Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-10-05
THE STORY OF THE TIN PEDLAR AND
SLEEPY DAVID.


That Yankees, as / said before, are apt to
be too cute for US in every thing but horse flesh,
and even sometimes in that. 1t was this day
three years ago, and on this very spot that
entered my horse Southern for a purse Of two
thousand dollars. He had won little sum the
year before with all ease. In short, he was the
bsst 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 was as
SURE OF winning as / am sitting here this mo-
ment-when who should come along but q Yam
kee, with q tin cart! lie had the shabbiest,
worst looking horse | ever put my eyes on He
was lean. slab-sided, crooked-iegged, rough
haired 'critter" as ever went on four legs lie
stood all the time as if he was asleep-in fact
Lis 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
pedlar, whose exterior corresponded marvellous
ly with that Of his horse. and who said his name
was ZadOck Barber, to the astOnishment Of all,
lntimated a wish 10 enter his horse with the
rest
Your horse - exclaimed L. what. that
sleepy looking devil there? You d better enter
him for the tuTkey-buzzards.
Not as you knows on, Mister" resumed the
lankee, with some show of spirit "To be sure
the crItter looks rather sleepy az he stands and
on that account call him Sleepy David; but
he's jO-f'd smart horse for all that. He's
like singed cat, dsrned sight better nor he
looks. / should like tarnation well to try him
against some Of your South Carolina horses
To be sure don't come all the way from home
on that purpose, but as I was coming out this
way on load of tin and other notions | thought
L might time ii so as to kill two birds with one
stone, for thinks to myself, if can win the
purse and peddle of my notions at the same
time, shall make Plaguy good spec. But
had to hurry on like the nation to get here in
time and that's one reason why my hoss looks
50 shabby and out Of fix this morning But for
all that he ii perform day's work, tell YOU ,:
SupPoslnS he had no idea of running his
horse, and that all he said was merely to crafty
hrs propensity for talking, bade him beyone
and not trouble me with his Yankee palayer.
why, mister" said he this is a free
country, and a man has right to talk or let il
alone, JIst as he can afford. Now I've taken IL
great deal OF pains to git here this morning, in
order to run Sleepy David agin some of your
Southern hosSes. L aint joking sir, I'm in arm
est l understand there is a purse of two
thousand dollars, and L should like amazing to
pick it up"
You talk Of picking up two thousand dol
lars with that bit of earriOn of yours, Away
with you, and don't trouble US any further"
well, II L can't run, / suppose I can't; but
It's darned hard anyhow for a man to take so
much pains as L have to come up to the races,
aHu artcr all.
It's too late now; by the rules of the course
the horse should have been entered Yesterday:
however, II you III plank the entrance money,
perhaps you may get in yet
said this by way Of getting rid of the fell
low, having no idea that he could command
fourth part of the sum required.
How much might the entrance money be-"
drawing out purse containing few shillings
In silver and few pence in copper . If tain't
more nor quarter Of a dollar or so, I'll plank
il on the nail .
% 1t 10 two hundred dollars"
Two hundred exclaimed the Yankee
BY gauley. what a price Why they axed
me only twenty-five cents tssee the elephant
and the hull Caravan in New York Two hun
dred dollars Why you must be joking now
bless me- my hull load Of tin ware, boss, wagon
aud all wouldn fetch that. But mister don
you think l could get in for ten dollars
Nothing short Of two hundred, and that
must Do paid IN FIVE minutes
We now thought we had fairly got rid Of the
fellow; but he returned to the charge and asked
II hfty dollars wouldn't de, then seventy then
hundred, and finding he could not make
bargain for less than the regular sum, he en-
gagged TO give 1t provided he could find any one
10 loan him the money for which he would pawn
hls wagon load of nOtiOns and Sleepy David 10
boot lie asked one, aud then another to ac-
eOmmOdate him with the loan-decIaring tha,
as soon as ever he took the purse the money
should Do returned, and be would give a dozen
TIN whistles into the bargain. He however got
more curses than cOppers, until some wag who
had plenty Of cash and likei to see the sport 90
on, lent him the two hundred dollars out Of
sheer malice. Though it afterwards turned
oli, the Yankee had plenty of money about
MIN, and was merely playing posSOm all the
while.
His next object was to borrow a saddle. In
Shls ne was also accommodated; and taking
r..
upon his back and took his station on the
course. You never saw a fellow sit on a horse
50 awkward IN your life. Every one said be
would fall before he had gone a hundred yards
and some out OF compassion urged him to
Withdraw. -rg
8 Not by a dsrned sight exclaimed he.
I" Do you think IN such darned fool as to pay
two hundred dollars and then withdraw and not
rLn arter all,''
Others who wanted 10 see the sport though ID
would cost some broken bones encouraged him
u proceed, saying, as they laughed aloud they
had no doubt but he would carry off the purse.
That's what mean 10 do" said he, ''ain'
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
snOOEIn when there is money at stake"
The horse "a If he understood what his mas
ter was saying. pricked up his ears, and actu-
ally began 70 show signs Of life.
1he signal was gwen to start. Away sprang
Southern, with the speed of lightning, and
leaving Sleepy David far in the rear and the
psdlar yerging from one side to the other, as if
be was just ready to fall of
But they improved as they proceeded; the
pedlsr sat more jockey-like and the horse evil
IDENTIFY gained upon the others
Ii was now thought the Yankee had enough
Of the race, and would withdraw before the
heat Contrary to all expectation however,
tn hat 81 a
dollars on the issue Of the race.
- The fellows fool" said one
- He don't know which side of his bread is
buttered, or else he wouldn't bet any money
on 50 desperate a stake
He is safe enough there said third, '.cor
has no more to risk. ,
Here, however, AL were mistaken again. for
the psdlar hauled out a greasy old pocket book !,
and planked the thousand dollars. 1t was
covered Of course. But / confess L now began
10 be staggered, and 10 suspect the Yankee was
after all more rogue than fool. had no fears,