St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-11-26
NUMBER 9,

could command fourth part Of tho
sum required.
How much mi ght the entrance
money be ?" said the Yankee, draw
ing out a purse containing few shil-
I lings in silver and few pence in cop
per. If tain't more nor quarter or
a dollar or so, I'll plank it on the nail"
i" 1t is two hundred dollars"
Two hundred ?" exclaimed tho
Yankee. "By golly, what price
Why they axed me only twenty-five
cents to see the elephant and tho
whole caravan in New York. Two
hundred dollars! Why You must be
Joking, now; bless me, my hull load
of tin-ware, boss, wagon and all
wouldn't fetch that But, mister, don't
you think l could get in for ten dol.
lars ?n
Nothing short of two hundred,
and that must be paid in five minutes.n
We now thought we had fairly got
rid of the fellow; but he returned to
the charge and asked if fifty dollars
wouldn't do, then seventy, then hun
dred, and finding he could not make Il
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 woud pawn his
wagon load of notions, and "Slcepy
David to boot. He asked ono, and
then another, to accommodate him
with the loan, declaring that as soon
as he took the purse, the money should
be returned, and he would give doz-
en- tin whistles into the bargain. He
however, got more curses than cop
pers, until some wag who had plenty
of cash and liked to see the sport 90
on, lent him 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
saddle. In this he was also accom-
modated; and taking Sleepy Davidn
from the tin cart, he scrambled upon
his back and took his station upon the
course. You never saw fellow sit
on a horse so awkwardly in your life
Every one said he would fall before
he had gone a hundred yards, and
some, out Of compassion urged him to
withdraw.
Not by a darncd sight" exclaimed
he. Do you think Pm such darned
fool as to pay two hundred dollars and
then withdraw, and not run arter all?n
Others who wanted to see the sport,
though it was likely to cost some bro
ken bones, encouraged him to proceed,
saving as they laughed aloud. thew
had no doubt but he would carry oft
the purse.
That's what | mean to do" said
he; L" aint come here for nothing, | can
tell You. Wake up Sleepy David
and look about you; YOU must have
your eyes open to-day, it's no time to
be snoozin' when there is money at
staken
The horse, as if he understood what
his master was saying, pricked up his
ears and actually began to show
signs of life.
The signal was given to start,
Away sprang Southern" with the
speed of lightning, and leaving
Sleepy David" far back the peddler
verging from one side to the other, as
if he was just ready to fall of.
But they improved as they proceed,
ed; the peddler sat more iockey-likc.
and the horse evidently gained upon
the others
1t was now thought the Yankee had
enough of the race, and would with
draw before the heat. Contrary to
all expectation, however, he perse-
vered, and offered to bet one thousand
dollars on the issue of the race.
!" The fellows fool,' said one.
:" He don't know which side of his
bread is buttcred, OF else he wouldn't
bet any money Oh SO desperate q
stake.'
He is safe enough there" said q
third, for he has no more to risk
Here, however, all were mistaken
again, for the peddler hauled out u
greasy old pocket-pook and planked
the thousand dollars 1t was covered
of course. But confess now began
to be staggered, and to suspect the
Yankee was after all, more rogue than
fool. l had no fears, however, for tho
purse. Southern" was not a horse
to be distanced by such miserable
devil as Sleepy David"
The second heat was now commenc4
ed, and if had before felt confident
of the entire superiority of my noble
&" Southern" that confidence was
strengthened as | again saw him
coming in ahead of the rest. con,
sidered the purse as now my own
property. In imagination l had
grasped it and was about put,
ting it safely in my pocket, when, 10
and behold the peddlers horse shot
forward as if the devil had kicked him,
and, stretching his neck like crane,
won the heat by head
Everybody was astonished. "Thai
horse must be the devil himself" said
one.
"At least he has the devil to back
him." said another.
a was sure he would play some
Yankee trick before he got through
, said third.
, Such were the observations that
passed from mouth to mouth.
, The Yankee, in the mean time. Of.
! fered TO take another thousand dollar
bet but nobody felt disposed to bet
with him, and it was well that they
didn't, for at the third heat Sleepy
David" not only distanced every horse
!, but even came in full quarter of q
mile ahead of " Southern himself,
There, by golly,' said the Yankee.
as Le disnounted, "Pll take that ere