Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-08-26

of which desired to have her shod The black.
smith looked in her mouth, Gas hOrsemen some
times will,) and then he tried her dock. liz
! stood in front of her, and then beside of her
and then examined her feet-and then went tc
| work to shoe her.
"How old is she!" he asked quietly, as he
proceeded to par and trim her hoofs.
"Nine years come spring." said the owner
The blacksmith looked in her mouth again.
and said: "Yes, you can warrant that"
"Warrant! we'll she's good beast any.
how" responded the owner.
"ls she sound :"
"As fresh hick'ry nut"
"Kind"
"As cosset sheep"
"May be you'd sell her :" continued the
blacksmith, slowly, as he finished her last
foot.
"Yes," replied the owner, handing the
blacksmith dollar for his job. "Yes, III
sell her"
"How much money-cash down."
"Forty five dollars"
"Five and forty. She must be good 'un
then"
"She is good one"
"Say forty, stranger and III ventur' to
take her."
The bargain was closed, the stranger walked
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, notwith-
standing the fact that she hadn't been over.
fed, of late, or too carelessly groomed.
A 1iff1o naro and 0r0nmiun vary eoon do
veloped her more satisfactorily, and the pur.
chaser CHANGING to be dozen miles from
home one night, :" hurried up her cakes" on
his way back, and led q noted three minute
pelter straight into town, like open and shut
SWELL done well done, old Thirty mine"
said the blacksmith enthusiastically, as he ap-
Piled two huge straw whisps to her reeking
'ides-nor left her while single hair was
urned upon her body "Well done, old oman!
III take yorround to Walnut hill, and will SEQ
bout this"
And he did take her ,bere-once, twice,
hrce-fifty times; but he said nothing, only
hat "the mare was good creeter to draw,
nd he was content with her."
At the end of four or fve months the old |
nan took leather pouch, shut up shop, and
ode his gray mare in Boston-halting at the
Id Eastern Stage House, in Ann street. Here
e remained quietly for three or four days,
carcely showing himself, and never speaking
{ his mare.
One evening he overheard some Of the
boys" in the bar room stalking horse" and he
stened earnestly.
"Go :" said one Of them, rather think he
an-in two fifty, surs!"
" Ha-ha !" roared the rest, for three. minute
orses, even, were not very plenty at that
eriod.
I'D like TO match him against something
at can trot. Your wigglers and raekers
I'd runners are not the thing"
"Give me square trotter, and can just leave
m-that's all"
"Ken you!" asked voice near by, modest.
The company turned about, and saw an un.
'orn, rough-visaged man sitting in his shirt
eeves, to whom the young buck did not reply
ALL Our blacksmith, for it was he, cont.
led to smoke his pipe. The boys put their
'ads together for u lark, and the foremost
ked:
Perhaps you have got horse that you
ould like to exercise littIe!"
"Ya-as," responded tho rude dressed stran.
r, " don't mind little exercise for the old
are; but you don't bate nothing on it, take
" Why, yes; just for the name of the thing, l
I'll 20 five hundred or so."
" Five hundred what!" exclaimed the green
n, Jumping kom his chair and smashing his
pc at the same moment.
Five hundred dollars, to be sure"
20, git aout You'rejokin'." i
" Move can't trot Jim short Of that it /
,uldn't pay"
~Wal, now, look hare. nsbur, | tell you what
do; I'll trot boss agin hoss-yourn agin q
ne-in harness"
mo, sir, that won't d." q
~But five hundred Come cay City. That's |
ough, rally" l.
But there was no other way, and the black G
nth placed his money ut last in the land /
rd's hands, which the sharpers instantly COW
ID.
"Do you know him = they asked, as the old
low moved of.
" No." said the host. He has just come 10 I
,m Salem, hs aays." t
The prsliminariss were quickly arranged, !
d the afternoon but one following was agreed
; the trot, over the Upper Mill Dam road.
'erybody had heard Of the queer et before ,