The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-08-04
THE FLORIDA AGRICULTURIST.

tavern, and the deacons and the tith.
lngman they took it up and went to
Parson Williams about il; and the
parson he told 'em Just to keep still,
not let the fellers know that they was
bein' watched, and next Sunday he
and the tithlngman and the constable
they'd ride over and catch 'em in the
very act.
$50 next Sunday afternoon Parson
Williams and Deacon Popkins and
Ben Bradley Che was constable that
year, they got on their bosses 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 doin' in his
parish; and they was in sort O day
O. Judgment frame O mind, and jog.
ged along solemn as a hearse till
come to rise the hill above the boiler
they see three or four fellers with
their bosses gittin' ready to race
aud the parson says he, Let's come
on quiet and get behind these bushes,
and We'll 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 a miuit-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 Ii!
give the word and the doctors horse
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 began to shuttle and paw, but the
doctor never mistrusted what he was
up to till Ike sang out, Go it, boys !!
lam gave one fly and was over the
bushes and in among 'em, going it
like chain iightnin,' ahead OF 'em all
deacon Popkins aud Ben Brady
jest stood and held their breath to see
'em all; goin SO like thunder; and
the doctor ne 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 ribbins; his hat flew off be-
hind him, and his wig arter ana got
catcheds IN a barberry bush; but
Lordy MASSEY, he couldn't stop to
think O them. He just leaned down
and caught Tam round the neck and
held OH for dear lite till they come TO
the stopping place.
"Wal, Tam was ahead OF them all,
sure enough. and was snoring and
S snuffilng as if he'd got The the yer.
t old boy in him, and was up to racin
S some more Oh the spot.
|. "That 'ere Ike Sanders was the i'm
5 pudentest Teller that ever you see
, and he roared and rawhawed at th
e doctor. Good for you, parson
says he; You beat us all hollcr
a says he; takes "a parson for that
/ don't 1t boys?' he said. And thel
he and Ike and Tom and the wv
: Hokum boys they just roared, ant
a danced round like wild critturs. Wa
7 now, only think ont, boys, what
4 situation that ere was for ministe
a "a man that had come out with tn
k best OF motives to put stop to Sal
bath breakin There he was al
= rumpled up and dusty, and his wiz
!, hangin' on the bushes, and these 'er
!, ungodly tellers gettin' the laugh O
:, him, and ali because O that ERE hos
: There's times, boys when minister
n must be tempted to swear, if Their
Il amt preventin' grace, and this wa
l. one o them times to Parson Wi
e liams. They say he got red in tn
!. face aud looked as if he should bus
; but he didn't say nothin' !; he scorne
S TO answer-the sons of 'Zeruiah wa
o too hard for him, and he let en- he
their say. But when they'd 90
n through, and Ben had brought HIN
S his hat and wig, and brushed an
e settled him ag'in, the parson says
d "Well, boys, ye've had your say an
e had your laugh, but | warn you no,
II won't have this thing going on her
any MORE says he, so mind YOU
e selves.
if oval, the boys see that the doctor
y blood was up, and they rode O.
II pretty quiet, and l believe the
s never raced no more in that spot
4 "But there amt no tellin' the tai
, the ERE thing made. Folks wi
l. talk, you know and there warn't
house in all Blllriky, nor in tn
IS south parish nor centre, where
is warn't had over and discussed
d There was the deacon and Ben Brat