Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-10-02
THE PARSONS HORSE RACE.

wal, now this ere does beat all! |
would MT "a thought it O. the deacon"
So spoke Sam Lawson, dropping in a
discouraged, contemplative attitude in
front of an equally discouraged-looking
horse, that had just been brought to him
by the widow Simpkins for medical
treatment. Among Sans many &C
.complishments ne was reckoned in the
Deighborhood an oracle in all matters
of this kind, especially by women,
whose helplessness in meeting such
emergencies found unfailing solace
under his compassionate willingness to
attend to any business that
did not strictly belong to HIM, and from
which no pecuniaiy return was to be
expected.
The widow Simpkins had bought
this horse of Deacon Atkins, apparent
" fairly well-appointed brute. and
capable AS he was good-looking. A
short, easy drive when the deacon held
the reins had shown off his points to
advantage, and the widows small stock
Of ready savings had come forth freely
in payment for what she thought was a
bargain. When, soon after coming in
to possession, she discovered that her
horse, if driven with any haste, painted
in fearful manner, and that he ap-
peared 10 be growing lame, she waxed
wroth, and went to the deacon in anger,
to be met only with the smooth re-
minder that the animal was all right
when she took him,-that she had
seen him tried herself The widow was
of nature somewhat spicy, and ex-
pressed herself warmly: Its cheat
and shame, and I'll take the law on
ye"
What law will you take?' said the
unmoyed deacon. "Was MT it a fair
bargain
'l'll take the law of God" said the
widow, with impotent indignation, and
she departed to pour her cares and
; m into the ever ready ear of Sam.
Having assumed the care of the ami
mai, he now sat contemplating it in a
sort OF trance Of melancholy reflection.
""hyboys, "he broke out, why didn't
she come to me afore she bought
lIls crlttur! Why, l knew all about
ann That ere crittur was Jest ruined
year ago last summer, when Tom, the
ueaacons boy there, came home from
COAese. Tom driv him over to Sher-
T J and back that ere hot Fourth of
Duy' Member it, cause l saw the crit
1Hl when ne come home; l sot up with
ION lakln care of him all night; that
ere crlttur had the thumps all night, and
Ie halnt never been good for nothin'
SINCE; telled the deacon he was a
sohe moss then, wouldn' never be good
~ nolhm'. The deacon he took off
~" ,i' SHOES and let him run to pastur'
a an summer, and he's ben a-feedin, and
alSsln' on him up; and now he's nut
INN, INN OH on the wilder. l would Mt IA
S Hought 1t o the deacon. Why, this
a nus II never be no good to her: that
way, we - ,uased-up crittur, any fool may
ee' Hell mabbe do for about q Guar
v. vi an haur on smooth road, but
Ioine TO drive him as BODY wants to
a arSe why, he blows like my bellowsis
p nut lhe deacon knew it-must "a
why, SAM" we exclaimed, faint the
Oe aaS,o good man ?'
wal now, there's where the shoe
inches. In gln'al way the deacon is
t,s soou man-he's considerable more
IL mlddhn' good-gin'ally he adorns
Da m peiiesslon. On most p'ints | don't
a-o no.hln agln the an deacon and this
ca ~ an bit like him-but there I isl
80. 80 70 hosses, there's where the un-
Sncuhed natur' comes out, Folks will
a 5o". about bosses when they won't
, son". most nothin' else" And Sam
emr.' u pack on his cold forge, now
br p.s OF coal, and seemed to deliver
raa tjlsen 10 mournful train of general
b o"e son' Eyes, bosses does seem to
hal, soF o unregenerate critturs." he
that HJ J OUT there's suthin' about HOSES
t1 FIJI. uecelves the very elect; the best O.
to Jsa sets tripped up when they come
W zeal l,! IN bosses"
bors"o,n y sam, is there anything bad in
a,T. we lnteUected, timidlv.
With am the hosses, boys" said Sam
lossos' Cleinnlty. Lordy massy, the
scrin eS Is all right enough, HOSES is
beappo .uraI animals: Elijah went up to
,ban N 10 chari't with HOSES; and
aIo.;a al them lots o. HOSES in the Raw
all ', S, black and white and red and
a5sseS, y. y 0 colors. That ere shows
Inc foig goes to heaven; but it's more'n
lev G Jns,. mat hev 'em is likely to, ei
A's'efs now" continued Sam, in