The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-11-12
Parson Smiths Horse.
BY A WESTERN CONTRIBUTORS


heerd old Parson Smith tell how his hoss,
Bishop, sarved that thievin' rascal, Pete
Decker, few nights since, up above the
forks. Nothin' would dash the old var
mint, and, afore all the folks, he asked the
parson to go up and feed and fodder at his
cabin.
"Jest as sure as you go up" ses one,
you'll hev Bishop stolen from YOU"
"That's what the old varmint is invitin'
on you fur,' ses another
"Ah, well, children" ansered the old
man, "it's among jest sech sinnin,' law
breakin, sons of evil I'm commanded to go
fur tina most need the laws and thu testi-
mony so must go. AS fur Bishop, I've
taken an amazin' sight of trouble to train
him up in the way he should go, and / pre-
dictate these rogues can't git him to depart
frum it. I'll gin 'em trial, howsever'-
and, sure enuff, off sot the old parson, with
that consarned old rascal, Sam wallzin'
alongside on him, talkin, as nice as the
katekism. A site rain sot in afore tha
ioaOh0u oiio lohhoj anu oOOi Oh Sih Bop a
leetle wet.
Is your son Pete TO home now ?' asked
the parson.
"No," ses Sam, rite suddint; arter git
tin hisself and daddy bad name by his
tricks, the sarpint went off to Arkansaw.
l did my best by him, anyhow"
He sed truth then, cause he'd larned him
all he knowed about stealin', and that war
the best he knew.
is thur much desire fur the truth among
you ?" asked the minister.
"Well," ses old Sam, "we're jest star
vim fur it, for we amt heerd the truth spo-
ken among us fur some time"
The old villin war right thar, for none in
the fork diggins ever spoke truth willnly.
Tha got to Sans cabin at last and spread
of bar skins war laid on the clay floor fur
the parson. Arter tyin' Bishop in a log
shed admin the cabin, and feedin' him,
the parson entered the cabin to git suthin
for hisself. Old Sam. wanted him to take q
taste Of whiskey, to keep off the cold and
hevin insisted on it bein' fust rate pre-
ventative, the old parson tuck about a gill
in small gourd, and oashed his feet aOith III
Thar ain no doubt that Sam the old villin,
he'd put stupefyin' medecin' in the licker-
but it he'd no effect on the parsons heels,
and he war so consarned about Bishop that
nither head nor heels 'ud git asleep. Old
Sam und his wife laid down in anuther cor
ner, and pertended to be sleepin' powerful
strong; but tina wur actin 'possum to no
purpose, cause the parson seed 'em git up
on thar elbows and take site at him, to
see eff he moved Afore long the parson
heerd Bishop winnow, and then he sot to
pawin', and in second more he squealed
like painter, which he follered up by kick
in like lightin'.
Sech anuther yellin' of murder, scratchin'
kickin' and squealin' jined in now, that
yon'd thort Satan war payin' old Decker a
visit.
Murder !-consarn the hoss !--murderv'
yelled fellar in the shed.
"Ye-e-e-e-e--el bang !" went Bishop
in answer.
"What in the yearth's the marter ?' in
quired old Sam mountin' to his feet. "Par-
son Parson Smith p
Out run old Decker, and thar he found
his son Pete, up in corner of the shed,
and Bishop stretchin' hisself the full length
of his halter, and kickin' at him like mad
The old fellar tried to coax the hoss, but
Bishop tarned round and flung his heels at
him, as spiteful as catamount. In old
Sam went, now to the Parson.
Z" Come out, Parson p shouted Sam, "or
your consarned hoss III kill my Pete'
"Murder murder i-murEer p shouted
Pete. rt.
Ye-e-e-e-e---ei 5aagi"-went the
hoss kickin' like thunder.
"Don't you heer your depa of hoss 9''
yelled old Sam.
"No," ses the Parson, "but heer my
Bishop; and | reckon the bugs must be
troublin' ON him."
+" He's kiclin' like mad at my Pete,'i
says Sam.
What, away in Arkinsaw?" asked Par
son Smith.
ooh, blame Arkinsaw p hollored Pete's
daddy jest cum and save the fellar, will
you?"
Cant travel so fur jest now, Sam, you
old villin," ses the preacher.
"Parson," hollers Sam, "saye the young
fellar, and I'll do anythin' for you.''
"You'll never try to steal Parsons