The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-11-18
The Home Circle,
ELDER JONES, CHESTNUT MARE.

Never before in Danville had excitement
Asit did on the Gentleman's Driving Park on
the Fourth of last July;
Shouts went up and hats came OF, and were
thrown high In the air, A.,
As Elder Jones OF the M. K. church won the
race with his chestnut mare.
Now, Elder Jones was minister, and q gen
tleman every way,
But he liked horse, and a good one, too, and
The people OF Danyiiie knew fun well, and
the deacons were well aware,
That the Elder was proud OF the style aud
speed OF his handsome chestnut mare
They also knew that he enjoyed the sport, for
his honest, smiling lace,
Was often seen at the driving park, when a
"But thai he should allow his mare to go in q
race" the deacOns said,
sand the worst OF all to drive himselt-he was
was plainly out of his head.
Now this is the way it was brought about, that
the Elder allowed his mare
To Lrot for the hundred dollar purse In the
green race at the fair;
Ned Wilson, q wellA nown horseman, was CON
fident she would win,
And persuaded the Elder to let him take the
mare anu put her In
The Elder has broken the mare himself, no
9th r one to that times
Had handled the little chestnut mare, or over
her drawn line;
And when the call for the green race came
there were five that came to the stand
1t was plain to be seen that the Elders mare
wasnSt used TO Ned Wilson'S hand.
She would show beautiful burst OF speed
then break and run and pace,
And twas dollars 10 cents that the little mare
couldn't get place In the race
The Elder seemed getting nervous, as he
watched Ned Wilson drive,
Two heats already trotted out, his mare the
last of the ave;
When the call was made TOR the third heat,
you should have seen the people stare,
AS the Elder nimbly sprang on the seat be
hind his chestnut mare
From the moment he touched the ribbons, she
seemed to just know her place,
And when and where TO let out link. with.
out skip or pace. 80
in the finest kind of style,
While over the face of Elder Jones came the
happiest kind OF a smile,
And then IL was that the shouts went up and
AS Elder Jones of the M. e. Church, won the
race with his chestnut mare.
But you should have seen the wrinkles and
That were horrified at the Elders course, land
In secret session met;
Sides were taken for and against, and the
members could not agree,
And the other churches they took IL up, as
well as the old NJ. Il.
1t was give and take with the brothers, there
was shaking among the bones.
But the same good natured smiles still chung
10 the face of Elder Jones;
And when It was learned that the Elder, in
Had scattered his prize 'mong the needy poor
there wasn't SO much to say.
And when next Sabbath morning dawned, and
the church BELLS pealing tones
Proclaimed hour OF worship near to the diff
ferent Danville homes,
~sTwas strange how the people seemed to
flock to the M. K. Church that day,
There wasn't vacant pew to be found when
the Elder arose to pray"
And the sermon he preached was q clinker--
he touched on church socials and plays,
On lotteries and grab bag amusements, that
churches allow now -a-days,
And he said that some believed they were
Some ifked the beautiful sunshine others the
gloom OF the night
To him the world was a beautiful place, he
loved its amusements and mirth,
And any enioynents unfettered by sin, were
blessings to us upon earth.
And he spoke in that easy. pleasant way, In
such earnest, honest tones,
That he won their hearts, and from that day.
they have sworn by Elder Jones.
Even the long faced, doleful crew, that never
seemed pleased before,
Have each been seen with a smiling face, as
they opened the old church door.
They have learned that religion don't bar a
man from pleasant and innocent nirth,
And think some believe that o man can be
good, and even here upon earth;
And so In the village OF Danville change
has taken place,
They have found the Elder no hypocrite, and
they like his honest face:
And old and Young greet him with q smile, las
Elder Jones' OF the M. X. Church "hies" past
-[Selected.