Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-05-27
A Slight misunderstanding.

home in the Reading cars in the afternoon he
encountered Rev. Dr. Potts, clergyman, who
knew no more about horse-racing than Hin
doc knows about seven up. Butterwick, how
ever, took it for granted, in his usual way, that
the Doctor was familiar with the subject, and
taking seat beside him, he remarked;
al was out at the Blank Course today to
see Longfellow."
"Indeed? Was he there? Where did you
say he was ?"
"Why, over yer at the course. / saw him
and General Harney, and lot more OF en-
He run agin Gen. Harney, and it created a
big excitement, too but he beat the General
badly, and the way the crowd cheered him was
wonderful. They say that great deal oil
money changed hands. The fact is had
small bet on the General myself.
"You don't mean to say that Longiellow
actually beat Gen. Harney?"
"Yes, I do! Beat him the worst kind
You'd hardly We thought it, now would you
was never more surprised in my life. What's
queer about it is, he seemed just as fresh
afterwards as before be commenced. Didn't
faze him q bit. Why, instead OF wanting to
rest be was jumping about just as lively and
when the crowd began pushing around him,
he kicked boy in the stomach and doubled
him up-nearly killed him. Oh, he's wicked !
| wouldn't trust him as far as could see
him."
"This is simply astonishing" said the Doc
tor. 81 wouldn't have believed it possible
Are you sure it was LOnsfcllow, Mr.. Butter
wick ?"
"Why, certainly, of course I've seen him
often Before. And, after breathing awhile,
he and Maggie Mitchell came out, and as soon
as they stepped off, be pu. on an extra spurt
or two, and led her by the neck all around
the place, and she came In pnffng and blow
ing and nearly exhausted. Inever took much
stock il her anyway"
Lied her by the neck Why this is the
most scandaous conduit ever heard Of. MIR.
Butterwick, you must certainly be joking"
al pledge you my word it's the solemn
truth. And after that Judge Fullerton and
General Harney, they took a turn together,
and that was the prettiest contest OF the day
First the Judge beat the Genetal, aud then
the Generald put in the big licks and give it
TO the Judge, and the twod be even FOR awhile,
IL tlo "A
kinder Jerk or two and leave the judge just
nowhercs and by the time the General passed
the third quarter, the judge keeed over a
painst the fence and gave in. They say be
broke his leg, but don't know il that's SO or
not. Anyway be was used up. If he'd pass
ed the quarter he might have been all right
"What was the matter with the Quarter
Wasn't it good 2"
"Oh, yes. But you see the Judge must
have lost lis wind or something and !
reckon when be tumbled It was something
like faint, you know"
"Servcd him right for engaging in such
brutal contest"
"Wen, | dunno Depends on how you
look at such things. And when that was
over Longfellow entered with Matte Evelyn.
He kept shooting past her all the time, and this
worried her SO that she ran a little to one side,
and somehow, dunno how it happened, but
his leg kinder tripped her, aud she rolled over
on the ground, hurt pretty bad, | think, while
Lonsiellow had bis leg cut pretty near to the
bone.
"Did any Of the shots strike herr"
"I don't understand you"
"You said he kept shooting close to her,
and l thought maybe some of tho bullets
might have struck her,"
"Wby, Imcant that he ran past her, Of
course. How in the thunder could be shoot
bullets at her ?"
al thought maybe he had gun. But
don't understand any Of it. II is the most
astounding thing ever heard Of at any rate"
"Now, my dear sir, | want to ask you how
Longfelow could manage gun ?"
"Wby, as other men, of cOurse|
Man mani Why, merciful Moses you
didn't think was talking about human
beings all this time, did you? Why, Long
fellow is horse They were racing, running
races over at the course this afternoon, and |
was trying TO tell you about it.
You don't say, remarked tie doctor, with
a sigh of relief Well, declafe, thought
you sere speaking Of the poet, and | hardly
knew whether to believe you or not it seem
ed so strange that he should behave in that
manner"
Then Mr.. Butterwick went into the smok-
ing-car to tell the joke to his friends, and the
doctor sat rejecting upon the outrageous i'm
nu1cnce of the men who name their horses