The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-11-07

Iern, and the deacons and tithingman
they took it up and went,to Parson
Williams about it; and the parson he
told 'em to keep still, not let the fellers
know that they was being watched, and
the next Sunday he and the tithingman
and the constable they'd bride over and
catch 'em in the very act. -
So next Sunday afternoon Parson
Williams and Deacon Popkin and Ben
Bradley Che was constable that year)
they got onto their hosses and rode over
to Pequot Holler. The Doctors blood was
up, and he meant to come down on 'em
strong, for that was his way of doin' in
the parish and they were in sort o. day
O. judgment frame O mind, and logged
along solemn as a hearse, till come to
rise the hill above the holler they see
three or four fellers with their HOSES
gettin' ready to race; and the parson
says he, "Let's come on quiet and get
behind these bushes, and we'll see what
they're up to and catch 'em in the act. ,
I" But the mischief on it was that Ike
Sanders see 'em comm and he knew
Tam in minit-Ike knowed Tam of
old, and he jest tipped the wink to the
rest.
&c Wait, boys says he, let 'em git
close up and then I'll give the word, and
the doctors hoss will be racin' ahead
like thunder
Wal, so the doctor and his folks
they drew up behind the bushes, and
stood there, innocent as could be-,
and saw 'em Citing ready to start. Tam
he began to shuttle and paw, but the
doctor never mistrusted what he was-up
to till Ike sung out, 'go it, boysp and the
hosses all started, when, sure as you
live, boys, Tam give one fly, and was
over the bushes and in among 'em, go
lug it like chain lightning, ahead of 'em
Deacon Popkins and Ben Bradley
Jest stood and held their breath to see
'em goin' it so like thunder; and the
doctor he was took SO sudden it was all
he could do to Jest hold on any way, so
away he went, and trees and bushes
and fences streaked by him like ribbons;
his hat few off behind him and his wig
arter, and he got catched in barberry
bush, but Lordy massy, he couldn't stop
to think O. them. He Jest leaned down
and caught Tam around the neck and
held on for dear life, till they come to
the stopping place. ,Ta7g
"Wal, Tam was ahead O. them all,
sure enough, and was snorting and
snuf1ing as if he'd got the very old boy
in him, and was up to racin' some more
on the spot.
That 'ere Ike Sanders was the impu.
dentist feller that ever you see, and he
roared and haw-hawed at the doctor.
Good for you, DOCTOR says he;
you beat us all holler,' says he; takes a
parson for that, don'tit boysT he said.
And then he and Ike and Tom and the
two Hokum boys they just roared and
! danced round like wild critturs.
",Wal, now only think O. it, boys
| What situation that was for a minis.
ter-a man that had come out with the
best of motives to put stop to the Sab
bath breakin'i There he was, all rum.
pied up and dusty and his wig hanging
in the bushes, and these ERE ungodly
fellers gittin' the laugh on him, and al
acause O. that ERE hoss. There's times,
boys, when ministers must be tempted
to swear, if there in'tpreyenting grace
and this was one O the times to Parsor
Williams. They say he got red in ths
face, and looked as if he should burst
but he didn't say nuthin' he scorned tt
answer, the sons of Zerniah was too hare
for him, and he let 'em have their say
but when they'd got through, and Ber
had brought him his hat and wig, ane
brushed and settled him agin, the parso1
he says:
Well, boys, ye've had yer say ant
yer laugh, but | warn you now won
have this thing going on any more,' say
he, so mind yerselves.'
"Wal, the boys see that the doctor
blood was up, and they rode off prett,
quiet, and I believe they never rode n
more on that spot.
But there amt no telling the tall
this ERE thing made. Folks will tall
you know, and there warn't house i
all Billriky, nor in the south parish no
center where it warn't had over and dis
cussed. There was the deacon and Be
Bradley was there to witness and sho'
jest how the thing was, and that th
doctor was jest in the way of his duty
but folks said it made a great scandal
that minister had no business to he
that kind O. hoss, and that he'd Civ
the enemy occasion to speak. reproacf
fully. 1t RELY did seem as if Tam's sir
was imputed to the doctor; and foll
said he ought to sell Tam right away
and get sober minister's hoss.
"But others said it was Cuff that ha
got Tam in bad ways, and they do So
I that Cuff had to catch it pretty ivel
when the doctor come to settle wit
him. Cuff thought his time had con
sure enough, and was SO scared that /
3 turned blacker'n ever; he got enough
/ cure him O. hoss racing for one Will
| But Cuff got over it arter while, an
| SO did the doctor there was rump1
, and fuss, and folks talked and talkt
/ and advised; everybody had their sa
but the doctor KEEP right straight on, al
a KEEP his hoss all the same.
i The ministers they took it up in Il
association, but come to tell the story
r set them all laughing, SO they couldn
! be very hard on the doctor.
The doctor felt sort O. streaked
i fust when they told the story on hir
e he didn't just like it, but he got used
it, and finally when he got twisted on
J. he would sort O. smile and say, Any WI
4 Tam beat 'em, that's one comfort"