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


was merely playing the possum' all the while.
His next object was 10 borrow a saddle
Here also he was accommodated, and taking
Sleepy David from the wagon, he scrambled
upon his back and took his station on the course
You never saw fellow sit on horse so awk
wardly in your life Every body said he would
fall before he had gone hundred yards; some
of the more compassionate urged him 10 with
draw
Not by darn'd sight, exclaimed he, why do
you think I'm such darhed fool as TO pay two
hundred dollars and then not run arter all!
| Others, who wanted 10 see the sport, tho ii
should cost some broken bones, encouraged him
10 proceed, saying, as they laughed aloud, that
they had no doubt but that he would carry of
the purse.
That's what mean 10 do, said he. | haint
come here for nothing can tell ye Wake up
Sleepy David, and look about you, you must
nave your eyes open to day, it's no time at all
10 be snoozin when there is money al sake.
The horse as if he understood what his mas
Ter was saying to him, opened his eyes, prick
ed up his ears and actually showed some igns
of life.
The signal was now given 10 start Away
sprang Soulhron, with the speed of lightning,
and away sprang the other southern horses,
leaving sleepy David far in the rear and the
pedlar vergiug from one side 10 The other, as if
he was just ready TO fall off. The horse went
paving along with his tail clinging close TO his
launches, and his nose stuck out straight before
him. and you never beheld SO queer a figure
cut by any man, and horse as this singular pair
made.
Blu, they improved as they proceeded, the
pedlar sat more jockeylike, and the horse evil
IDENTIFY gained upon the others. But it would
not do. He came in half mile behind South
ron, and little less behind the rest.
1t was now thought the Yankee had got
enough of The race and would Withdraw before
the mex, heat; contrary TO all expectation, how
ever, he persevered, and even offered 10 bet
thousand dollars on the issue Of the race.
That fellows a fool said one.
He don't know which side of his breads but
tered, said another, or else he would not risk
any money at so desperate stake.
He's safe enough there, said third, for he
has no more money 10 risk.
Here. however, every body was mistaken
asain, for the pedIar hauled ou, an old greasy
pocket book, and planked the thousand dollars.
1t was covered Of course. But confess now
began 10 be staggered, and 10 suspect the Yam
kee was after all more knave than fool. | had
no fears, however, for the purse. Southron
was not horse TO be distanced in one day, and
especially BY such miserable looking devil as
Sleepy David.
The second heat was now commenced; and
+, if had before felt confident in the entire supe-
rioriy of my noble horse Soulhron, that conf
dence was strengthened, as again saw him
coming in ahead OF The rest. considered the
purse now as my own property. In imagina-
ton had grasped it, and was about putting il
safely in my pockei, when-lo and behold, the
pedIar's horse, which was behind all the rest,
suddenly shot forward as if the devil had kick
ed him on end; and stretching his neck like
crane won the heat by head.
Every body was astonished. That horse
mus, be the devil HIMSELF said one. 'Al least
he had the devil to back him. said third; i
was sure he would piay you some Yankee trick
before he had gol through. Such were the OBJ
servalions that passed from mouth TO mouth.
The Yankee in The mean time, offered TO
plank another thousand dollars, but nobody
would take the bet And it was well, they
didn't; for al the third heat Sleepy David not
only dstanced every other horse, but even came
in full quarter of mile ahead of Southron
himself
There, by gauly.' said the Yankee, as he
dsmounled, I'll take that little purse if you
please, and the other cool thousand! | knew
well enough that your Southern horses couldn't
hold candle TO Sleepy David