M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1855-06-29

Warrant! well, she's good beast,
anyhow, responded the other.
1s she sound2
'As fresh hick'ry NUT
sKind?'
'As cosset Sheep
'Maybe you'd sell her?' continued
the blacksmith, slowly, as he finished
her last foot.
'Yes,' replied the owner, handing
the blacksmith a dollar for his job, yes,
I'll sell her. ~
How much money-cash down9'
'Forty.fve dollars
Five and iorty. She must be a good
'un thpn2'- > tPs7 - y "A al-lrfi-f 49,
'She is a good one.' e
Say forty stranger, and I'll venture
to take her.
The bargain was closed, the stranger
walked away with his old saddle on
his arm, and the grey mare walked In,
to 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, not
withstanding the fact that she hadn't
been over-fed, Of late, or too carefully
groomed. -. a'.f-'E-
A little care and grooming very soon
developed her more satisfactorily, and
the purchaser CHANGING to be dozen
miles from home one night, hurried up
the cakes on her way back and led a
noted thee minutes pelter straight into
town like open and shutl sh
'Well done! Well done, old thirty
nine, said the blacksmith, enthusiastic
ally, as he applied two huge straw
whisps to her reeking s;des-nor left
her while a single hair was turned up
on her body. M VI .a..
'Well done, old 'oman! I'lltake you
round Walnut hill, and will see about
this =. Y'1Lt
And he did take her there-once,
twice, thrice--6ity times; but he said
nothing, only that 'she was good crea-
ture TO draw and he was content with
her. gs'.5
Atthe end of four or five months,
the old man took leather pouch, shut
up shop, and rode into Boston--halting
at the 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 barr talking horse,
and he listened earnestly.
'GoP said one of them, Il rather
think he can-in two fifty, snrep
'Ha, hap roared the rest, for three
minute horses, even, were not very plen>
ty at that period.) a's..s 1a-
60! I'D like to match him against
something that can trot. Your wig.
glers and rakers and runners are not the
thing. Give me square trotter, and
can just le ave him!-that's ALL
'Ken your asked voice near by,
modestly. .1..
The company turned about, and saw
an unshorn, rough-visaged man sitting
in his shirt-sleeves, to whom the young
buck did no; reply, at ALL. Our black
smith (for it was he) continued to
smoke his pipe The boys put their
heads together for a lark-and the fore.
most asked; .'' -"
perhaps you've got horse that you
would like to exercise linle?'
'Yaas, responded the rude dressed
stranger, 4 don't mind little exercise
for the old mare-but you don't BET
nothing on it, l take it,
! why, yes. Just for the name oi
the thing we'll 60 five hundred or so.
Five hundred whatP' exclaimed the
green 'un jumping from his chair and
smashing his pipe at the same moment.
'Five hundred dollars, to be sure.'
'Ob, git aout You're joking
mo, we can't trot Jim short Of that;
it wouldn't pay
! 'Wal, now, look here nabor, I'll tell
you what I'll do. III trot horse agir
horse--yourS agin mine, in harness.
mo, sir; that won't do s
But, five hundredl Come, say fifty;
that's enough, rally j. faIlgr
]. Bui there was no other way, and the
blacksmith placed his money at last il
the landlords hands which the sharp.
ers instantly covered.
j DO yon know himf' they asked, as
the old fellow moved off.
No. said the host. He has just
come in from Salem, he says
The preliminaries were quickly ar.
ranged, and the afternoon but one fol.
low ing was agreed for the trot--over the
Upper Mill Dam road. Everybody
had heard of the queer bet before the
next evening, and the road was lined
with pedestrians and carriages. The
challenging party lived in Charleston,
and the horse they had named was the
crack Of the time; SO they cared Moth
ling about what was to trot against him,
and asked no questions.
The day was clear and cool, and the
blacksmith had been upon the ground