Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1855-09-13

what were the defects of the horse He an.
swered, that he once had the pnk-eye, anC
added, now that's honest | thought so,
but proceeded to question him closely.
asked him if he had the bots He said, not
bot | asked him if he would go. He
said he would go till he dropped down dead;
just touch him with whip, and he'll jump
out of his hide. inquired how old he was.
He answered, just eight years, exactly
some men, he said, wanted to make their
horses younger than they be; he was willing
to speak right out, and own up he was eight
years. | asked him if there were any other
objections. He said no, except that he was
inclined to be little gay; but, he added,
'he is so kind a child can drive him with a
thread | asked him if he was good fam
lily horse. He replied that no lady that
ever drew rein over him would be willing 10
part with him. Then asked him his price.
He answered that no man could have bought
hun for one hundred dollars, month ago,
but now he was willing to sell him for seven
ty-fve, on account of having note to pay.
This seemed such very low price, | was
about saying would take him, when Mrs
Sparrowgrass whispered that | had better
see The horse first
| confessed was little afraid of losing
my bargain by it, but out of Difference to
Mrs. S. did ask to see the horse before
bought him. He said he would fetch him
down. mo man. he adde d, ought to buy
horse, unless he's saw him. when the
horse came down, it struck me that, whatev-
er his qeality might be, his personal appear
ance was against him. One>of his fore-legs
was shaped like the handle of our punch
ladle, and the remaining three legs about
the fetlock, were slightly bunchy. Besides,
he has no tail to brag of; and his back had
a very hollow sweep, from,his high launches
to his low shouder-blade. was much
pleased, however, with the. fondness and
pride manifested by his owner, as he held
up, by both sides of the bride, the rather
longsh head of his horse. surmountng a
neck shaped like pea-pod, and said, in
sort of triumphant voice, three quarters
Mrs. Sparrowgrass flushed up
little when she asked me if intended to pur-
chase that horse, and added that, ifI did she
would never want to ride. So told the
man he would not suit me- Fle answered
by suddenly throwing himself upon his stom-
then, by s".'.".s .S~..- %. I. p.'os; -npP
nstraddIe of him; then he gave his horse a
Kick in the ribs that caused him to Jump out
with all his legs, like frog, and off went the
'poon-legged animal with a gait that was MT t
trot, nor yet precisely pacne. He rode c
around our grass-plot twice, and then pulled t
lis horses head up like the cock of musket. v
That, said he, lis time replied that he t
lid seem to 60 pretty fast. pretty fastr p
aid his owner. well, do you know Mr. c.
~ mentioning one of the richest gentle ii
nen in our village. replied that was ac- W
TAINTED with him, We'll, said he, you tt
now his horse'' replied that | had no VI
ersona acquaintance with him. 'Well,' +;
aid he, hes the fastest horse IN the coun- b,
y-list so-I'm wlin' to admit it, But do II
on ynow offered to put my horse agin' bis pl
} trot? had no money to put up, or rath- CT
r, to spare; but offered to trot him, horse tn
gin horse, and the winner take both horses, it
nd | tell you-he ,rould'pt do it, tn
Mrs. Sparrowgrass got little nervous, of
nd twitchcd me by the skirt of my coat 70
Dear, said she, 'let him 60. Iassured her of
would not buy the horse, and told the man ha
rmly, that would not buy him He said si
.ry well-ifhe didn't suit twas no use to co
sep a-talkin' but he added, he d be down H
gin with another horse, next morning, that tw
'longed to his brother; aud if he did suit of
e, then | didn't want horse With this de
mark, he rode of.-Putnam Magazine. po