Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-07-09

NO said Peter; you made the banter

>
now make your pass
Well, Pm never afraid to price my bosses.
You must give me twenty-five dollars boot"
Oh, certainly say fifty. and my saddle
and bride in. Here, Neddy, my son, take a.
way daddy's horse''
"Wel,' said Blossom, GIVE made nv
pass. now make yours
&C I'm for short talk in a horse-swap. and
therefore always tell a gentleman at once what
mean to to do. You must give me ten dol
lars''
Blossom swore absolutely, roundlv. and
profanely, that he never would give boot
"Well,' said Peter, "I didn't care about
trading; but you cut such high shines, that |
thought I'd like to back you out, and Eve
done it. Gentlemen, you see Eve brought him
to a hack
"Come, old man." said Blossom. GIVE been
joking with you l begin to think you do
want to trade; therefore, give me five dollars
and take Bullet. I'd rather lose ten dollars
any time than not make trade, though hate
to fling away good hoss.'
"Well,' said Peter, lll be as clever as
you are Just put the five dollars on Bullets
back, and hand him over; it's trade
Blossom swore again, as roundly as before,
that he would not give boot; and, said he,
"Bulet wouldn't hold five dollars on his back,
no how But, as | banterei you, if you say
an even swap, here's at YOU.
81 tod you,' said Peter, "Pd be as clever
as you, therefore, here goes two dollars more,
just for trade sake. Give me three dollars,
and it's a bargain.'
Blossom repeated his former assertion; and
here the parties stood for long time, and the
by-standers (for many were now collected)
began to taunt both parties. After some time,
however, it was pretty unanimously decided
that the old man had backed Blossom out
At length Blossom swore he "never would
be backed out for three dollars after bantering
man, and, accordingly, they closed the
trade.
Chow" said Blossom, as he handed Peter
the three dollars, &c I'm man that, when he
makes bad trade, makes the most of il until
he can make better. Pm for no rues and
after-claps"
"That's just my way said Peter; &c new
er goes to law to mend my bargains'
"Ah, you're the kind of boy love to trade
with. Here's your boss, old man. Take the
saddle and bride off him, and I'll strip yours ;
but lift up the blanket easy from Bullets back
for he's mighty tender backed hoss"
The old man removed the saddle, but the
blanket stuck fast. He attempted to raise it.
and Bullet bowed himself, switched his tail
danced Little, and gave signs of biting
EDon't hurt him, old man, said Blossom
archly; &C take it off easy. am, perhaps, a
leetle of the best man at horse-swap that
ever catched COON"
Peter continued 10 pull at the blanket more
and more roughly, and Bullet became more
and more cdUortiSh: insomuch that, when the
blanket came off, he had reached the kicking
point in good earnest.
The removal of the blanket disclosed a sore
on Bullets backbone that seemed to have de-
fed all medical skill. 1t measured six full
inches in length and four in breadth, and had
as many features as Bullet had motions. My
heart sickened at the sight and | felt that the
brute who had been riding him in that situa.
ton deserved the halter.
The prevailing feeling, however. was that
of mirth. The laugh became loud and gener-
al at the old mans expense, and rustic with
cisns were literally bestowed upon him and
his late purchase. These Blossom continued
to provoke by various remarks He asked
the old man g if he thought Bullet would lei
FIVE dollars lie on his back" He declared mos
seriously that he had owned that horse three
months, and had never discovered before that
he had a sore back, &C or he never should have
thought Of trading him. &c, &c.
The old man bore it with the most philoso,
phic composure. He evinced no astonishmen
at his late discovery, and made no replies
But his son Neddy had not disciplined his
| feelings quite SO we'll. His eyes opened Wi
der and wider from the first to the last pull OF
the blanket; and when the whole sore burst
| upon his view, establishment and fright seem.
| ed to contend for the mastery of his counte-
nance. AS the blanket disappeared, he stuck
his hands in his breeches pockets, heaved 6
deep sigh, and lapsed into a profound revery
from which he was only reused by the cuts
OF his father. He bore them as long as he
could and, when he could contain himself nc
| longer, he began, with certain Witness O
expression which gave peculiar interest tc
what he uttered g His backs mighty bad off
but dod drot my soul if he's put it to daddy as
| bad as he thinks he has, for old Kits both
blind and deef, I'll be dod drot if he eint.''
The devil he is,' said Blossom.
eyes, dod drot my soul if he eint. You
walk him, and see if he eint. His eyes dom
look like it; but he'd jist as leUe go agin the
house with you, or in ditch, as any how
Now you 60 try him." The laugh was now
turned on Blossom; and many rushed to tes
the fidelity of the little boys report A few
experiments established its truth beyond con
troversy.
Neddy,' said the old man, "you oughtn'
to try and make people discortented with thei
things Stranger, don't mind what the little
boy says. If you can only get Kit rid Of then
little failings, you'll find him all sorts of {
horse You are leetle the best man at horse
swap that ever got hold of; but don't fool a
way Kit. Come, Neddy, my son, let's be mo
wing; the stranger seems to be getting snappish.