Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-03-07
The Parson's Tr0ttcr.

several years, and q staid, solemn
and temperate man, verging toward
the frosts Of three-score and ten
He was kind-hcartcd friend, a
faithful counsellor, and very ac-
ceptable preacher. Once upon a
time the parsons horse died, and
he must purchase another. His
salary was small, and ne could not
spare many dollars for anything
luxurious in the way of horsehesh.
His neighbor Richards had horse
i'll pasture which he thought would
answer the parsons purpose. Said
horse had been sent up from Port
land by Babcock, in the spring,
with instructions to the farmer that
If he lived to be worth selling, he
might be sold for what he would
bring. The animal had come upon
the farm with SPAWN and heaves,
and to all appearances essentially
used up, and, more than this,
he was quite old, and blind Of an
eye.
But by the coming Of autumn the
old horse had picked up wonderfully
and, Richards believed, would an
swer the parsons purpose as well
as better. Richards wrote to
Babcock, stating the case, and
George wrote back that the parson
might have the animal for just what
he was willing to pay. And so
Parson Bracket became the owner
OF the horse.
Now there was bit Of history
connected with that horse which
had not been communicated to the
farmer, and which was not known
in Rustlield. The animal had been
i'll his day, i noted trotter, and for
ten years, at least, he had been one
of the bright particular stars at
Cambridge, having been pitted both
against "Alac" and Lady Suffolk"
and it had been q remembrance OF
this brilliant career which had led
The former owner to secure a good
home for the beast in his old
age.
On bright, brac,ng Sabbath
morning in October, Parson Brack-
EFT set forth from his home to
preach in Dixford. The distance
was twelve miles, and he was thank
full, as he rode onward, that he had
SO good 4 horse, for the animal
crept over the ground at grand
rate, considering his age and
the price whici, had been paid for
him.
Upon the outskirts of the town of
Dixiord the road struck level plain
of intervale, reaching thus for full
two miles to the village, and just as
the parson reached this point, two
young bloods, with fast horses and
sulkies, came up behind lin, shout
ing in the heat OF a race, and at
tempted to drive past him. The
old racer smelled the battle in q
moment. He gave prolonged
snort-thcn shook his hcad-then
reared alott-and when he came
down he closed his teeth against
the bit and shot off like u cannon
ball. The parson was man of
nerve and courage, but he knew
nothing about racc-horses. He did
just the thing which he should
not have done. He drew up the
reins with all his might, and hal
locd: "Whoa! whoa!" as loudly as
he could.
Away went the old racer, at a
trot square and honest, but feartully
rapid, and behind came the youth
fuI bloods, whipping their horses to
gallop; and the welkin rang with
the noise-the parson laundering
his "Whoa! whoal" while the pur-
surers whooped and hurrahed.
The noise reached the village,
and the people were out to behold
the cause; and ere long Parson
Bracket came flying in behind his
trotter, leading the running horses
by several rods, and when the par
son reined up at the public house
the old horse came to a stop as or
derly and quietly as if nothing had
happened out OF the way.
At first the good people of Dix
ford were SO shocked that they
were tempted not to allow Parson
Bracket to preach, to them; but be-
fore the time for the service arrived
he had 50 explained matters that
the weight Of blame was lifted from
his shoulders. He preached on
that Sabbath, and OH the following
cay he sold his trotter at u big ad-
vance on the price he had paid for
him.