The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1857-11-11
The Story of the Tin Peddler and
Sleepy David"

| oOuIu SdTOllHldn
That Yankees, as / said before, are
apt to be too cute for us in everything
but rse-fesh, and even sometimes in
that. 1t was this day three years ago,
and on this very spot, that entered my
horse Southern" for purse of two
thousand dollars. He had won little
sum the year before with all ease. In
short, he was the best horse at that time
in South Carolina. There were, to be
sure, two other horses, and very fine
ones too, entered against him, but they
were no touch to Southern" and /
as sure of winning as / am sitting here
this moment-when who should come
along but Yankee, with a tin cart! He
had the shabbiest, worst. looking horse
ever put my eyes on. He was lean,
slab. sided, crooked-legged, rough hair
ed "critter" as ever went on four legs.
He stood all the time as if he was asleep
in fact, his owner called him ''Sleepy
David" In short, sir, he was such a
horse as would not have brought twenty
dollars.
1t was near the hour of starting, when
the peddler. whose exterior correspond
ed marvelously with that of his horse.
and who said his name was Zadock
Barber, to the astonishment of all, init.
mated a wish to enter his horse with the
rest. ...
"Your horse !" exclaimed I-"what,
that sleepy looking devil there? You'd
better enter him for the turkey -buz-
yards"
"Not as you knows on, Mister" re-
sumed Yankee, with some show of
spirit. ITO be sure the critter looks
rather sleepy as he stands, and on that
account call him "Sleepy David !" but
he's jolfi'd smart horse for all that
He's like singed cat, darncd sight
better nor he looks. / should like tar
nation we'll to try him against some of
your South Carolina horses. To be sure
1 don't come all the way from home on
that purpose, but as l was coming out
this way on a load of tin and other no.
tons, l thought l might time it so to
kill two birds with one stone, tor, thinks
| to myself, if l can win the purse and
peddle off my notions, at the same time,
| shall make playuy good spec. But
| had to hurry on like the nation to get
ere in time and that's S one reason why
my hoss looks so shabby and out of fix
this morning. But for all that he'll per-
form a days work, tell you
Surprising he had no idea of running
his horse, and that all he said a. merely
to crafty his propensity for talking, 1
bade i'm begone, and not trouble me
with his Yankee palaver.
"Why, mister" said he, 'this is
free country, and man has right to
talk or let it alole u ). as he can afford.
Now, I've taken a great deal ofpains to get
here this morning, in order to run 'Slee-
py David agin some of your Southern
hosses. amt joking, sir :; I'm in air
nest. l understand there is Il purse of
.wo thousand dollars. and l should like
amazing to pick it up"
"You talk of picking up two thous-
and dollars with that bit Of carrion of
yours! Away with you, and don't
trouble us any further"
"Well, if can't run, suppose can't
but it's darrell hard anyhow for man
% take so much pains as / have to come
up to the races. and then can't run arter
all"
'It's too late now; by the rules of
the course the horse should have been
entered yesterday however, if you'll
plank the entrance money, perhaps you
may get in yet"
l said this by way of getting rid of
the fellow, having no idea that he could
command a fourth part of the sum re-
quired.
''How much might the entrance
money be-" drawing out purse con-
aiming a few sbillings in silver and a
few pence in copper. ''lf tain't more
nor quarter or a dollar or so, I'll plank
it on the nail"
"It is two hundred dollars"
1.-TWO hundred !" exclaimed the Yam
kee. by gauley, what price -
Why they axed me only twenty-five
cents to see the elephant and the hull
caravan in New York Two hundred
dollars Why you must be joking now
bless me my hull load of tinwase,
hoss, wagon and all wouldn't fetch that.
But, mister, don't you think l could get
in for ten Collars %
Nothing short of two hundred, and
that must be paid in five minutes"
We now thought we had fairly got rid
of the fellow; but he returned to the
charge and asked fifty dollars wouldn't
do, then seventy, then hundred, and
finding he could not make bargain for
less than the regular sum, he engaged
to give it provided he could find any one
to loan him the money. for which he
would pawn his wagon load of notions,
and ''Sleepy David" to boot. He ask
ed one. and then another, to accommo
date him with the loan-declaring that
as scon as ever he took the purse, the
money should .be s,setarnad. ard &c,
would give dozen tin whistles into the
bargain. He. however, got more curses
than coppers, until some wag, who had
plenty Of cash and liked to see the
sport go on. lent him the two hundred
dollars out of sheer malice. Though
it afterward turned out, the Yankee had
plenty of money about him. and was
merely playing the 'possum all the
while.
His next object was to borrow sad
die. In this he was also accommodated
and, taking SLEEPY David" from the
cart, he scrambled upon his back and
took his station on the course. You
never saw follow sit on a horse so
awkward in your life. Every one said
he would fall befor he had gone hun
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