The Bessemer indicator., 1893-06-17
THE PARSONS RACE.


sester county. Massachusetts, used to
live IL Clergyman whom we will call
Ridewell. He was OF the Baptist per-
suasion, and very rigid in his ideas
Of moral propriety. He had in his
employ an old negro, named Pompey,
and If this latter individual was not
so strict in his morals as his master,
he was at least very cunning dog,
and passed in the reverend household
iora pattern of propriety. Pomp. was
useful servant, and the old clergy
man never hesitated to trust him
with the most important business.
Now it SO happened that there
were, dwelling in and about the town,
suntlry individuals who had not the
fear OF the dreadful penalties which
Mr. Ridewell preached about before
their eyes, for it was the wont of
there people to congregate on Sab
bath evenings upon level piece of
land in the outskirts of the town
and there race horses. This spot
was hidden from view by dense
pleGe OF woods, and for long while
tho Sunday evening races were car
ried on there without detection
by che officers. or others who might
ha.e stopped them.
j. also happened that the old
cletgyman owned one of the best
hotses in the county. This horse
wa, OF the old Morgan stock, with
MIXTURE of the Arabian blood in his
veins, and it was generally known
that few beasts could pass him ON the
road. Mr.. Ridewell, with a dignity
be coming his calling, declared that
tbs iieetness OF his horse never af-
focded him any qualification, and
that. for his own part, he would as
lief have any other. Yet money
could not buy his Morgan. nor could
my amount of argument persuade
him to swap.
The church was so near to the good
clsrgyman's 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 tapis, and he resolved to
ehter his masters horse on his own
account, for he felt sure that old
Morgan could beat anything in the
shape of horse flesh that could be pro-
duced in that quarter So on the
very next Sunday evening he hid the
Bride under his jacket, went out into
the pasture and caught the horse, and
then rode off toward the spot where
The wicked ones were congregated.
Here he found some dozen horses as
Al 1nl l,a ~, ,l,~
commence. Pomp. mounted his beast,
and at the signal ho started. Old
Morgan entered into the spirit of the
thing, and came out two rods ahead
Of everything. So Pomp. won quite
pile. and before dark he was we'll
initiated in horse-racing.
Pomp, succeeded in getting home
without exciting any suspicious, and
he now longed for the Sabbath after
noon to come, for he was determined
to try it again. lie did go again.
and again he won; and this course OF
wickedness he followed up for two
months, making his appearance upon
the racing ground every Sunday
afternoon. as soon as he could after
"meeting was out" And during this
time Pompey was not the only one
who had learned to love the racing.
No. for old Morgan himself had come
10 love the excitement OF the thing,
too, and his every motion when upon
tho track showed how zealously he
entered into the spirit Of the game.
but these things were not always
to remain secret. One Sunday
pious deacon beheld this racing from
u distance, and straightway went to
the parson with the alarming in
telligence. The Rev. Mr. Ridewell
was utterly shocked. His moral
feelings were outraged, and he re-
solved ut once to put stop to the
wickedness. Daring the week he
made many inquiries, and he learned
that this thing had been practised
all summer on every Sabbath after
noon. He bade his parishioners keep
quiet. and he told them that on the
next Sunday he would make his ap-
pcarance on the very spot and catch
them in their deeds of iniquity.
On the following Sabbath, after
dinner, Mr.. Ridewell ordered Pomp
to bring up old Morgan and put him
In tho stable. The order was obeyod,
though not without many misgivings
on tho part of the old negro. AS
soon as the afternoon services were
closed, the two deacons and some
others of the members of the church
accompanied the minister home, with
their horses.
at is the most Gagrant piece of
abomination that ever came to my
knowledge, said the indignant cler-
gyman, as they rode on.
at is. most assuredly," answered
one of the deacons.
Horse racing on the Sabbath"
uttered the minister.
"Drcadful" echoed the second
deacon.
And so the conversation went on
until they reached the top of a gentle
eminence which overlooked the plain
where the racing was carried on. and
where some dozen horsemep, with
score of lookers-on, were assembled.
The sight was one which chilled tho
good parson to his soul. He re-
NAMED motionloss until he had made
out the whole alarming truth, then
turning to his companions:
Nov, my brothers, said he. "let
us ride down and confront the wicked
wretches, and II they will down upon
their knees, and implore Gods mercy.
and promise to do so no more, we
will not take legal action against
them. Oh. that my own land should
be desecrated thus!" for it was indeed
q section of his own farm.
AS the good clergyman thus spoke,
he started on toward the scene. Tho