The Washington herald., 1913-10-21
RACING FOR A HUSBAND.
BY JOHN PHILIP ORTIZ.

by JOHN PHiLtP ORTIZ.
No matter what other subjects the
idlers OF the village OF Clayton might
di1cuss. the talk always got around to
Deacon Ingram, and sometimes blows
followed argument.
The deacon was In his mites, and he
was a widower and well on. He was
an active deacon In a church. He
was also an honest man. Every yard
OF goods measured of In his store was
tull three feet in length. and IL he told
customer that his calico would not
fade In the wash his guarantee was as
good as gold.
A dozen times over there were reports
thls widow or that old maid, but while
he had smile foIan he did not a-court-
ing 90.
When a man is lonely he generally
takes TO woman. In Deacon Ingram'H
case he took TO a horse. That was
why there was SO much talk In Clayton.
IL wasn't an old plug OF a horse, such
as one might expect a deacon to invest
ln' but trotter for wnom the mcr-
chant handed over the sum OF $500. He
had never been on the race track, ard
the deacon wasn't going to put him
there, but IL was a county in which a
every day. and the merchant didn't pro-
pose to take any ones dust. After he
got the horse he made II a custom To
ride out after supper.
The deacon hadn't owned the trotter
a fortnight when Elder Comstock dropped
INTO the store and said: Deacon, is II
true that you have got a race horse?"
No, elder. l have simply got a pretty
fast stepper," was the reply.
But you race everybody on the road,
I hear"
"Oh, no. II a man comes up behind
me with likely horse and calls ogt
that he is going by I simply take a
tighter grip on the reins."
And stop your horse?"
WELL not stock still. In fact. he has
habit Of starting on at a pretty gocd
gait"
but you pull him down."
"Always-at the end of half a mile or
So"
Deacon Ingram" said the elder after
a little pondering. do you think 1t SEEM
ly for man in your position to be speed
Ing on the highway and setting such an
example as you do?''
II do, elder. The example am setting
is one to waken interest among our farm
ers TO get better stock. The better
horses he owns the faster a farmer can
get TO town and out again.
Elder Comstock went away shaking
his head and next day the minister called
He bought spool Of black thread, No.
40 for his wife. and then said:
Brother Ingram. some of the brothers
and sisters think-think-'
Think I hadn't ought to own a fast
stopper. eh?''
well. yes"
And what do you think Of it?"
II hardly think It consistent"
Have you met with anything in the
Bible TO discourage any man from own
ing and driving a good horse?"
NO"
In biblical days there were horses and
asses, weren't there?"
Certainly"
They were sold and exchanged the
same as today"
Yes"
And don't you believe that a horse or
ass that could get over the ground the
fastest got the longest price?"
But it's the moral example, Brother
Ingram
''The example. pastor? Let me tell you
During the month previous
TO my getting the horse IL happened I'm
this town that three hen coops were raid
ed; four clothes lines stripped: three
men assaulted; two hogs stolen; five
tramps locked up. and grain stolen from
two barns Besides this, the usual crowd
gathered at the postoffice. and at least
500 lies were told and 5000 oaths used.
Have you heard that there has been any
increase over this record?"
Moro
Then my example has not been a
pernicious one. has it?'
The minister drew a long breath and
shook his head and went away. Ii
seemed sinful to him for a church dea-
con to own and drive a horse that could
get there in 2:27. and yet Deacon Ingram
was too heavy for him on the argu-
ment.