never so happy a. when driving about
the streetsin askeleton buggy with a sleepy
looking horse, which the old gentleman
had never seen 90 faster than a trot But
the truth Of the matter was this rack OF
bones could, if occasion required, step off
in less than the historical 2:4O. This was
kept scrupulously secret from the deacon,
and the latter wondered why his son could
see any pleasure in driving such sorry
cob as that appeared to be. He even re-
monstrated with his son for starving his
horse until he resembled a living skele-
ton.
Fred, that was his sons name assumed
a knowing look, and answered with
smile:
A skeleton horse and a skeleton buggy
should 20 together
The deacon smiled grimly, as If he did
not comprehend the facetious reply.
With this brief introduction, we will
proceed. The deacon resided in the neigh
borhood Of the South Park, and his place
of business was at the lower end of State
street, near the river.
Early one afternoon the good people Of
Of Hartford, or at least that portion OF
them who happened to be on Main street
south Of Central Row, witnessed a specta-
Gle which almost struck them dumb with
amazement. The astonishing sight was
nothing more nor less than worthy Deacon
Brown seated in his sons skeleton buggy,
with reius wound round his wrists, and
that sleepy looking quadruped going up
the street at fearful pace. The deacon's
hat was pulled well down in front, and his
thin, long tailed summer coat was stream
Ing out behind, parallel with the road
be was 50 rapidly leaving IN the rear. 1t
was ohm GIlpin's break-neck ride over
again. with a slight variation.
The deacOn's cOuntenance, as he flew
along. did not wear its usual air of serenity;
on the contrary, it appeared slightly dis
turDed The horse was doing It's level
best, and if the driver did not appreciate
it, the spectators whe lined the sidewalks
certainly did. TO say that the lookers-on
were astonished, would but feeblY express
IT, They were thunderstruck. If the
angel Gabriel had sounded his trumpet
then aud there, the deacon would have
divided his honors with him.
Some thought that Deacon Brown must
have zone mad. others the old gentleman
was acting out his nature, and still others
by mysterious winks and mods intimated
that be was q sporting character at heart,
and had made the most OF his fortune IN
betting on horse races. The matter was
not allowed to rest here The church So
ciety to which he belonged took it mp, and
the deacon was compelled to make a clean
breast Of it, which he did in a contrite
and humble way. as will be seen below
I or
are against me. | acknowledge that |
did drive horse up through Main street
at an uuseemly pace.
Here one Of the brethren interrupted
him with, What about the skelston buggy,
brother Brown
| came here to make a clean thing Of it
the skeleton buggy with the rest On
that terrible and dIsgraceful day, my son
came home in d bad condition, leaving his
horse and buggy at
Skeleton buggy, interrupted another
brother, in sarcastic manner.
The deacon sensibly groaned, as he re-
piled; yes, it is, l believe, a skeleton bug
gy as well as skeleton horse. As was
saving Frederick left the team a the door,
and as he was not IN a fit condition to
leave the house. thought it would be al
act of humanity to drive the horse to the
stable and have him properly taken care
Of. | freely own l had some conscientious
scruples as to the propriety Of riding in
such a looking Vehicle
The same brother who once before mali
ciously interrupted him, again suggested
skeleton buggy, and intimated that broth
er Browns testimony would have quite as
much weight if he would call things by
their right names.
As | was remarking, humbly continued
the deacon, as if the rebuke had properly
impressed him, [ had my misgivings as to
the skeleton buggy, here the brother nod
ded approvingly, but | unfortunately i'm
agined that the sleepy appearance of the
horse would mo-e than counterbaIance the
wide-awake and sinful looks Of the rest
When [ had seated myself in the skeleton
buggy, l had fully determined, let come
what would, that horse should not 90 fast
er than a walk. With this object in view
l stopped forward, took double twist in
the lines round my hands, and although
the horse was walking, | commenced to
pull on him so that he should not by any
mistake proceed faster than walk. Now
comes the strangest part of my adventure
No sooner had commenced to hold him
than the pesky creature commenced to go.
Al this L braced myself after the manner
ofsinful men and pulled with all my might.
And strange to relate, for every fresh effort
| made, the maddened brute increased its
speed, until it seemed as if it was flying.
1t fairly took my breath away. Big drops
Of perspiration rolled down my back and
limbs, aud so desperately did l tug at the
lines that INV ewes seemed as if starting