The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1873-03-06
THE PARSONS TRoTTRR.
Going to an Appointment at 2:4o
Gait.

Parson Bracket had been settled
over the first parish Of Rustfield for
several years, aud a staid, solemn aud
temperate man. verging toward the
frosts Of three.score and ten. He was
kind-hearted friend. faithful coun-
sellor, and very acceptable preacher.
Once upon . time the parsons horse
died, and he must purchase another. =
His salary was small. aud he could not
spare many dollars for anything luxu-
rious In the way Of hOtsshssh. Hts
neighbor Richards had horse In pas
ture which he thought would answer
the parsons purpose. Said horse had
been sent up from Portland by Bah
cock in the spring, with instructi0 ms
to the farmer that IL he lived to be
worth selling he nigh be sold for what
he would bring The animal ad come
upon the farm with SPAWN and heaves.
and to all appearances essentially used
up, and more than this, he was old
aud blind Of an eye
But with the coming of autumn the
old horse had picked up wonderfully,
and, Richards believed, would answer
the parsons purpose as we'll a. better.
Richards wrote to Babcock, stating the
case, aud George wrote back word that
the parson might have the animal for
just what he was willing to pay. And
80 Parson Bracket became the ow ner
of the horse.
Now there was bit Of history con-
nected with that horse which had not
been communicated to tile farmer, and
which was not known in Rust feld.-
The animal had been, In his day, Q no.
ted trotter, and for ten years, at least,
he had been of the bright particular
stars at Cambridge, having been pitted
against both Mac" and Lady Suffolk;
and it had been remembrance Of this
brilliant career which led the former
owner to secure good horne for the
beast in his old age.
On u bright, bracing Sabbath morn.
ing in Octoter, Parson Bracket set
forth from his home to preach in Dix
ford. The distance was about twelve
miles, aud he was thankful, as he rode
onward, tha. he had so good . horse,
for the animal crept over the ground
at a grand rate, considering his age
and the price which had been paid for
him.
Upon the outskirts of the town of
Dixford the road struck . level plain
OF intervale, reaching thus for foil two
miles to the village, and just 10 the
Parson reached this point two young
bloods, with fast horses and sulkies,
came up behind him, shouting in the
heat Of q race, and attempted to drive
past him. The old racer smelled the
battle in moment. He gave . pro-
longed snort-then shook his head
then reared aloft-and when he came
down he closed his teeth against the
bit aud shot of like . cannon-ball.- -
The parson was man Of nerve and
courage but he knew nothing Of race
horses. He did just the thing which
he ought not to have doue. He drew
upon the reins with all his might, and
halloed "Whoa! whoa!" as loudly q
he could.
Away went the old racer at . trot
square and honest, but fearfully rapid,
and behind came the youthful bloods,
whipping their horses to . gallop; and
the welkin rang with the NOTES.-The
Parson laundering his "Whoa! wh0au
while the purauers whooped aud hur-
rahed.
The noise reached the village, and
the people were out to behold The cause;
and ere long Parson Bracket came fy-
ing in behind his trotter, leading the
running horses by several rods, and
when the Parson reined up BY the pub
lie house the old horse came to stop
as orderly and quietly ~ though noth-
ing hadhsppsned out Of the way. s1t
At first the good people Of Dixport
were so shocked that they were temp
ted not to allow Parson Bracket 70
preach TO them; but before the time
for the service arrived he had 30 sx.
planned matters that the weight Of
blame was lifted from his shoulder. -
He preached on that Sabbath, and on
the following day he sold his trotter
at big advance on the price he had
paid. s5 a Ea