Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-10-02

8 Folks sort o. wondered il the doc
tor knew. but Cuff WAS sly ~ weasel
and alters had . story resdy for every
turn; Cuff was one Of them fellers that
could talk . bird off bush-master
hand he was to slick things over!
There was folks rs said they be-
lieved the doctor was KNOWN to it, and
that he felt q sort O. carnal pride, sech
as minister oughtn't fer to hev, and so
shet his eyes to what was a-goin' on.
Aunt Sally Nickerson said she was sure
ont; t was all talked over down to old
Miss Bummiger's funeral and Aunt
Sally she said the church ought to look
into t. But everybody knew aunt Sal
ly; she was alters watchin' for folks hal
tins, and settin' on herself up to ledge
her neighbors.
oval, never believed nothin' agin
Parson Williams; it was all Cuffs con-
trivances; but the fact was the fellers all
got their blood up, and there was
boss racin' in all the parishes; and it
got so they'd ever race HOSES q Sun
day.
"Wal, of course they never got the
doctors boss out Sunday. Cuff would
MT a burst to do that, Lordy MASSEY, no /!
He was alters there in church settin' up
IN the doctors clothes, rollin' up his eyes
and lookin' as pious as eff he never
thought O racin' HOSES; he was an aw-
full solen-lookin' niger in church, Cuff
was.
But there was lot o. them fellers
up to Pequot Holler-Bill Atkins and
Ike Sanders and Tom Peters and them
Hokum boys used to go out arter m eetin'
Sunday afternoon and race bosses. Ye
see, it was jest close to the state line,
and If the s'lectmen was to come down
on 'em, they could jest whip over the
line and they couldn't take em.
wal, 1t got to be great scandal;
the fellers talked about it up to the tav
ern, and the deacons and the tithingman
they took it up and went to Parson
Williams about it; and the parson he
told 'em jest to keep still. not let the
fellers know that they were bein' watch
ed, and next Sunday he and the tithing.
man and the constable they'd ride over
and catch 'em in the very act.
so next Sunday afternoon Parson
Williams and Deacon Popkins and Ben
Bradley Che was constable that vear)
they got on to their HOSES 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 dom in his parish; and they was in
a sort O day O Judgment frame O mind,
and logged along solemn as hearse,
till come to rise the hill above the hol-
Ter they see three or four felers with
their bosses gittin' ready to race; and
the parson says he, Let's come on quiet
and get behind these bushes, and wen
see what they're up to and catch 'em in
the act.
"But the mischief ont was that Ike
Sanders see 'em comm, and he knowed
Tam in Il minit,-Ike knowed Tam of
old,-and he jest tipped the wink to the
rest. Wait, boys, says he, let 'em Git
close up, and then I'll give the word and
the doctors boss will be racin' ahead
like thunder
oval, so the doctor and his folks
they drew up behind the bushes, and
stood there innocent as could be, and
saw 'em gittin' ready to start. Tam he
begun to shuttle and paw, but the doc
tor never mistrusted what he was I'D to
till Ike sung out, Go it boysr and the
bosses all started, when, sure as YOU
live. boys, Tam give one fly and was
over the bushes and in among 'em,
goin' it like chain lightnin', ahead OF
'em all.
Deacon Popkins and Ben Bradley
Jest stood and held their breath to see
'em all goin' it 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 ribbns
his hat flew off behind him, and his wig
arter, and got catched in barberv
bush; but Lordy massey, couldn't stop tc
think O them. He Jest leaned dowr
and caught Tam round the neck and
held on for dear life, till they come to
the stopping place.
oval, Tam was ahead of them all
sure enough, and was snorting and snuff
fling 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 impu
dentest Teller that ever you see, and he
roared and rawhawed at the doctor
Good for you, parsonv says he. you
beat us all holler, says he, takes a par
son 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. Wa
now, only think ont, boys, what stu
alton that ere was for a minister