New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-12-25
THE PAksoN,s HORSE RACE.

wouldn't a thought it q the deacon
So spoke Sam Lawson, dropping In
discouraged, commemorative 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 accom-
plishments he was reckoned in the neigh
borhood an oracle in all matters Of this
kind, especially by women, whose help
lessness in meeting such emergencies
found unfailing solace under his compass
sionate Willingness to attend to any bust
ness that did not strictly belong to him,
and from which no pesuniary return
could be expected.
TIE widow Simpkins had bought this
horse of Deacon Atkins, apparently fair
~ wcll-appointed brute, and capable as
he was good locking. A short, easy drive
when the deacon held the 1eins had shown
off his points to advantage, and the wild
owls small stock of ready savings had
come forth freely in payment for what
she thought was bargain. When, soon
after coming into possession, she discov-
cred that her horse, if driven with any
haste, painted in fearful manner, and
that he appeared to be growing lame, she
waved wroth. went to the deacon in an
ger, 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 expressed herself
warmly:
"It's cheat aud shame, and I'll take
the law on ye."
'sWhat law will you take9n said the
unmoved deacon. Wasn't it q fair bar
gain2"
III take the law of God,'' said the
widow, with impotent indignation, and
she departed to pour her cares and trials
into the ever-ready ear Of Sam. Having
assumed the care of the animal, he now
sat contemplating it in sort of trance OF
melancholy reflections.
"Why, boys" he broke out, "Why
didn't she come to me afore she bought
this crittur! Why, knew all about hin |!
That ERE critture was jest ruined year
ago last summer, when Tom, the deacon's
boy there, come home from college. Tom
driv him over to Sherburn and back that
ERE hot Fourth of July. Member it
cause I saw the crittnr when he come
home; I sot up with Tom taking care of
him all night; that ere critture had the
thumps all night, and he hasn't never
been good for nothing since. l telled
the deacon he was gone boss then, and
wouldn't never be good for nothing. The
deacon he took off his shoes and let him
run to pasture all summer, and he's been
feedin' and nussin' ON him up; and now
he's put him off on the wilder. Wouldn't
"a thought it O. the deacon. Why, this
hoss'll never be no good to her; that
'ere's used up critture, any fool may
see. He'll mabbe do for about a quarter
OF an hour on smooth road, but come
to drive him as body wants to drive,
Z why, ned blow like my bellowsis; and
the deacon knew it-must "a known itp
why, SAM" we exclaimed, ''aln't the
deacon good mans"
a. ''Wa], now, there's where the shoe
pinches! nagin'al way the deacon is
good man-he's constable more than
middlin' good gin ALLY he adorns his
profession. On most p'nts I DON'T hev
nothin' az in the deacon, and this ERE amt
bit like him-but there tits Come tc
bosses, there's where unsanctifed natur
comes out. Folks will cheat about bosses
when they won't about most nothin' else.'
And Sam leaned back on his cold forge,
now empty of coal, and seemed to deliver
himself to moul nful train of general re-
Fiction.
stYis, bosses do seem to be sort O. un-
regenerate critturs,;' he said, there's
,suthin' about bosses that deceives the
very elect; the best O. folks gets tripped
up when they come to deal in bosses"
'sWhy, Sam is there anything bad in
horses?" We interjected timidly.
'.Tain't the bosses, boys" said Sam
with solemnity. ''Lordy massy, the bosses
is all right enough-hosses is scriptoora]
animals; Elijah went up to heaven in q
chart with bosses; and then all them lots
o. bosses in the. Revelations, black and
white and red and all sorts of colors!
That ere shows bosses go to heaven; but
it's more'n the folks that hev 'em is likely
to, ct they don't look OUT.
ministers, now" continued Sam, in a
soliloquizing vein; s'folks alters thinks it's
suthin' sort @ shaky in q minister to have
anythln' to do with bosses sure to get
'em into trouble. There wassold Parson
Williams, o North Billriky, got into a
drefful mess about boss. Lordy massy,
he warn't to blame, either, but he got
into the drefulest scrape you ever heard
sn-come nigh to onsettlin' him."
@Oh, Sam, tell us all about it." we
boys shouted, delighted with the pros
pect OF story.
"Wall, wait now till I get off this crit
tur's shoes, and we'll take him up to pas
ture and then we can kind o. set BY the
river and fob 4onca,r .x1n,, 4e,xa q 80 one. .,