Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1856-10-30
From tss Nei0 YORK. Ledger.
PHIL SELLS a HORSE
AND PAYS OFF AN OLD SCORE.
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

Phil M1ody was a jolly, good hearted fellew, lv,.
ing the brighter side Of life when the good will
ALI his neighbors to help him on. His name may
have been Philip, or, itmay be, Philbrook, or Phil.
garlic; but l never heard him called else than
Phil and doubt II he remembered ever having a
christian name. Phil was a farmer in small way,
working some on his little spot Of land and filling
up the spare time by tinkering and oobbling He
made ox.y .yokes, and sleds, and harrows, and noe
handles; and also made and mended shoes. In
fact, he was sort of upiyarsai aAnins h"t "rithon
srritSaion enough 20 lift him very high up on the
ladder of prosperity
One spring Phil concluded to buy a horse. lie
needed one and having heard that man by the
name Of Bill Nelson, just over in the adjoining towr
had several to sell he went over there. He found
Bill and soon made his business known. This Mel.
son was regular jvUkey, ,unscrupulous and mercies
who tnnde his living by tr.dng in horses and cattle
He saw that Phil had come to buy, and was ready
to sell SO he took his customer out to tho stables
and showed his animals.
"I want kind beast,'' said Phil, "one that's
able and willing, and amt too old.'
Aha" uttered Nelson, rubbing his hands to-
gether with much sati afaction in view Of his ability
to serve his visitor "Ive got just the horse. There
sirn
AS he spoke he led out an animal-a long,legged,
gaunt. high 'sheuldered thing, with a head like u
camel's.
"If you want beauty said Bill this aint ycr an,
ina but IL ye want real worth, and power, and
willingness, and one that's dog cheap, here's yer
sort Now I've got horse in there that was ofs
Iefeu Two nunufed uollafs IOf lnlS very morning.
Ae's beauty; but tell ye plainly, that for The
work this animal is worth two of him."
Phil locked the horse over for though he knew
but little of the hidden points of horse flesh, yet he
had pretty good idea of what good animal was.
The beast under consideration was strongly built,
and, save his unmitigated homeliness he appeared
to beall right. Nelson warranted him sound to
the best Of his knowledge and belief, and only
twelve years old. He asked eighty dollars for him
but Phil couldn't think of such thing. Phil offer
ed him fifty, and Nelson wouldn't think of such a
thing However tho price finally xed at sixty
dollars, and having paid the money Phil mounted
and rode home
On the following morning Phil concluded to hau |
up load of wsod so he harnessed his horse and
went out to the wood lot The load was put on, and
team started up The horse went very we'll en- level
ground, but when he came to gentle rise it was
all day with him He stopped and wouldn't co.
He tried with all his might, and couldn't CO. Here
was SUBJECT for reflection. Phil urged and coaxed
then grew wrathy and whipped but the beast
couldn't pull At length Phil embarrassed and
led his horse heme. In the door yard he met Jerry
Town.
"Eh 2" cried jerry. "where dye get that crit
ter?
"BilI Nelson" said Phil
ap-h-e-w! Hope 20 didn't pay hin anything,
Phil2"
"Do you know anything about the an lima
Jery?'
"a Bit Nelson got him for nothing. Old obed
Shed gave him to Bill Il he'd only take him of. :"
| sWhat's the matter2n asked Phil.
''Heav,s, worst kind-j'ints all sprupg-naryes
gone.ail bunged up. Worth more for manure than
| anything else"
and he resolved to tell him the whole tory so b,
sat down and related all the circumstances attend
ing the trade
SThat's too bad" cried Jerry, as Phil concluded
'Irs worse than highway robbery. But say-can'
you manage to pay the william back in his owl
eoin?"
Don't know said Phil.
ssh help ye all know. If you can coniure ur
some way 70 fix the rascal I'll stick to ye through
"Ill see,", sail Phil "YOu come tomorrow, ant
| I'll let you know "
After this Phil put up his horse, and then sa
down to ponder upon the subject. Bsfore night al
| idea struck him. He remembered a red headed
chap at the vii lsge who had had his hair colored =
He started up and clapped his hands. He had hi
On the next day jerry Towne called, and Phi
made known hisplans. Said he
''The horse is dark red in color, and with tbi
| patent hair dye can make a most beautiful moi
tied ehesnut. Then don't ye remember what W,
was readin' in the paper about them Austrian char
givin' their horses arsenic? Wen try It on tbs ope
| OH lay out a ten dollar bill on him, Now
| you could only fix his teeth" "
Urn attend 10 his teeth" said Jerry; but we'l
let that be till the last thing, go ahead and fix ii
the rest. Put in the grain and arseni, first, nm,
when you get ready for the ooiOrng matter and III,
teeth, I'll be on hand y
Phil Moody set about his wsrk at once. and 4
the meantime Jerry pulled the wool over 3ilI Nel
sons eyes, by informing him that Phil wouIdn
loose much. Nelson asked him one day II he ha
seen Moody's new horse.
eyes" said Jerry. 81 seed him; a nd ph
didn't like him muck. Howsumeyer, he wont 10,
anything. He's found q customer fer him, and
goin' to put him of; and he's got his eye on one
the splendidest horses ever did sea chesnut l.
8 stout, young, and strong. He'll make GOOD thir
! out Of it,
!, This answered for a commencement f
Phil succeeded finely with his fattening proces
= ties, and leng it manifested itself in renew,
yigor, and in giving the horse smooth, sleek al
psaranee He crowded in the grain, also, and
the end Of three weeks no one could have told 1
hoise