Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-02-23

ing talker of the evening" speaking of horses
reminds me of mare knew long time ago,
when three minute nags weren't 50 plenty
as we hear tell about nowadays.
| There was blacksmith in the town where
l then lived who was very fair Judge Of
horse, and who generally owned srusher, ;
for those times-thouab almost his whole for
tune was ordinarily fnvs3 3ted in his crab,
He sold his old mare one day, and kept his
eye open for another beast, when the right
kind of an animal might fall in his way
1t CHANGED soon afterward, that there came
to the door Of his little shop one day, grey
mare-a long, lean bodied wench-the owner
of which desired to have her shod The
blacksmith looked in her mouth (as horsemen
sometimes willy and then tried her dock. He
stood in front of her, and then beside of her,
and then examined her feet-and then went to
work to shoe her.
How old is she = he asked quietly, as he
proceeded to pare and trim her hoofs.
Nine years come spring., said her owner.
The blacksmith looked in her mouth again
and said Yes, you can warrant that
Warrant well she's good beast any
how responded the other.
Is she sound!'
AS fresh hick'ry nut
'Kindi'
AS cosset Sheep
Maybe you'd sell her!' continued the
blacksmith, slowly, as he finished her last
foot.
Yes replied the owner, handing the black
smith dollar for his job. Yes, Ill sell
her.
How much money-cash down!'
Forty-fve dollars
Five and forty. She must be good 'un
them
She is good one.'
Say forty, stranger, and III ventur to take
her.
The bargain was closed, the stranger walk
ed away with his old saddle on his arm, and
the gray mare walked into the blacksmith s
little shed stable. 1t was heap of money
for him to put into single horse, but he
thought she had good points in her making-up
notwithstanding the fact that she hadn't been
over fed of late, or too carefully groomed.
A little care and grooming very soon devel-
oped her more satisfactorily and the purchaser
CHANGING to be dozen miles from home one
night, hurried up her cakes on his way
back, and led noted three minute pelter
straight into town, like open and shut!
well done well done, old thirty-nine. ;
said the blacksmith, enthusiastically, as he ap-
piled the huge straw whisps 10 her reeking
sides-nor left her while single hair was
turned upon her body. Well done, old 'om-
an! I'll take you round Walnut hill, and see
about this
| And he did take her there-once, twice,
thrice-ffty times; but said nothing, only
that the mare was good creetur to draw,
and he was content with her.
At the end of four or five months, the old
man took leather pouch, shut up shop, and
rode his gray mare into Disseminating at the
old Eastern Stage House, in Ann street.
Here he remained, quietly for three or four
days, scarcely showing himself, and never
speaking of his mare.
One evening he overheard some of the boys
in the bar-room talking horse and he lis
tened earnestly.
60 q said one Of them, I rather think he
can-in $50 sure =
Ha-ha = roared the rest, (for three-minute
horses, even, were not very plenty at that pc
riod)
60! Id like to match him against some
thing that can trot. Your wigglers and rack
ers and runners are not the thing. Give me a
square trotter, and can just leave him-that's
ALL
Ken you, asked voice near by, modest.
ly.
The company turned about, and saw an I'M
shorn, rough visaged man sitting in his shirt
sleeves, to whom the young buck did not reply
at ALL Our blacksmith-for it was he-con-
tinued to smoke his pipe. The boys put theil
heads together for lark-and the foremost
asked:
Perhaps you have got a horse that you
would like 10 exercise little1'
'Yaas,' responded the rude dressed s!ran-
ger. Il don't mind little exercise for the
old mare-but you don't bate nothing on it,
take it,
why, yes. Just for the name Of the thing
we'll go FIVE hundred or So
Five hundred what q exclaimed the greer
'un, jumping from his chair and smashing his
pipe at the same moment.
Five hundred dollars, to be sure.'
20, git aout YOu'er jokin.'
Move can't trot Tim short of that, il
wouldn't pay
'Wal, now, look here, nabur, I'll tell yor
what I'll dew. I'll trot hoss agin hoss-yourr
agin mine-in harness.
No sir, that won't do.'
But five hundred Come, say fifty
That's enough rally
But there was no other way, and the black
smith placed his money at last in the landlord
hands, which the sharpers instantly covered.
Do you know himp they asked, as thu
old fellow moved off,
mo- said the host: He has Just come