San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-11-30
THEPARSON'S HORSE RACE.

THEPARSON'S HORSE RI CE,
aye see, boys, Parson Williams, hes
dead now,--but when / was boy he
was one of the greet men around here
He writ books. He writ tract agin the
Armenians, and put 'em down, and he
writ q big book on the millennium I've
cot that ere book now); and he was a
smart preacher; folks said he had invl-
tations to settle in Boston, and there
mint no doubt he might "a he'd Boston
parish ef he'd been "a min to take it,
but he'd got n good settlement and n
Handsome farm in North Billriky, and
didn't care to move; though s'pose,
that t was better to be number one in
little place than number two in biz
I'm; anyway, he carried all before him
where he was.
"Parson Williams was tall, straight,
personable man--come of good family
father and gran'thcr before him all
ministers: he was putty up and down
and commandin' in his ways, and things
had to go putty much as he said. He
was good deal sot by, Parson Williams
was, and his wife was Derby, and one
O. 'em' rich Salem Derbys and brought
him u lot O money, and so they lived
putty easy and comfortable so far as
this worlds goods goes. Well, now, the
Parson wasn't really what You call world
ly.mindel, but then he was only one O
them folks that k,,O,us ,phats good In
temporals as well as spirituals, and liked
to have the best that there was goin',
and he alters had an eye to good boss.
"Now, there was Parson Adams and
Parson Scranton, and most OF the other
ministers, they didn't know and didn't
care what boss they he'd; jest logged
round with these ere poundin', pot-bell-
led, sleepy critturs that ministers most
ly hes, good enough to crawl round to
funerals and ministers meetin's and as
sociations and SIGH, but Parson Williams
he alters would heva boss as was boss;
he looked out for blood, and when these
ERE Vermont fellers would come down
with drove, the Parson he he'd his eyes
open and knew what was what Couldn't
none Of 'em cheat him on hoss-t1csh;
and so one time when Buel was down
with drove, the doctor he bought the
best horse in the lot. Zach said hen
er seen parson afore that he couldn't
cheat, but he said the doctor really knew
rs much rs he did, and got the very one
he'd meant to a kept for himself.
This ere boss was peeler, Ill tell
YOU. They'd called him Tmnerlane,
from some heather teller or other: the
boys called him Tam, for short. Tam
was greet character. All the fcllers for
miles round knew the doctors Tam and
used to come clear over from the other
parishes to see him.
"W.l this ere sot up Cuffs back high,
1 tell YOU. Cuff was the doctors Niger
man. and he was at'lly drefful proud
crittur. The way he would swell and
strut and brag about the doctor and his
folks and his things! The doctor used
10 give Cuff his east of clothes, and
Cuff would prance round in EN- and
~eem 20 think he was doctor of divini-
" himself. aud had the charge cf all
natur'.
We'll Cuff. hc rely made an idol o
that 'crc boss. rcg1ar graveu image.
and bowed down and worshiped him:
nc didn't think noihin' was too good for
him: he washed and brushed and cur
ried him. and rubbed him down till hc
Shone like n lady's satin dress; and he
took pride in ridin' and dririn' him.
cause il was what the doctor wouldn't
d; anybody else do but himself. You
-. Tam want no lsdy's boss. Miss
Williams vs. fraid a. death 81 him, and