The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1833-03-23
STORY OF THE TIN PEDLAR
AND SLEEPY DAVID.

ioItnCOminR WOIk VI " x0HHec OWOHg
the Nallifers, )" purports to be told to the
author by South Carolinian--
"The Yunkees as said before, are
apt to be too c,ste for US in every thing ex-
cept horse-fesh, and even sometimes in
that II was this day three years ago,
and on this very spot, that / entered my
horse Southron, for purse Of two thou
sand 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 be sure two
other horses, and very fine ones too en-
tered against hin-but they were no touch
Ito Southvon, and was as sure ofwinn,ng
us am Of sitting here at this moment
when who should come along but Yam
kee with tincart! He had the shabbi-
est, worst looking horse you ever set eyes
on. He was lean, slabsided, crook-lcg-
ged, ,rough-haircd, milk -and-mola col
ored son Of gun as ever went on four
legs. He stood all the time as il he was
asleep--in fact, his owner called him
Sleepy David. In short sir, he was such
a horse as would not have brought twenty
dollars.
1t was near the honr Of starting, when
the pedlar, whose exterior corrcsponded
marvellously with that Of his horse. and
who said his name was Zadock Baker,
TO the astonishment OF all, minated a
wish to enter his horse along with the
rest.
"Your horse!" exclaimed I-". what,
that sleepy looking devil there? You'd
better enter him for the turkey -buzzards." !"
Not's you know on, Mister, return
ed the Yankee, with some spirit. "To
be sure the critter looks rather sleepy as
he stands, and on that account call him
Sleepy David; but he's jo-fred smart
horse for all that. He's like singed
cat, q darned sight better than he looks.
d'shouM like tarnation well to try him u
gainst some Of your South Carolina hor-
Sos. To be sure l didn't come all thc
way from home on purpose; but as was
coming out this way with load Of tin and
other notions, thought might title j, so
as to kill two birds with one stone .1r,
thinks Ito myself if j can win the pit. Sc
and pcddle off my notions at the same
time, 1 shall make plaguy good speck
But had to hurry on like the nation, to
Egit here in season-and that's one reason
INV koss looks so kind Of shabby and out
of kilter this fhofniug. But for all that
he'll perform like days work Itch yor."
'Sapposing he had no idea OF running
his horse, and that all he said was merely
to CRAFTY his propensity for talking, ]
bade him be gone, and not trouble me
with his Yankee Palarver.
"Why, Mister" said nc "this il a
free country, and a man has right {,
talk, or let it alone, jest as he can afior,'
Now Pve taken a good deal of pains .
git here this morning, in order 10 ru.
Sleepy David against some of your hos
ses. ! aint a joking, sir, Pm in airuest
/ understand there is purse Of two thou
sand dollars, and should like amazingly
20 pick Il up"
"You talk Of picking up purse Of
two thousand dollars with that bit Of car-
rion ofyours! Away with you, and don't
trouble us any further"
"Weli, if can't run, then spose
cant-but it's darncd hard any how for a
man 10 take so much pains as l have to
come to the races, and then can't be al
lowed to run arter all."
sits too late now--by the rules Of the
course the horse should have been enter
ed yesterdny--however, if you'll plank
the entrance money, perhaps you may
get in yet."
said this by way Of getting rid Of III
fellow, having no idea he could command
fourth part of the sum required.
"How much might the enfI ance mon
ey be-" drawing out purse containing q
few shillings in silver and few pence in
copper. Ifit aint more'n a quarter Of a
dollar or 90, I'll plank It on the nall"
at is two hundred dollars"
"Two hundred dollars!" exclaimed the
Yankee, "by gauly, what aprice! Why
they axed me only a quarter of a dollar to
see the elephant and the whole caravan
in New York. Two hundred dolIars!--
Why you must be joking now. Bless
me! my whole load OF tin ware, hoss, wag-
on and all, wouldn't fetch that at Mill
kin's auction. But, Mister, don't you
think could get in for ten dollars"
"Nothing short Of two hundred; and
that must be paid in the shou space ol
five minutes"
We now thought wo had fahly got rid
Of the fellow, but ho returned to the
charge, and asked il fifty dollars wouldn't
do, then seventy-ive, then hundred;
and finding no could not make bargain
Ger less than the regular sum, he engaged
to give it, provided hc could find any one
to loan him tho money, for which he Of
fered to pawn his wagon load of notions
and Sleepy David to boot. He asked
one, then another, to accommodate hin