Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-05
AN UNEXPECTED RACE.

whom we will call Rldewell. He was a
BAPTIST by persuasion. and very rigid in
MS ideas Of me- raj p;opr ETY.; He had in
his employ and old negro, named
Pompey, and if this latter individual was
net so sti let in his morals as his master,
ne was at least a very cunning dog, and
passed in the reverend household for a
pattern Of propriety. Pomp, was use
1ul servant, and the old clergyman never
hesitated to trust him with the most i'm
portant business.
Now it so happened that there were,
dwelling in and about the town, sundry
individuals who had not the fear of the
dreadful penalties which Mr. Ridewell
pcached about before their eyes, for it
was the wont Of the people to congrcgate
on Sabbath evenings upon level piece
OF land in the outskirts of the town, and
there race horses. This spot was hidden
from view by dense piece of woods, and
for long while the Sunday evening
races was carried on there without de-
lection by the officers, or others who
might have stopped them.
1t also happened that the good old
clergyman owned one of the best horses
e IN the county. Thi. horse was of the Cd
Morgan stock, with mixture Of the
Arabian blood IN his veins, and it was
generally known that few beasts could
pass him on the road. Mr.. Ridewell,
with o dignity becoming his calling,
stou-ly declared that the tlectness of his
horse never afforded him any qualification,
and that, for his own part, he would as
lief have any other. Yet money could
not buy his Morgan, lo1 could any
amount Of argument persuade him to
swap.
The church was so near to the good
clers yman's dwelling that he always
walked to meeting, and his horse was
consequently allowed to remain in the
:" pasture.
Pompey discovered that these races
were on the tapis, and he resolved to
enter his master horse on his own &C
count, for he felt sure that old Morgan
could beat anything in the shape of
horseflesh that could be produced in
that quarter. So On the very next Sun
day evening he hid the bride under his
Jacket, went out into the pasture and
caught the horse, and then rode off to.
wards the spot where the wicked ones
were congregatcd. Here he found about a
dozen horses assembled, and the racing
was about to commence. Pomp. mount.
ed his beast, and at the signal he started
Old Morgan entered into the spirits OF
49, the thing, and came out two rods ahead
of everything. So Pomp won q1ite q
pile, and before dark he was we'll initial
ed in horse-racing.
Pomp, succeeded in getting home with
out exciting any suspicious, and he now
longed for the Sabbath afternoon to come
for he was determined to try it again
He did go again, and again he won
and this course of wickcdness he followed
up for two months, making his appearance
upon the racing ground every Sunday
afternoon, as soon as he could after ''mcet
ing was OUT And during this time
Pompey was not the only one who ha(
learned to love the racing. No, for Ole
Morgan himself had come to love the ex
- citemcnt Of the thing, too, and his ever!
motion when upon the track showed how
zealously he entered into the spirit of tn,
game.
But these things were not always to re
main a secret. One Sunday piou
deacon beheld this racing from distance
and straightway went to the parson will
LuG filui ilIuS lC NV. hE
-~ Ridewell was utterly shocked. His mora
feelings were outraged, and he resolved
at once to put stop to the wickedness
During the week he made inquiries, ant
he learned that this thing had been prac
ticed all summer On every Sabbath after
noon. He babe his parishoners kee,
quiet, and he told them that on the mex
- Sunday he would make his appearance,
on the very spot and catch them in thei
deeds Of iniquity.
On the following Sabbath, after dinner
Mr.. Morgan ordered Pomp. to bring ur
old Morgan and put him in the stable
The order was oneyed, though not with
out many misgivings on the part Of thu
faithful negro. AS soon as the afternoon
-- services were closed. the two deacon:
and some other members Of the churct
accompanied the minister home, witt
their horses.
ut is the most fragrant piece Of abom
nation that ever came to my knowledge,
said the indignant Clergyman, as the,
rode on.
x ''It is most assuredly," answered one 0
the deacons.
"Horse-racing on the Sabbath!'' utter
ed the minister.
"Dreadful!' echoed the second deacon
Aud SO the conversation went on unit
they reached the top of q gentle emf
nence which overlooked the plain wher
the racing was carried on, and wher
S~ some dozen horsemen, with a score 0
lookers-on, were assembled. The sigh
was one which chilled the good parson t.
his soul. He remained motionless unit
he had made out the whole alarmin!
truth, then turning to his companions:
"Now, my brothers," said be, ''let u
ride down and confront the wicked
wretches, an if they will down upo
'-"- thier knees and implore God'smercy, an,
promise to do SO no more, we will NO
take legal action against them. 0, tina
my own land should be desecrated thus
for it was indeed section OF bis ow
farm.
AS the good clergyman thus spoke, h
started on towards the scene. The horse
of the wicked men were Just drawing u
for start rs the minister approached
and some of the riders who at once rec ,.
nized "old Morgan did not recogai2
the reverend in livi lual who rode HIN.
e WickeN men ~ cam r,ancp1 III. no,