Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-10-16
lFrom the Atlantic Monthly for october,l
THE PARSONS HORSE RACE
by HARRIET pEECnER STOWE.


Wal now this 'eic does beat all
wouldn't thought it Of the deacon,
So spoke Sam Lawson, dropping in
q discouraged, contemplative attitude
in front of an equally discouraged
looking horse, that had just been
brought TO him by the widow simp'
kins for medical treatment, Among
Sam $ many accomplishments he was
rcckoned in,hc neighborhood an oracle
in al matters of this kind, especially
BY women, whose helplessness in meet
ing such emergencies found unfailing
soacc under his compassionate will
ingness to attend to any business that
did not strictly belong to him and
from which no pecuniary reward was
to be expected, The widow simpkins
had bought this horse Of Deacon
Atkins, apparently a fairly well-appoint-
ed brute, and capable as he was good
looking. A short easy drive when the
deacon held the reins had set off his
points to advantage, and the widows
small stock OF ready savings had come
forth freely in payment for what she
thought was bargain. When soon
after coming into possession, she dis
covered that her horse, if driven with
any haste, painted in a fearful manner
and that he appeared TO be growing
lame she waxcd wroth and went to
the deacon in anger, to be met with
smooth reminder 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: Its a
cheat and shame and l will take the
law on ye.'
'What law will you takeF said
the unmoved deacon. Wasn't it a
fair bargain.
I'll take the law OF God, said the
widow, with impotept indignation,
and she departed to pour her cares
and trials into the ever ready ears of
Sam. Having assumed the cares of
the animal, he now Fat contemplating
in sort of trance of melancholy re-
Election.
'Why boys ho broke out, why
didn't she come to me afore she bought
this crittur! Why, I knew all about
him. That ere crittur was ruined
year ago last summer, when Tom
the deacon's boy, came home from
college. Tom drove him over to Sber-
burn and back that ere hot Fourth of
July. Member it cause l saw the
crittur when he came home / sot up
with Tom takin' care of him all night /;
that ere crittur had the thumps, all
night, and he han't never been good
for nothing since. l telled the deacon he
was gone boss then. and would never
be good for nothing. The deacon he
took off his shoes and let him run to
pasture all summer and he has been
a-feeding and nussln on him up; /
wouldn't have thought it of the deacon.
Why this hoss'll never be no good to
her that ere is used.up crittur, any
fool may see He'll mabbe do for
about quarter Of a mile on a good
smooth road, but come to drive him as
body wants to drive, why, he blow
like my bellowsis and the deacon
knew it-must a known it.
why, Sam,' we exclaimed, 'aint
the deacon good man 7
Wal, how, there's where the shoe
pinches In gin'al way the deacon
is a good man-he's consid'ably more
than middling good--gin'ally he
adorus his profession. On most p'ints
| don't hev nothing agip the deacon,
aud this ere amt q bit like him
come to hosses, and there's where the