Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-10-16

tho leller talked about II up TO the
tavern, and the deacons and the
tlhIngman they took Il up aud went
TO Parson Williams about II and tho
parson he told them Jest 10 keep still,
not lot the fellers know that they was
being watched, aud next Sunday he
and the tithingman and the constable
they'd ride over and catch them In the
very act.
80 next Sunday afternoon Parson
Williams and Deacon Popklns ane
Ben Bradley (he va. constable that
year, they got on TO their hosses aud
rode over 10 Peqiot iloller, The
doctors blood was up and hc meant
10 como down on en- strong, Tor that
was his way Of doing In his parish
and they was 10 a sort Of day Of .jodg'
ment frame Of mind, aud logged along
as solemn as q hearsp, till come to riso
the hill above the holler they see three
or four iellers with their hosscs Citing
ready to race aud the parson says
he, Lets come on quiet aud get be-
hind these bushes and, aud well see
what their up to and catch them in
the act.
But the mischief ont was that Ike
Sanders see en- comm, aud he
knowed Tam in minit,-lkc knowcd
him OF old-and he jest tipped the
wink, to the rest. wait, boys says
he, 'let cm git close up, and then I'll
give the word and the doctors horse
will be racing ahead like thunder.
Wsl, 40 the doctor and his folks
they drew up behind the bushes, and
stood there inocent as could be, and
saw them git,in' 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 il, boys!
and the hosses all started, and, sure
rs you live, boys, Tam gave one fly
and was over the bushes aud was in
among 'em, going it like chain light
ming ahead of them all.
deacon Popkins and Ben Bradley
lest stood and held their breath to see
'em all going it so like thunder; and
the doctor he was took 50 sudden II
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 ribbins his hat flew off be.
hind him, and his wig arter, and got
catched in barberry bush /; but Lordy
massy, he couldn't stop to 'h'nk ol
them. He jest leaned down and
caught lam round the neck and held
on for dear life, till they came to the
stopping place.
Wal, Tam was ahead OF 'em all,
sure enough, and was snorting and
snuffing as if he'd got the very old
boy in him, and was up to racing
some more on the spot.
That ere Ike Sanders was the i'm
pudentest feler you ever see, and ne
roared and hawhawed at the doctor,
Good for you, parson ! says he. You
beat us all holler, says he; takes a
parson for that, don't it, boys! he
said. And then he and Ike and Tom
and the two Hokum boys they jest
roared, and danced round like wild
critturs. Wal, now, only think ont,
boys, what a situation that ere was
for minister,-a man that had come
out with the best OF motives to put a
stop to Sabbath breaking! There ne
was all rumpled up and dusty, and his
wig hanging in the bushes, and these
ere ungodly fellers glttin' the laugh
on him, and all acause of that ere
hoss. There's times: boys, when min
isters must be tempted to swear, IT
there amt preventin' grace, and this
was one of them times to Parson
Williams. They ssy he got red in the
face, and looked as If be should bust,
but he didn't say nothing; he scorned
to answer,-the sons of Zeruiah Was
too hard for him, and he let EN- hev
their say. But when they'd got
through, and Ben had brought him
his hat and wig, and brushed and set
tied him agin, the parson he says,
wal, boys, ye'eve had your say and
your laugh, but I warn you now
won't have this thing going on here
any more says he. so mind your
selves
wal, the boys see that the doctors
blood was up, and they rode of pref
ty quiet, and believe they never
raced no more in that spot.
. But there amt no telling the talk
that ere thing made. Folks will talk,
You know, and there wasn't house
I