Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-08-22
From the Lowell Mercury.
"sLEEPY DAVID" JUN.


| We don't at this moment remember
the time when there has occurred an
opportunity more fit for broad laugh
at the expense of some of our neighbors,
than that which beiel on Tuesday last,
at a horse.race in this vicinity. The
story has been told us very much as
follows
Some ten days since, there came to
one of our village taverns a country
man, having with him two horses, for
which, as well as for himself, he be-
spoke suitable refreshments. In the
outward appearance Of the man there
, was nothing very remarkable; except,
perhaps, he was what one would call a
man unpractised in the worlds ways;
if not actually clownish or bungling,
he was, in his address, quite an 'un.
handy gentleman. His two horses,
the one black and the other a sorrel,
were well enough; quite clever animals;
but, as the stable afterwards said,
"There didn't seem to be any thing
alarming about them" The gentle
man desired to sell one or both Of the
horses; and, as he said, "pretty mid
ding kinder soonish, too, for haying
time was coming on, and he must be
back to Varmount, or his folks would
think darn'd strange ont" He how
ever received no offers. II was in vain
he declared the horses to be worth
more than they seemed to be, "For,"
said he, show in fury do you suppose
they could look as slick and tidy as
| your Lowell horses when we have done
all our ploughing with them this Spring,
besides going twice TO Canada, and
hauling up the winters wood last Fall.
But don't you worry, that are black
horse will drive as neat in gig as the
best Of them, and as for the sorrel, if he
won't run some, it is because the horse
is scared" One ofour knowing jock
eys took the hint. "Run, will hc?"
said the jockey. ''Yes, that he will, !"
said the unbandy gentleman, sand that
about the fastest too" A triAing bet
was at once offered, and accepted by
the Vermontcr. The sorrel run and
won the bet.
| Another match was made-Sorrel
run again and came off conqueror.--
A ffecting to be nightly encouraged at
this success, our awkward gentleman
said he "would be hanged and choked
il he didn't run for bigger wager, if it
cost all his summers work" and there.
upon, after fumbling his pockets awhile,
he produced the sum oftwenty five dol
lars, which he offered to bet on the sor-
rel horse against all Lowell. Our
Jockey covered it Instantly, and asked
the countryman if he hadn't twenty
five more. Another and another sum
was squeezed out by the owner of the
sorrel, till something like two hundred
dollars on side were bet, and put in
the hands Of gentleman as stake-hold-
er. The unhandy man then offered to
bet the black horse in addition TO his
other risks, on the speed of the sorrel,
against any reasonable sum, "for,"
said he, eff they beat the sorrel am
an undone man any how, and they'll
never see my face in Varmount--and
ifthe sorrel beats, shall make my for
tin"
| One jockey assured the bye-standers
that there was no risk, for all the horses
that had run against sorrcl, had thus
far been held in check by the riders,
who had been specially instructed al
ways to allow sorrel horse to win--and
that the sorrel, on the contrary, had
run on a slack rein. Nobody, howev-
err, felt inclined to bet cash against the
black horse-and the parties went
on the ground to compete for the purse,
of something like four hundred dollars
on a side.
Arrived at the ground for the race,
r the stranger got upon sorrel--but was
admonished that he was too heavy TO
ride, and that the race would be an un-
equal one, unless each horse bore the
{ same weight. " Never mind, my
, friends" said the Vermonter, "this ere
r boss amt use to the salt water people.
1 When they talk to him he don't know
n what they mean. am going TO ride
: myself, and if any on we want to make
e your fortlns, now's your time; for II
J, one minute after they give the word
sorrel beats, he is just the darnest keei
G fellow to go it, when you really get hi
It courage up, that ever you did see. ~
. The word was at length given, an
s both horses started together, Whe
about two-thirds Of the ground ha
!, been gone over, the stranger rose up i