The Republican., 1888-12-01
NUMBER 40.

maiden daughters. on their way to
church at an utterly unprecedented
hour in the morning. Cid Pomp, a
gray haired Ethiopian, sat in sober
majesty on the drivers peat, driving
two family animals ss faithful as
himself. To the casual observer the
vehicle and lis attachments were en-
inently suggestive Of patYiarchal dig
nifty and domestic proDgiety. but to
me it suggested nothing but agony
and tears. The Roberts family were
stauuch Presbyterials and noted for
their strict observance Of the Sabbath
and l knew that every orthodox
Presbyterian felt himself as much
called upon before God to inquire
into the cause Of any child being at
large on the Sabbath and to appre-
hend and deliver that child up to its
proper guardians as to assist neigh
Dor whose cattle had broken out and
We're strsyfng from the proper in
closure. Ny frst Impression yvAs to
hide that viilaInooe cigar, which +
intuitively felt gave me lawlees and
ruftianIy appearance. and with the
QuicSness of thought thrust it down
into the outside pocket of my coat.
Charley and myself we're side by
side, and unfortunately ray hand
with the burning cigar went into his
pocket and upon the tightly wrapped
psper of powder.
At the same monent Squire Rob-
erts discovered the extraordinary
turnout, comprising "Oid Pct" and
two children Of the church, loose on
Sunday morning. The Roberts ve-
hicie stopped, and as Ponap proceed
ed 10 dismOunt from the perch to
| open the carriage door there was an
! explosion, such as my nervous sys-
/ teF1 has never experienced since.
/ Charley and myself separated iDme-
diately. He went oyer the fence into
g meadow and [ passed clear over or
| through the Roberts carriage, l have
never been certain which. Amidst
| the shTieSa Of the Misses Roberts aud
the yel!s Of the Squire and Old
Pomp, spIang 10 nly feet, burning
and half dead. TO treh0ld scene of
utter rain. Both vehicles were total
wrecks, Old P0mp was in the midst
OF the debris snd Squire Roberts
Iouked ike the captsin of an expiod-
ed steamboat, bat the central figure
wa. "Old Put" True to his military
u'ie, that venerable animal stood his
ground, but terribly damoralized.
He bsd been blown forward On hiS
forequarters, while his tail stuck
straight up. like q cherred stump
after forest fre,
1t ia hardly necessary to pursue the
subject further. Carried back in dis
grace on the bright sabbath morning,
we we're sWathed and bandRged with
cruel kindness for days afterwards.
Special prayers we're msde for US at
church and prayer meeting. AL the
Sunday School scholars were brought
to ace us rs warning, whilst the
doctor and minister aIternSted In
phYsicing us bodily and spiritually.
But the di5astrous consequences did
not end here. "Oid Put" from that
day was no longer tie same horse,
From having been the kiudest and
best and safest animal in Kentucky
he BECAME "Saten's owD," and at
Christmas, when the irecrsckers be-
gan their fusiiade, he was perfectly
restless.
Charley. do you recolleot odd
Put p"
A faint ripple OF laughter satisfied
me there was hope for him yet.
When the surgeon came on his
nightly round Charley wss better,
and in three dAvs out OF danger.
Manned and dishgured for the land
he Ioved,' be ia married aud living
in Mississippi. and has no doubt told
his children the story OF our Sunday
pigeon hunt and "Old Put. ."-Atld1atG
Constitution.