Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-10-20
An EVEN TRADE,
9 TRW dId Heads at one Game.

nVW@ Ul0 HedS u one UaWo.
Old Uncle Bill Snow was, aud is the
ksepes: trader in che country. He was
aever known 70 make bad bargain. No.
ey . trap has been laid to catch him, but
his operations always turn ou. 50 as 10 add
soMsshihg to hislreputation.
= Some time since a,party OF young men
were talking Of lacle RiHy's grea, la:k ia
shis way. and various instances were men
toned Of his extraordinary .rades, and his
Aniform success. lem Douuallan agreed
10 bet he wo,sld catch him before two days.
Os course that bet was taken as sann as
proposed, and SOON afterwards Jem ielt US
: W make his Preparations to win.
Nsxt day was eour, day. and !em and
MIR. Snow met nj the court house. "a
"Good morning, Uncle Billy" said Jem,
"aH we'll ,ofsday.''
'sPretiy web, / thank you. Jscmes, my
son"
- s.Any trading on hand this :norningP'
asked Donallan. =,
= "No,hing in particular Jeemes; times is
rather dull Just now, people don't trnds rs
they used 10 ds.' a..
= "Tha,'s fact, uncle Bill" responded
Jem. "W ell, since nothing better offers
'spose YOU and make tradeP
S SsNu objection 10 the world: Jee,nes.-
Go ahead and ..ei mo hear from you
.Neil, Uncle Billy, have mare yon.
der, thni | want to trade for that mule ot
yours: how will you lradea"
81 don't know" responded Mr.. Snow,
'bu, as mules are usupily considered worth
more than horses, and your mare is getting
along in yeurs, 'spose ten dollars would
not be TOO much boot, would it? Give me
ten dollars and your mare and YOU may
take the mule"
.Dun!" exclaimed Jem, perfectly de.
hghted. ~
lshe money was paid over, md the crit
ters were handed over 10 their new mas
tors. lem took his mule home, and that
night the beast laid down and died. This
was sore blow 10 our hero, but he had
ene way left, and he determined to save
q himself. The next morning found hm-
ssif aud Snow ut the snme place, and in
conversation us follows:
gs.Encls Billy" says Jem, "l think you
came The strong game over me yesterony,
! in that mule trade Of yours. J dont like
him as much this morning as | did yester.
day-I don't think he improves much on
acquainlance-whu.'l you take 10 rues"
{swnp back ,s.-z
''Now, Jeemes my son." answered un>
Gle Billy, don't want to be hard on you,
but you took me up yesterday al The first
bop, and you know atsade is trade. But
T YOU are very anxious to rue, don't care
much. Give tne len dollars more and you
may have your mare back"
:. "Unele Billy, I'll do it, exclaimed Jem
in great delight. "But only on this con.
ai,ion-eacb man must come Diler, and
TAKE away his own beast. didn't bring
any mule nlong to day, and see you didn'
ride tie mare, so it's as long as il's broad.
I'll give you len dollars now, and I'll 60
home with you first and get the mare. and
aites wards yeu can send or come for the
mule al any titne.' @
"Any way, Jeems,' replied Mr.. Snow.
The money was paid, and Jem and the
old n,un started. The next day when the
same crowd met TO decide the BET, Jem was
then giving in his experience as follows:
:. arhe old man and rode along very coz
~ together, tnlking abou. everything in the
world excep. our trade. That question
lodged. | was afraid TO open my lips ill
: / 90. my mare safe. Al lus: we reached
= the o!d fellows house. and he said to me,
as we entered the yard-'Jeemes my son.
thers is yeer mnre-you can take her
away with you.' And, boys, d--m me, il
there wasn't the old mare. lying in the
Ward mo sd,nd az n doar nail. The infer.