Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-10-28
The Parsons Horse Race.
BY HARRIET BEEoHER STOWE.

discouraged, contemplatlve attitude IN
front of an equally discouraged-looking
horse, that had just been brought to
him by the widow Simpkins for medi-
cal treatment. Among Sans many ac-
complishments he was reckoned in the
neighborhood an oracle in all matters of
this kind, especially by women, whose
helplessness in meeting such emergen-
cies found unfailing solace under his
compassionate willingness to attend to
any business that did not strictly belong
to him, and from which no pecuniary
return was to be expected.
The widow Simpkins had bought this
horse of Deacon Atkins, apparently a
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 pay
ment for what she thought was bargain.
When, soon after coming into possession,
she discovered that her horse, if driven
with any haste, painted in fearful
manner, and that he appeared to be
growing lame, she waxed wroth, and
went to the deacon In anger. to be met
only with the smooth reminder that the
animal was all right when she took
him,-that she had seen him tried her.
self The widow was of nature some-
what spicy, and expressed herself warm
ly: "It's cheat and shame, and I'll
take the law on ye."
"What law will you take?" said the
unmoved deacon. Wasn't it fair
bargain ?''
"I'll 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. Hav-
ing assumed the care of the animal, he
now sat contemplating it in sort of
trance of melancholy reflection.
"Why, boys" he broke out, "why
didn't she come to me afore she bought
this critturl Why l knew all about
him That ere crittur was jest ruined
a year ago last summer, when Tom, the
deacon's boy there, come home from
college. Tom driv him over to Sher-
burn and back that ere hot Fourth of
July. Member it, cause 1 saw the
crittur when he come home; that ere
crittur had the thumps all night, and
he hain't never been good for nothing
since. | telled the deacon he was a
gone hoss then, and wouldn't never be
good for nothin." The deacon he took
off his shoes and let him run to pastur'
all summer, and he's been a feedin' an
nussin' on him up; and now he's put
him off on the widder. l wouldn't "a
thought it O. the deacon. Why, this
hoss'll never be no good to her; that
ere's used-up crittur, any fool may
see He'll mabbe do for about a quar-
ter of an hour on a smooth road, but
come to drive him as body wants to
drive, why, he blows like my bellowsis
the deacon knew it-must "a known it p
"Why, SAM" we exclaimed, "ain't
the deacon good man ?''
"Wall now, there's where the shoe
pinchesl In general way the deacon
is good man-he's considerable more
than middlin' good-generally he adorns
his perfession. On most p'ints 1 don't
hev nothin' agin the deacon, and this
ere amt bit like him, but there't is
Come to hosses, there's where the un
santi6ed natur' comes out Folks will
cheat about hosses when they won't
about most nothin' else"
And Sam leaned back on his cold
) forge. now empty of coal, and seemed tc
deliver himself to mournful train o.
general reflection.
eyes, hosses does seem to be sort o
unregenerate critturs," he broke out
'there's suthin' about hosses that de
t ceives the very elect; the best O. folk
gets tripped up when they come to dea
; in hosses l''
"Why. Sam, is there anything bad il
horses ?" we interjected, timidly.
"'Tain't the hosses, boys" said Sam
!, with solemnity. "Lordy massy, tn
hosses is all right enough,-hosses i
: scriptural animals; Elijah went up t.
r heaven in chari't with hosses an,
y then all them lots O. hosses in the Raw
n alations, black and white and red an,
all sorts O. colors That ere shows boss
II ess goes to heaven; but it's more'n th
9 folks that hcv 'em is likely to, eff the
= don't look OUT
d ministers now," continued Sam, i
= soliloquizing vein, "folks alters think
a it's sunthin' sork O. shaky in ministe
- ! to hev much to do with hosses,-sure t
get 'em into trouble. There was oil
= Parson Williams, of North Billrik,
J. got into drefful mess about a hos
IF Lordy massy, he warn't to blame, neitE
D. er, but he got into the drefulest SCRAP
- you ever heard on-come nigh to uI
:. settlin' him."
ST "Oh, Sam, tell us all about IT. v