Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-04-04
STORY OF THE TIN PEDLAR
AND SLEEPY DAVID,


The following story. extracted from the
forthcoming work OF IA Yankee among
the .NutIifers." purports to be told to the
author hy South Carolnlan--
The Yankee. as said nefore, are ap;
TO be loo cute for us 10 every thing except
horse flesh, and even sometimes in that.
II was this day three years ago. and this
very spot, that entered my horse South
ron, for purse oftwo thousand dollars -
He had won a like sun the year before
With all ease In short he was the best
horse AT that time in all Carolina There
were TO he sure two other horses, and We
y fine ones too, entered against him--but
they we're no touch TO Southron, and |
WAS as sure of winning as am setting
here at ihis moment when who should
come along but id Yankee with a
tin cart He had the shaD,est, worst
was lean slab sided, crooked leg, rough
haired, milk and molasses colored son OF
a gun as ever went on four legs lie stood
all the time as if he was asleep in fact.
his owner called him Sleepy Darid Ii
short sir, he was such horse as would
not have brought twenty dollars
Il was near the hour OF starting, when
the pedlar, whose exterior corresponded
marvelously with that of his horse and
who said his name was Zadock Barker, 10
the establishment of all. minated wish
to enter his horse along with the rest
Your horse! exclaimed l--.what that
sleepy looking devil there? You'd better
enter him for the turkey buzzards
'Nots you know on, Mister returned
the Yankee, with some show oil spirit
| TO be sure the cIitter looks rather sleepy
as he stands, and on that account call
him Sleepy David;but he's 10 fired smart
horse Tor all that He's like a singed cat,
IA darned sight better than he looks.
should like tarnaiion well to try him a
galnst some of your South Carolina hor
ses. To be sure didn't come all the way
| from home on purpose; but as was com
ing out Thu, way with load OF tin and
ther notions, thought might time il so
as To Kill two birds with Que stone for,
thinks to myself, If | can win the purse
and peddle off my notions atthe same time
| shall make plaguy good speek But /
had to hurry on like the nation, to git here
IN season. and that's one reason my hoss
LOOKS SO kind OF shabby and out OF kitel
this morning But for all that he'll per-
form like days work tell you
Surprising he had no idea OF running
10 crafty his propensity Tor talking.
bade HIM be gone and not trouble me With
his DID Yankee palaver.
why, Mister said he rhis is free
county, and man has right to talk, OF
let il alone, jist as he can afford Now
I've taken a good deal ofpains t. gIt here
this morning, 10 order 10 run Sleepy Da
vid against some Of your Southern hosses
! amt joking, sir, Pam in airnes, un-
derstand there rs purse OF two thousand
dollars, and | should like amazelngly Il
! pick it up
You talk of picking up purse of two
thousand dollars with that bit OF carbon o.
yours! Away with you, and don trouble
US any further
well, If can't run,-but it's darnec
hard any how Tor man 10 take so muct
pains as have to come TO the races ant
then can't be allowed TO run arter ALL
Its too late now--by the rules OF tbs
course the horse should have been entered
yesterday however, If you'll plank TIE
entrance money. perhaps you may gel u
yet 80.
i said this by way Of getting rid Of the
fellow, having no idea be could command
a fourth part Of the sum required
How much might the entrance money
be? drawing out q purse containing lev
shiIlings ia silver and few pence in cop
, per. III it aini more'n quarter OF a dol
liar or so. III plank on the nall
ri III is two hundred dollars.'
Two hundred dollarsl exclaimed th'
Yankee, by gauly. what price, VIII
they axed me only quarter Of a dollar 4
see the elephant and the whole caraya'
in New York. Two hundred dollars!-