Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-10-17

discourage ed cOntemplalive attitude in front
of an equally discouraged looking horse,
that had just been brought to him by the
widow Smpkins for medical treatment
Among Sans many accomplishments he
was reckoned in the neighborhood an ora
Gle in all matters OF this kind. especially
by women, whose heplessness in meeting
emergencies found unfaiing solace under
his compassionate willingness to attend to
any business that did not strictly belong
to him. and from which no pecuniary re-
turn was to be expected
The widow Simpkins had bought this
horse of Deacon Atkins. apparently fair
y well-apponted brute, aud capable as he
was good looking. A short easy drive
when the deacon held the reins had shown
of his points to advantage, and the wild
ow's small stock of ready savings had
come forth freely in payment for what she
thought was a bargain. When, soon af
ter coming into possession, she discovered
that her horse il driven with any haste,
painted in fearful manner and that he APP
peared 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
herself. The widow was of nature
somewhat spicy, and expressed herself
warmly; 'Its cheat and shame. and
III take the law on ye."
What law will you take ?" said the un-
moved deacon. Wasn't it fair bar
gain?"
"l'll take the law OF God" said the
widow, with impotent indignation. and
she departed TO pour her trials and cares
into the ever ready ear OF Sam. Having
assumed the care of the animal, he now
sat contemplating it in a sort OF trance or
melancholy reflection.
why, boys" he broke out, "why didn't
she come to me afore she bought this crit.
tur? Why. | knew all about him That
ere crittur was just 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
saw the crtter when it come home; sot
up with Tom takin' care OF him all night !;
that ere critter had the thumps all night,
and he hain't never been good tor nothin
since. telled the deacon he was gone
boss then, and wouldn't never be good
for nothin. The deacon he took off his
~nots, uud icl bitIi ihu w PhStui aii sum
mer, and he's ben a-feedin' and nussin' on
wldder. | wouldn't a thought it o the
deacon. Why, this hoss III never be no
good to her. that 'eres "A used up crttur,
any fool may see He'll mabbe do for
about quarter of an hour Oh smooth
road, but come to drive him as body
wants to drive, why he blows like my
L., IL, 4, H.. "A. l.
'a'known it ~
why, Sam. we exclaimed, "an't the
deacon good man ?"
"Wal, now, there's where the shoe
pinches. In the gin'al way the deacon is
a good man-he's consid able more than
middlin' good-gn'ally he adorns his per-
fesson. On most p'ints don't hev moth
in against the deacon, and this ERE amt
bit like him--but there It's Come to
hosses. there's where the unsanctified na-
tur' comes out Folks will cheat about
hosses when they won't about nothn
else"
And Sam leaned back on his cold forge,
now empty Of coal, and seemed to deliver
himself to mournful train OF general
reflection.
"Yes, hosses does seem te be sort o.
unregenerate critturs," he broke out :;
there's suthin' about hosses that deceives
the very elect; the best O. folks gets
tripped up when they come to deal with
hosses."
"Why, Sam. is there anything bad in
horses ?" we interrupted timdly.
"'Tain't the horses, boys" said Sam
with solemnity. ''Lordy, massy, the
hosses is all right enough, ,-hosses is scrip
tura! animals: Elijah went up to heaven
in a chari't with hosses and then all them
lots o hosses in the Revelations, black and
white and red and all sorts O. colors
That ere shows hosses goes to heaven
but it's more'n the folk that hev 'em is
likely to, if they don't look out.
ministers now" continued Sam, in a
soiloquizing vein "folks alters thinks it's
suthin' sort % shaky in minister to hev
much to do with hosses, sure to get 'em
into trouble. There was old Parson Will
liams of North Bllriky, got into dreflul
mess about hoss. Lordy massy, he
warn't to blame, neither, but he got into
the dref1uest scrape you ever heard on
come nigh to unsettlin him."
"Oh, sam, tell us all about it, we boys
shouted, delighted with the prospect of a
story.
"Wal, wait now till get off this crit
tur's shoes, and we II take him up to pas
tur', and then we can kind o set by the
river and fish. Hepsy wanted mess o.
fish for supper, and was cal'latin' to git
some Tor her. You boys go and be dig
ging bait and git yer lines"
And so as we were sitting TRANQUILITY be-
side the Charles river, watching our lines,
Sans narrative began:
You see, boys, Parson Williams, he's
dead now, but when | was a boy he was
one of the great men round here. He
writ books. He writ tract agin the Ar
wenians. and put 'em down. and he writ a
big book on the millennium Owe got that
ere book now;) and he was a smart
preacher; folks said he had invitations to
settle in Boston, and there amt no doubt
he might n he'd Boston parish eff he d "a
been mind to take it, but he'd got good
settlement and handsome farm in North