Ellsworth American., 1878-10-24
Misesllansons. g
From the Atlantic Tor october
The Parsons Horse Race.
HARRIET BEECuFR STOWE.

hAhklfi bff'htk sloNt-
Wall. now this ere does beat all.
wouldn't a thought IT O. the deacon"
SO spoke Sam Lawson, dropping in
discouraged. contemplative attitude 10 front
OF an equally discouraged-looking horse,
that had just been brought 10 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 Kid, especially BY
women. whose helplessness In meeting
such emergencies found unfailing solace
under his compassionate Willingness to at
tend TO any business that did not strictly
belong To him. and from which no pecuni-
AIRY return was TO be expected.
The widow Simpkins had bought this
horse Of Deacon Atkins, apparently fair
ly well-appointed brute, and capable as he
was good-looking. A shor: easy drive
when the deacon held the r-ins had shown
of his points TO advantage, and the widows
small stock OF ready savings had come
forth freely liz payment 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
10 be growing lame, she wsxed wroth, and
went 10 the deacon in anger, to be met only
was all right when she took him,-that she
had seen him tried herself. The widow
was of q nature somewhat spicy, and ex-
pressed herself warmly: "lt's cheat and
a shame. and Ill take the law on ye."
What law will you takei' said the un-
moved deacon. Wasn't il . fair bargains"
IN take the law Of Cod" said the wild
ow, with impoient indignation, and she de-
parted TO pour her cares and trials into the
ever ready ear of Sam. Having assumed
the care OF the animal. he now sat contem-
plating ii In Q sort OF trance or melancholy
reflection.
why. boys" he broke out, "why didn't
she come 10 me afore she bought this CT It.
tur. Why, knew all about him! That
ere crittur was jest ruined year ago last
summer, when Tom. the deacon's boy
there, come home IRON college. Tom driv
him over to Sherburn and back that ere
hot Fourth Of July. Member il, cause |
saw the crittur when he come home; | sot
up with Tom tskin' care of him all night !;
that ere crittur had the thumps all night,
and he hain't never been good for nothin'
since. telled the deacon he was y gone
hoss then, and wouldn't never be good for
nothiu.' The deacon he took OF his shoes.
and let him run to pastur' all summer, and
he's ben feedin' and nussin' on him up !;
and now he's put him Oh on the widder. l
wouldn't "a thought it u the deacon.
Why, this boss II never be no good TO her !;
that 'ere's used up cr'ttur. any fool may
see. He'll msbbe do for about q quarter
OF an hour on q smooth road. but come TO
drive him as body wants to drive, why.
he blows like my bellOwsis; and the dea-
con knew it-must a known it!'
"Why, Sam" we exclaimed. "ain't the
deacon a Uood manff
"WaI now. there's where the shoe
pinches, In gio'al way the deacon is =
good man-he's considerable more than
middlin' gOod-gin' ally he adOrns his per-
| fessiOn. On most p'ints don't hev nO:hin'
| agin the deacon. and this ere amt bit
like him-but there't is! Come to hOsses.
| there's where the unsanctified 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. aud seemed to deliver
himself 10 a oourniul train Of general re-
| 1ection.
unregenerate critturs," he broke Out
there's suthin' about hosses that deceive-
the very elect; the best O. folks gets trip.
ped up when they come TO deal in hOsses.' y
why. Sam. Is there anything bad In
horsesY" We iDterjected, timidly.
.''Tain't the horses, boys" said Sam wit !
solemnity. "LOrdy. massy. the hosses /.
all right enOugh,-hOsses is scrip.ural ami
mails Elijah went up to heaven 10 chsri'l
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 h0sses goes TO heaven; bat It..
more'n the folks that hev 'em Is likely to
II they don't look out.
Ministers now" continued Sam. in Z
soliloquizing vein; folks alters thinks III
suthin' sort o. shaky in minister to he,
much to do with hosses.-sure to get ZEN
into trouble. There was old Pars0n VIII
Iiams, OF North Billriky, got into dreffu
mess about . hOss. LOTdy massy, hs
warn't to blame, neither. but he got into
the drefulesi scrape you ever heard OH
come nigh TO upsettiin' him."
..Oh. Sam, tell US all about It," we boys
shouted. delighted with the prospect Of {
story.
Wal, wait now till get OF this crittur's
shoes. and We'll take him up tOl pastur'
and then we can kind y set by the rivel
and fish. Hepsy wanted mess o nsh foI
supper. and was caI'Istin' to git some FOL
her. Yoa boys 20 aud be DIGGING bait anl
git yer iines."