Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-03-20
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ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
STORY OF THE TIN PEDDLER AND
SLEEPY DAVID.

SLEEPY DAVID.
The following story. extracted from the forth
soming work Of "a YANKEE AMONG THE NULL
FYERs," purports to be told to the author by
South Caroinian:-Ne,u York Constellation.
"The Yankees, as said before. are apt to be
too cute for US in every thing, except horsefesh,
and even sometimes in that. 1t was this day
three years ago, and on this very spot. that en-
tered my horse Somhron for purse of two thou.
sand dollars. He had won like sum the year
before with all ease. In short he was the best
horse at that time in all Carolina. There were
TO be sure two other horses, and very fine ones
too, entered against hin: but they were no touch
to Southron, and was sure Of winning as am
OF sitting here at this m0meHt-when who should
come along but ID Yankee, with a tin-cart!
He had the shabbiest. wUrs, looking horse YOU ev.
err set eyes on. lie was lean. slab sided, crook.
ed legged, roughed haired, milk and .,noIasses-
coored son. of a. gun as ever went on four legs
He stood all the time as II he was asleep-in fact,
his owner called him SLEEPY DAVID. In short,
sir, he was such horse as would not have
brought twenty dollars.
1t was near the hour of starting, when the ped
dler, whose exterior corresponded marve'iously
with that OF his horse, and who said his name
was LadOck Barker. 10 the astnnIshmeDt of all,
intimated wish to enter his horse along with the
rest.
Your horse" exclaimed -. what, that
sleepy ,onking devil therel You'd better enter
HIN for the turkey -bszzard-."
Not's YOU know on. Mister" returned the
Yankee, with some show of spirit. " To-be
sure the criter loukS rather sleeps as he stands,
and on that account call hun Sleepy David: but
he's io-f fred snart horse for all that Hes
ike slnsed cat, darned sight better than he
looks. shuuid like. a larnatun well to try him
against SON" of your South Carolina hosses To-
bs-sure didn't come all the wa from home "n
pu, pnse; but a. MAS coming out this wav with
a load of tin, ant, ot.et r,.ipns thought might
time 1t so as to xii tuo bHds with one stohc, for
thinks to myself, |, can win the purse and
peddie nH nv notion at the same time, shall
| maxi p'aguv good speCk But had TO hurry
on like the nation, to cit here in season; and
! that's one reason my boss looks so kind OF shabby
and out of killer hi, morning. But for all that
he'll! perform like days work tel! you"
Surprising he had TO idea Of running his horse.
and that all he said was merely to CRAFTY his
propensity for talking. babe him be gone. and
not trouble me with his Id Yankee palaver.
"Why, Mister" said he, " this is free
country, and a man has tight to talk or let 1t
alone, Jest as he can afford Now I've taken a
good deal of pains to git here this morning in or
der to run Sleepy David against some of your
Southern bosses. amt joking, sir. rm air
nest. understand there Is a purse of two
thousand dollars, and should like amazingly to
pick tup"
:" You talk Of picking up purse OF two thou,
sand dollars with that bit uf carbon ut yours!
Away with you, and don't trouble Us any iurth-
er."
Well. If can't run, then spose can't:
but it's darned hard any how for a man to take
50 much pains as have to come to the races,
and then can't be allowed to ron arter-ail.'
| g us too late now: ov the rules 0f the course
tie morse should have been entered yesterday;
however. # You'll plank the entrance money,
perhaps YOU may get it yet"
said this BY way of getting rid Of the fellow;
having no idea M could command fourth part
oi the sun required.
{" How much might the entran,e money be?'
drawing out purse containing te" shiIiings in
silver, and few pence IN copper" "lt 1t AIM
more'n quarter OF dollar Of 50, III plank 1t Oh
the nai"
{" II is two hundred dollars"
Two hundred uollsrs!" exclaimed tie Yam
kee' ''DN ""ut wy
ed me only quarter If dollar to see the Ee
plsnt and the whole Caravan in New York. -
Two hundred dollan!-Why you mus, be jn
king now. Bless me! my whole load Of tin ware
boss. wagon and all. wouldn't fetch that. But,
Mister, don't you think could get in for ten
dollars!"
"Nothing short Of two hundred; and that
must be paid in the short space OF five minutes"
We now thought we had fairly got rid Of the
fellnw, but he returned to the charge. and asked
if fifty dollars wouldn't do, then seventy. five,
then hundred; and finding lie could no, make
bargain for less than the regular sum. he en-.
gagged to give it, provided he could find any
one to loan him the money, for which he Uttered
to pawn his wagon load Of notuns and Sleepy
David to boot. He asked one, then another, to
accommodate him with the Ioan--declarng that
as soon as he took the purse, the muney should
be returned, and he would give dozen OF tin
whisiles into the bargain! He, however. got
more curses than coppers, until some wag, who
had plenty Of cash, and liked to see the sport go
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