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

Z
had named was the crack of the time SO they
cared nothing about what was to trot against
him, and asked no questions.
The day was clear and cool, and the black
smith had been on the ground full two hours.
His gray mare stood at the roadside in
wretched harness and worse gig, Though the
latter was light and strong,) and several times
as the company gathered, she had been moved
and bufeted for beihgiin the way Of gentle
men. She bore her prosecutions meekIy, how
ever, and the blacksmith in his shirt sleeves.
said nothing. b
Where's your horse !'sasked the confident
jockey, who was to drive his competitor.
She'll be here in time, now. Don't 90
teu givin' yerself any extra trouble about her
naow, cause you'll hev yeur handsfull, I'm
thinkin', bye and bye. Wot'd yer Civ fer that
skillet you've got on yer head!'
That's my riding cap, Swaney.'
Exsackly. And them silk fxins. Ar'n't
they rayther costlys'
Where's your horse. Times up
Out of the way there, with that old crow
bait,' shouted one of the fast boys, hauling up
at this moment, and seeking to get the place
occupied by the blacksmith team.
But there stood the mare, with her head
dropping almost to her feet seemingly iaded
and woe begone, when the blacksmith hoped
into the gig, looked at his watch, and said
Ere we are then Mister
But where's the horse that you are going
to trot'
Ere she is'
Well, don't trot with no such skeleton as
that, mind you,' said his opponent, 'not by a
long chalk
A furious roar Of merriment went up from
the crowd, who were in ectasies.
The blacksmith insisted, however. He'd
trot his mare, or claim the money. And the
animals were duly called to the start, mile
heats, from the crossing, best two in three.
At the word away they went. The mare
kept behind up to the half mile post, fell away
on the third quarter, and the horse came in to
the post splendid winner, in 2.42-the mare
barely saving her distance, coming home at a
half gallop and half trot amid the yells OF the
crowd.
The blacksmith had a friend in the con-
gregation, who had pile Of the ready To
be sure, no one knew this, and he was evident
ly rich man. He took all the side bets he
could muster, at big odds against the mare
She blowed badly at the stand, and the black
smith looked haggard and earnest. The crowd
roared again, at the second start, but the roar
was brief this time.
'Now go, thirty-nine p screamed the
blacksmith, as they went away on this heat.
And she did go. Instantly taking the pole
she stretched along, passed the half mile mark
finished the third quarter without misstep,
came home five lengths ahead in 2.4O.
Money began TO change hands again Bpt
the horses came for the third heat, and at the
word now 90 thirty-nine, the mare made an
awful gap between herself and her competitor.
The mare led the way-aye, every foot of it f!
from the start, and distancing her rival,
passed the winning post, well in hand, clear
down in the thirties. She was good 'un
added our narrator
And what became of this beast!' we ask
ed
'Oh, he sold her for thousand dollars be-
fore he left Boston. She st,-with her new
set of shoes, valued at one dollar-forty dol
lars. He called her thirty-nine.' -
Bedtime said our host. And left
N. Y. Spirit Of the Times.