The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-01-28
Parson POhick's Peril.

vout man and jealous circuit rider
but in worldly matters notably absent.
minded. So much 80 that if his wife
who was a noticing woman, hadn't
kept keen lookout when he arose in
the morning, ten to one he would have
appeared in public half the time ar
rayed in her clothes instead of his own,
and exchange which some would have
scoffingly declared not inappropriate.
His head once set on text, he was
oblivious to all else. To find his way
round the circuit he trusted implicitly
to Old Jobs geographical knowledge.
Old Job was the parsons horse. lie
was not an old horse either, but a
likely animal in the prime of life. 1t
was his gravity and patience, mayhap,
that he won the sobTiquet of Old Job.
He was a horse of sense, withal, and
10 congregation that understood
uouyhnhum, could probably have
preached more practical sermon than
his master. ug ls1W sIguIs sl. t9I +.
A portion of Parson Pohick's field
of labor lay in u wild, out-of-the-way
region and it was his first journey to
keep an appointment there that me
met with the adventure we are about
to relate. 20 uaac 47..5 f..i...f .s.
After wearisome days travel, Old
Job and the parson sought and found
rest one night at q settlers cabin. AT
later hour another way farer arrived !:
and, after II hearty supper and soci-
able chat, the two guests, who were to
take an early start in the morning, re-
tired TO rest, both being assigned to
one apartment. o4 is2yr sa.i .Dal11
Mr.. Pohick, his devotions erded,
would gladly have conversed q little
with his fellow guest, but the latter
was not inclined to talk and the par
son, from falling into revery on his
forthcoming sermon. in due time fell
sound asleep. ,s.i.-...r. ..a.,sst ali ....,
He awoke at daybreak and found
his companion had already gone. f'
Having long road yet before him,
the pnrsonrose at once, and, having
made his toilet, and performed his
morning duties with all proper dis
patch, he left the house without dis
turbing the family, having paid his
scoreith night before, and finding his
way to the stable, saddled his horse
and rode of, intending to breakfast
further on. ''l.'
1t was fresh, bright morning, and
as the parson road along heIsOught to
Improve the time by more fully work
ing up the details of the discourse he
was preparing to enlighten . people
hitherto cropping in darkness.
f'lGet along, job" said the parson, at
the end of q mental paragraph; Il new.
er knew you to lag SO BEFORE -. 1s=l
But the horse seemed absorbed in
his own reflections, and paid no heed.
Inattention to his masters words
was an unusual thing in Old Job. and
might have attracted the parsons no.
ticc; but just then he began subdivid-
ing his '.Nineteenthly," and the horse
might have stopped stock still for all
his rider would have known. .t
The chattering of the hoofs and the
cry of "Stop thief" behind him at
length broke the parsons chain Of
thought.
"Siop you old villain, or we'll blow
you through!" yelled several voices,
accompanying the. command with
divers expletives which greatly shock
ed the parsons ears.
Parson Pohick had no suspicion that
such words could possibly be address,
ed to him but the reprOof of profani-
ty was duty he never neglected. So
turning about, he quoted several texts
on the subject, and would have en-
larged edifying but for the derisive
shouts of the company in whose midst
he quickly found himself.
"Ha ha !" laughed one; 'just hear
the old rascal! !"
"Satau reprovin' sin," added anoth
er.
"Whose hoss is that ?" queried a
third. ......-.....
"Whose horse ?" echoed the parson !;
"whose is Uhdt horse?"
"Why, that ERE you're mounted on"
"Ihis? Why this is nay horse-Old
job" answered the parson, more and
more surprised. l'tt
"Tou,' horsew exclaimed burly
fellow. ''You say that again and Ill
smash your mug. That's my hoss as
was stole, an you stole him, an his
names not Job. it's Pete"
The horse whinned at the name, as
if turning States evidence against his
rider. FIG t7" ei,a-tila t3
"Git down, you old reprobate!" the
burly man continued. "Why, I've
owned that hoss ever since he was
foalded, and there's plenty here ken
prove it," '.t7"f ..' t--t Z. .5au'l
"That's so !" chimed in several. "Git
down git do own! you tarnel old theft"
A dozen revolvers were leveled at
him, and the parson felt constrained to
| dismOunt. '.'t+ t'.t
81 assure you, gentlem, the horse is
mine," he protested earnestly. "and
being a minister of the Gospel, my
word should have some weight" taI'
"Minister of the--haw haw!"
The man who tried to repeat the
words broke down with laughter.
"Pretty minister you arel" jeered
! another, who, searching the parsons