Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1842-05-04
The Yankee Racer.

The following story, extracted from the forth
coming work of "A Yankee among the Nulhf-
ers,' purports 10 be told to the author by South
! Caronian:
The Yankees, as said before, are apt to
be too cute for us in every thing except horse
flesh, and even sometimes in that 1t was this
day three years ago, and on this very spot, that
| entered my horse Sou,hron for purse of two
thousand dollars. He had won sum like that
The year before with all ease. In short he was
The best horse at that time in all Carolina.
There were 10 be sure two other horses and
very fine ones too, entered agains, him; but
they were no touch 10 Sou,hron, and was as
sure of winning as am of sitting here at this
moment-when who should come along but a
| ID Yankee with Tin cart! He had the
shabbiesl, worst looking horse you ever set eyes
on. He was lean, slab sided, crooked legged,
rough haired, milk and molasses colored sun Of
gun as ever went on four legs. He stood all
the time as if aseep-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
pedar whose exterior corresponded marvellous
y with that Of his horse, and who said his name
was Zadock Barker TO the astonishmen. of ALL
the rest.
Your horse exclaimed I-'what, that sleepy
looking devil there! You'd better enter him
for the turkey 5uzzards.'
sNots YOU know on, Mister returned the
Yankee with some show of spirt-'To be sure
the critter looks rather sleepy as he stands, and
on that account call him Sleepy David but
he's jofred smart horse for all that He's
like singed cat, darnd sight better than he
looks. ! should like tarnaiion well TO try him
against some of your South Carolina horses.
TO be sure | didn't come all the way from
home on purpose, but as | was coming out this
way with a load of tin and other notions,
thought | might time it so as 10 kill two birds
with one stone; for thinks 10 myself, if can
win the puss and peddle my notions al the same
time, shall make plaguy good speck But
had 10 hurry on like the nation TO get here in
season; and that's one reason my hoss looks SO
shabby and out Of killer this morning, but for all
that he'll perform like days work tell you ,
| Supposing that he had no idea Of running his
horse and that all he said was merely TO crafty
his propensity for talbing bade him begone,
and not trouble me with this damned Yankee
palayer.
'Why, misler,' said he, rhs is free coun-
try, and man has right 10 talk or let i, alone,
jes, as he can afford. Now I've taken a good
deal of pains to get here this morning in or
der TO run Sleepy David against some of your
southern horses. aint joking sir, Pm in ar
nest l understand there is a puss of two
thousand dollars, and should like amazingly
TO pick it up
you talk OF picking up purse Of two ,hous-
1,llo ,1,h NGa IF
Away with you and don't trouble us any lon
ger
We'll, ifI can't run, then suppose l can't;
but lis darnation hard any how for man 10
take SO much pains as have to come 10 the
races, and then can't be allowed 10 run after
aII'
1t is too late, by the rules of the course your
horse should have been entered yesterday; how
ever, if you'll plank the entrance money, per-
haps you may get in yet
said this by way Of getting rid of the fel-
low, having no idea he could command fourth
part of the sum required.
How much must the entrance money be-
he inquired, drawing GU, purse containing a
few shillings in silver and few pence in cop
per. 'Ifi ain't more'n quarter dollar or so,
III plank it on The nall
Ii is two hundred dollars
Two hundred dollars exclaimed the Yankee
By gauly what price! Why they axed me
only quarter Of dollar 10 see the elephant
and the whole caravan in Now York. Two
hundred dollars! Why you must be joking
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 dollars; and
that must be paid within the short space Of five
minutes.
We now thought we had fairly got rid Of the
fellow, bu, he returned 10 The charge, and ask
ed if fifty dollars wouldn't do, then rs, then al
Ter bargaining for less than the regular sum, he
engaged TO give it, provided he could find any
one TO loan him the money, for which he offer
ed TO pawn his wagon load Of notions and
Sleepy David TO boot. He asked one then ano-
ther 10 accommodate him with the loan, deca-
ring that soon as ever he took the purse the