The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-12-21
Anilersca Jntefligeaaes,
An Unexpected Race.


was of the Baptist persuasion, and very
rigid in his ideas of moral propriety.
He had in his employ an old negro,
named Pompey, and if this latter indi'
vidual was not so strict in bis morals
as his MASTER, he Was, at least, a 7sry
cunning dog, and passed in the reverend
household for pattern of propriety.
Pomp was useful servant, and the old
clergyman never Fssitated 10 trust him
with the most important business.
Now, it so happened that there were
dwelling in and about the town, suudry
individuals who had not the fear of the
dreadful penalties which Mr.. Ridewell
preached about before their eyes, for it
was the wont of these people to congre-
gate on Sabbath evening on level piece
of land on the outskirts of the town and
there race horses. The spot was hidden
from view by dense piece Of woods, and
for loug while the Sunday evening
races were 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
in the county. This horse was of the
old Morgan stock, with mixture of the
Arabian l. bod in bis veins, and it Was
generally known that few bea'ts could
pass him on the road. Mr.. Ridewell,
with a dignity becoming bis calling,
stou,ly declared that the Aeetness of his
horse never afforded him any gratifca-
tion, and hat, for his own part, he would
as lief lave any ether. Yet. money
could not buy his Morgan, nor could any
amount Of argument persuade him to
swap.
The church wse SO near to the good
clergymA. 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 tnpis, and he resolved to
enter bis masters horse on his own ac-
count, for be felt sure that old Morgan
could beat anything in the shape of
hoyseAesh that could be produced in that
quarter. So on the very next Sunday
be hid the bride under his jacket, went
out into the pasture and caught the
horse, and then rode of towards the spo t
where the wicked oaes were congregated.
Here he found some two dozen horses
assembled and the racing was about to
commence. Old Morgan entered into
the spirit of the thing. and came out two
rods ahead of everything. So Polnp won
quite pile, and before dark he was we'll
initiated in horseracing.
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 be
won; and this course of wickedness he
followed up for over two months, max.
ing his appearance on the racing ground
every Sunday afternoon, as soop as he
could after meeting was out" And du-
ring this time Pomp was not the only one
who had learned to love the racing. No,
for old Morgan himself had come to love
the excitement of the thing, too, and his
every motion when upon the track SHOW.
ed how zealously he entered into the spir'
it Of the game.
But these things were not always to
remain secret. One Sunday pious
deacon beheld this racing from dis
tance, and straightway went to the parson
with the alarming intelligence. The Rev
Mr.. Ridewell was utterly shocked. His
moral feelings were outraged, and he re-
solved at once to put stop to the wick
edness. During the week he made many
inquiries, and he learned that this thing
had been practiced all Summer on every
Sabbath afternoon. He bade his parish
toner's keen quiet, and he told them on
the next Sunday he.would make his ap-
pearance On the very spot and catch them
in their deeds of iniquity.
On the following Sabbath, after dinner
Mr.. Ridt-rell ordered Pomp to bring uE
old Morgan and put him in the stable
The order 7as obeyed, though not without
many misgivings on the part of the negro
AS soon as the afternoon services were
closed, the two deacons and some others
of the members of the church &C
compan' the minister home with theil
horses.
"1t is the most hagrant piece of abom-
ination that ever came to my knowledge
said the indignant parson as they rode
on.
"It is, most assuredly," answered one
of the deacons.
"Horse-racing on the Sabbath /" ut
tered the minister.
Dreadful" uttered the second dea-
con.
And 20 the conversation went on until
they reached gentle imminence which
overlooked the plain where the racing
was carried on, and where some dozen
horsemen, with g score of lookers-on,
were assembled. The sight was ore
which chilled the good parson to the
soul. He remained motionless until he
had made out the whole alarming truth,
then turning to his companions:
"Now my brothers," said he, "let us
ride down and confront the wicked
Yretchss, and if they will get down on
sheir knees and implore Gods mercy and
promise to do 80 no more, We will not
take legal action against them. 0, that
my own land should be desecrated
thus p for it was indeed a section of his