The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-17

With brother Deacon Brown"
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20. Ola nnrson Gray Ind Como that way
Drull often whom twas light,
but never had 1t seemed 30 long
As In that darksome night
e. But a. ali things must hnvo an end.
So must tho parsons ride;
And now at length there Ia tho church
And It's white tonnbs bcolde.
o. And yonder on that neig1borinE hill
Tho Widow Green doth live,
AND In her window burns a lamp.
That precious light doth give.
a. "Oh. happy man." he Joyous cries.
And rubs his hands In CLEO,
Tho Widow Green is sitting up,
And burns that lamp for mo.
Is. "And will toll her ere sleep
How she to me IL dear;
wonder now w!.nt sis tho horse,
That he Is stopping here.''
&c. Tho horse had thought tho falling
rein,
Did tell bis masters VIII
So BIO llnd trotted up to church,
And there was standing still
n. And now that he has come to church;
Hes too polite brute,
Until tho benediction's said
To move a single foot.
%. The parson whips. the parson clucks,
But Whips and clucks In vain;
And then to make the matter worse,
It now begins to rain. IN
%. A happy thought tho parson struck,
That almost made him smile;
I'll foo, Sgd he. t"this stubborn
And make him move with guile.
30. TN hitch him to this swinging limb,
AS on sundays do.
And strnightway Into church TN so,
And sing hymn or two.
81. "And then when como out again,
He'll think the meeting DER.
And 30, I'll ride him on my way,
As brisk1y as before
O. The ehgeehsl. z = p1eassp. place.
# With all tho people seated round,
T IN Htlkg ana satins gny.
83. But in the night without light.
And all the benches bare
II Pnrson Gray had had his way
He'd rather not be there.
81. But through the door he felt his way.
And up the plipit stair.
He cleared his throat. and then
struck up
A lively Christian air.
IS. He scarce had sung single line,
In loud and happy tone.
When from above there came a voice
Accordant with his own.
sa He quickly paused. his heart beat
loud,
his soul was full OF dread:
he did not like to sing his hymn,
With spirits from the dead.
81. When no was STILL all else was sull,
No mouse or cricket stirred;
And no had just begun to think
Twas not voice ha heard.
81 Just then there came lightning
fash,
The frst ono OF the night;
And TOR o second filled the church
With brilliant blazing light.
30. In that briat nash the parson saw
Perohed on Eirder high
A human figure clothed IN white.
And with ono glazing eye
10. And there no sat. as one transftxed
He sat with horror dumb,
And when tho lightning flashed aEatn
The thing had nearar come
Il, Each moment now, on him no knew
That oye was looking down.
And from his very sould he wished
Heb stayed with Deacon THROWN,
a.. And then there oane double fash
The thing with noiselesS tread
Had come, and on q gtrder stood
Just Ger the parsons head,
Is, The parson starts. apd makes q
And With two clears the door,
And now there Is q bonny race
Ths parson just befo'N
a. They follow strnisht the streak Of
light
The paraan f0,ds tla less are strans,
Just a. his heart IL weak,
Is. He drops his hat, but does not stop,
Nor yet dares look hehtnd.
Heeausa he hears the dreadful thing
Following like the wind,
10, New speeding an, they reach the
crock.
What can the parsen dor
He neither looks for bridge or pale-7-
The nearest way Ia throuGhl
a7. And through his fell pursuer comes,
With eplutter and with splash1
And up the hill all dripping wet
They both together dash,
a. And when they reach the widew's
door,
Whey neither knaek ner ying,
Hut with a erash they tumble Inv
The parson and tho thiHs,