The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-12-18
THE PARSONS HORSE RACE.

THE PARSONS HORSE RACE.
"Wat! now this 'ere does beat ali! I
wouldn't Il thought it O. the deacon"
So spoke Sam Lawson. dropping in a
discouraged, contemplative attitude in
frort of an equally discouraged looking
a&agse. til at had just been brought to him
DIV the widow Simpkins for medical
treatment Among Sans many accom-
x,!ishments he was reckoned in the neigh
Iorhood AZ oracle in all matters of this
kind, especially by women, whose help
Eessness in meeting such emergencies
found unfailing solace under his compass
sionate willingness to attend to any bust
HESS that did not strictly belong to him,
sud from which no pecuniary return
could be expected.
Tee widow Simpkins had bought this
horse of Deacon Atkins, apparently fair
Nv weIl-appointed brute, and capable as
ale was good looking. A short, easy drive
when tie deacon held the Ieins had shown
off his points to advantage, and the wild
ow's small stock Of ready savings had
come forth freely in payment for what
ahe thought was bargain. When, soon
after coming into possession, she discov-
cred that her horse, if driven with any
haste, painted in q fearful manner, and
that he appeared to be growing lame, she
waved wroth, went to the deacon in an
gersto be met only with the smooth re-
:mhdes ttx tie stQmal was all right when
aFjs5teoleast. sh, had seep him hin,
some What xpfsy, and Expressed herself,
WarmN: 4 .
OTIS cheat aud's shame, and I I'll take
The law on ye."
s'What law will you take2n said the
sgain?"
Iii take the law Of Cod said the
Widoy, with impotent indignation, and
she departed to pour her cares and trials
Into the ever-ready ear Of Sam. Having
assumed the care of the animal, he now
sat contemplating it in q sort Of trance of
melancholy reflections.
"Wiy, boys" he broke out, ''why
didn't she come to me afore she bought
stsis ciittur! Why, knew all about him
That ERE critture was jest ruined year
ago last summer, when ..'ora, the deacon's
boy there, come home from college. Tom
driv hin, over to Sherburn and back that
ERE hot Fourth Of July. Member it
3cause ] saw the crittnr when he come
home; I sot up with Tom taking care Of
him all nig BIT; that 'ere c1itture had the
thumps all night, and he hasn't never
tile deacon he was gone boss then, and
wouldn't never be good for nothing. The
deacon he took off his ghoes and let him
run 10 pasture all summer, and he's been
feadil' and nussin' "a him up; and now
he's put him off On the wilder. Wouldn't
"a thought it O. the deacon. Why, this
hosall never be 10 good to her; that
'ere' 3 q used up critture, any fool may
zee. He'll mabbe do for about quarter
OF an hour Oh smooth road, but come
to drive him as body wants to drive,
why, ned blow like my bellowsis; and
the. deacon knew Unjust "a known lt~
why, SAM" we exclaimed, saint the
deacon good mana"
uWa], now, there's where the shoe
pinches! In II gin al way the descon Is
a good man-he's constable more than
uaiddlin' good -gin'ally he. adorns his
profession. On most p'nts l don't hev
5nothin' aein the deacon, and this ere amt
a bit ike him-but there It's! Come to
HOSES, there's where unsanctiied natur'
comes OUT. Folks will cheat about bosses
when they won't about most nothin' else"
And Sam leaned back on his cold forge,
now empty of coal, and seemed to deliver
himself TO a mouinful train of general re-
Election
ssYis, HOSES do seem to be sort O. un-
regenerate critturs," he said, there's
:s,thin' about bosses that deceives the
very elect; the best o. folks gets tripped
up when they come, to deal in bosses"
ssWby, Sam is there anything bad in
horses?" we interjected timidly.
.sTain't the HOSES, boys" said Sam,
with solemnity. ''Lordy MASSEY, the bosses
is all right enough-hosses is scriptooral
animals; Elijah went up ito heaven in a
chart with bosses; and then all them lots
o. bosses in the Revelations, black and
white and red and all sorts of colors
That 'ere shows bosses go to heaven; but
it's moren the folks that hev 'em is likely
to, ct they don't look OUT.
administers, now." continued Sam, in q
soliloquizing vein; "folks alters thinks it's
suthin' sort O. shaky in minister to have
anyth1n' to do with hosses--sure to gel
'em into trouble. There was old Parson
Williams, o. North Billriky, got into 8
.dreful mess about boss. Lordy massy
he warn't to blame, either, but he got
into the drefulest scrape you ever heard
,on-come nigh to onsettlin' him."
sob, Sam, tell us all about it" We
boys shouted, delighted with the pros.
pect Of story. Il.