The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-10-10
A Horse Story.

"A Horse story tt Silft
A keeper of hotel, not fifty miles fro
Boston, is or was famous man for horse
owned many, and was always ready for
: trade in such cattle. He was sharp at
' bargain. and was never known to make
move that didn't count on his side, until th
following happened, that proved IN excel
tion to the rule. He always had some pal
, ticular horse on hand for every particula
emergency of trade, and the adroitnsss {
his operations on putting off . beast was
subject of delighted approva', on all hands
among connoisseurs of that delightful an
much abused animal, the horse. No on
ever traded with Static that did not confes
himself satisfied, though satisfaction being
lattudnal word, did not always mean tina
the satisfaction was the ultimate Of happi
ness in the trade-like the same term il con
nection with the duello. ttrt = Gr
% There was q Jolly cobblsr, whose nam
! was Wax, that occupi d . small shop nea
the hotel, to whom Static was accustomed
to refer in case OF any stick in transaction
cnd he being disinterested man, would de
eide on the matter of difference always
however, by what was deened a strange fa
1 taity, deciding in favor Of Stafle. Some
however, went so far as to intimate that
Static and the cobbler, had talked the mat
ter over previously, and had certain signs
by which they understood each other.
When the stick came, then Static would
say: "Well, well. ,ee can't get along any
further. Now, Tn willing to leave il to
third party, and as Mr. Wax, around the
corner, knows the value of the horse | am
swapping with you, he will be as good and
candid an arbitrator as we can find, and
guess I'll call him." Mr. Wax would ac-
cordingly come out, leather apron and all,
and. after looking at the matter candidy,
would decide that Staffle should receive .
smart consideration as the difference in value,
and tins would settle it nine times out OF ten.
One day there came along q stranger with
a pretty good horse, and it was at once an
object Of Staffle's interest. He examined
the horse in all his points and determined
to have him. The determination worked it.
self into positive fever by next morning !;
and when the strangers horse was led out
to he harnessed, Static stepped out and
asked the owner, who was looking on, seeing
t.,at the horse was adjusted properly, il he
didn't want to swap horses.
The stranger told him that ne hadn't the
least objection. provided he could make
little something out Of il.
"Well, Tm glad to hear you say so.
John. bring out the red colt"
The red colt was accordingly brought out.
Its name was a misnomer. 1t was one of
those animals that, having been called q colt
when legi,imately entitled to the appella-
ton, had forfeited it by the offence Of age.
and was now sailing under false colors. The
stranger looked at he "colt," and gave a
whistle as he saw the discrepancy between
the title and the age
"Well." said he at last, chow shall we
trade? What will you give to boot p
" Boot" said S,affie with feigned sur
prise; "the boot is on the other leg,
think"
" All, said the man. "well, il you think
so, we will stop negotiation. Good morn
ing"
Hold on" cried Staffle, "hold on-don't
be in such a hurry. Suppose l offer you
say. twenty-five dolars-how woIld that
please your .. .r-
=. II would not please me at all" was the
reply. ~ shouldn't want to take less than
eighty dollars"
Wen" said Static, "Ican't do that but
I'll tell you what l will do--Tl leave it out
to somebody"
"Done," replied the stranger, " anything
for n trade. Whom will you leave it TO
Somebody, hope, that knows what good
horse is"
Never better, sir, said Staffle, delight
ediy; land here's just the man of all others,
that ! would like to see, coming into the
yard Good morning. Mr.. Wax"
Wax nodded good morning back again,
and said so, and then stood with his hands
under his apron looking at the horses
"Mr Wax" continued Static, "this gen.
tleman and myself are about trading horses.
and We want YOU to decide on the amount of
boot that am to pay him. You know what
an excellent horse the colt is, and can
Judge, by comparing the two, what the diff
ference should be-" --..... ..- ....-... !
'Mr. Wax, are you a good judge Of
horses?" a
M Wax nodded, and looked up into his
face, as much as to say. should like to
have you find better oner He then pro-
ceeded gravely TO examine the two horses,
and, after standing with his arms akimbo for
some five minutes, said
g should think seven.y-6ve dollars would
be about right"
Good" said the stranger; " five dollars
isn't much in trade Give me seventy five
dollars and take the horse"
Static was red as a beet, and, drawing
out his pocket book, he counted out seventy 4
five dollars, and paid them over. The trans
fer was made in silence, and the stranger
drove away. After he had gone, Staflle
turned to Wax, who stood there very
smiinely, saying H59 FL
aa"That was devil Of trick you played
me. What was you thinking Of? Didn't
you understand the colt was mine?
Yes" replied Wax; "but you didn't
suspect that the other horse was mine, did
your j bought him yesterday on specula-
ton. ~ Boston Saturday Gazette.
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