Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-07-11
Buying a Herse.
BY ALICE CARY.

lie. An amusing instance of common
procedure in business transactions came
to my knowledge lately.
Mr.. Brown, farmer living near the
city Of, was the owner of some half
dozen horses-one of which he was es-
pecially anxious TO sell, and Mr.. Smith,
a resident Of, was specially deslrous
of purchasing said animal. He was well
advised of the good points Of the horse
and predetermined to buy him, no matter
at what price he might be held by his
owner.
Mr.. Brown, meantime, knew that Mr.
Smith wanted TO buy the horse, and would
probably pay more than his fair value:
nevertheless, weeks and months went by
and Mrs. Brown said repeatedly that
Browns critters were eating their own
heads off; and Mr. Brown answered well,
well, what can / do, sell them at auc>
ton and get half their worthF and Mrs.
Smith said as often, Much good our car
rage does US without horse; I could find
one, | know and Mr.. Smith replied that
he wished he could.
At last matters came to such pass IN
the two families that the sale and pur-
chase could be deferred no longer, and
at this juncture a happy expedient was
hit upon by both parties, they would con-
trive meeting which should seem acci-
dental. Accordingly Mr.. Brown mount
ed his fine grey, and proceeded to the
Agricultural Fair, where he thought 1t
not unlikely he should meet Mr.. Smith,
who at the same time, influenced by no
motive under the sun but the hope of
buying Mr.. Browns horse, set out for the
same place. Both were advancing in
hot haste, each intent on seeing the other,
when they met.
sAh, Brown, how dye do7' said Smith,
assuming a look of astonishment, You
are the last man l expected to see here!
well, may say the same of you, re-
piled Brown; I'D as soon have thought
o seeing you at the end of the earth; how
did you happen to come here!'
We'll, I hardly know; | had no partic-
ular object, that's certain. How are all
your folks1'
'TolerabIe well, ! thank ye, how are
yours!'
Then followed long conversation on
the various ailments Of children, in which
neither, of course, felt one particle Of in
terest.
4 think said Smith at length, chang
ing the subject, 'the wind is veering round
to the East
YES said Brown, Il should not won-
der if we had rain Smith thoug ht rain
was more likely to fall when the wind
was southerIy. Il hope it won't raiD,' he
said, looking at the sky instead of at
Browns horse; 'it would make it unplea-
SAINT for the folks at the Fair, especially
for the ladies'
YES replied Brown, 'it would be dis>
agreeable, especially TO the ladies'.
Here both made long recitals Of storms
which they remembered to have fallen on
like occasions.
sThere seems to be some nice cattle
here said Smith; on no account would
he mention horses.
sYes,' said Brown, 'there's q fine pair
of oxen, and he indicated by gesture
the pair he meant.
'Not any stouter, are they, for being SO
large3 said Smith.
mo, don't know as they are; but then
if you happen to want to sell them for
beef cattle, you know, they can't weigh
too much
'Ah, suppose not
Everything was talked of that could be
seen or thought Of everything but what
was uppermost in the thoughts of Brown
and Smith.
sWell, / guess may as we'll go home,
said Smith at length; 'it's nearly dinner
time;' and he wound his watch with the
deliberasion Of man entirely easy in his
mind.
4 will 90 too,' said Brown, yawning.
sBy the way, Smith, he added, 'can you
tell me of any person who has young
horse to sell, sound, good tempered and
handsorneT
If Brown, expected Smith to answer
that he himself wished TO buy just such
d horse, he was disappointed, for Smith
replied as promptly as if he were speak
ing the truth, why, yes, have just the
horse yau want.
Brown said he was glad to hear of it;
he would ride over and look at him the
first leisure day he had. Thus lying, one
to the other, Brown mounted the grey
horse which he was impatient to sell and
Smith impatient to buy: