Jess Birdwell, a Quaker living in Southern Indiana, has recently traded his old horse Red Rover to a woman in Kentucky for a less pretty but more reliable mare named Lady. Returning to his farm, he sees that Reverend Marcus Augustus Godley is visiting. The minister remarks that when he and his horse Black Prince pass Jess and his family on the way to church every First Day (Sunday), it is just eternal verity that a fast horse should pass a slower one. On the following First Day, Jess and his wife Eliza set out to church with Lady. Soon, Reverend Godley appears behind them. Jess is able to keep ahead without having to urge Lady on while the reverend presses Black Prince to go faster. Soon, Jess has Lady pick up speed, and a full-on race erupts. Even Eliza, a modest preacher herself, encourages Lady to go faster. People from the congregation see the race unfolding and place bets, cheering for Reverend Godley. They follow the racers down to the Quaker Meeting house. Jess triumphantly wins, though Eliza is upset that they engaged in an unholy practice on First Day. At night, however, she forgives her husband, who is glad that Reverend Godley was not able to deliver a sermon on eternal verities.