Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-08-28
A HORSE STORY.

ton, is, or was, famous man for horses, owned
many and was always ready for trade in such
cattle. He was sharp at a bargain, and was
never known to make a move that didn't count
on his side, until the following happened, that
proved an exception to the rule. He always
had some particular horse on hand for every
particular emergency of trade, and the adroit-
ness Of his operations in putting off beast,
was subject tor delighted approval on all
hands among conneisseurs of that delightful
and much abused animal, the horse. No one
ever traded with Static that did not confess
himself satisfied though satisfaction being a
latitudiDal word, did not always mean that the
satisfaction was the ultimate ofhappiness in the
trade-like the same term in connection with
the duello. ----....
There was a jolly cobbler whose name was
Wax, that occupied small shop near the hotel,
to whom Static was accustomed to refer in case
OF any stick in transaction, and he being a
disinterested man, would decide on the matter
OF difference, always-hOwever, by what was
deemed a strange fatality, deciding in favor of
Static. Some, however, went so far as'to init
mate that Staffle and the cobbler had talked
the matter over previously, and had certain
signs by which they understood each other.
When the stick came, then Static would say,
Well, well, tre can't get along any further
Now I'm willing to leave it to a third party,
and rs Mr.. Wax, around the corner, knows
u.
he will be as good and candid an arbitrator as
we can find, and L guess I'll call him" Mr..
Wax would accordingly come out, leather apron
and all, and after looking at the matter candid
ly, would decide that Stafle should receive a
smart consideration Us the difference in value,
and this would settle it nine times in ten.
One day there came along u stranger with
pretty good horse and it was once an object of
Stafio's interest. He examined the horse in all
his points and determined to have him. The
determination worked itself into a positive
fever by next morning; and when the stranger s
horse was led out to be harnessed, Static stepped
out and asked the owner, who was looking on,
seeing that the harness was adjusted properly,
if he didn't want to swap horses.
The stranger told him that he hadn't the
least objection provided he could make little
something out of it,
Well, I'm 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 a colt when
egitimately entitled to the appellation, had for
feited it by the offence Of age, and was now
sailing under false colors The stranger looked
at the colt, and gave u whistle as he saw the
discrepancy between the title and the age.
We'll" +" said he at last, &" how shall we trade!
What will you give to boot? ?"
. Boot said Staf1e, with fcigned surprise,
= the boot is on the other leg, / Think
" All" said the man, "well, if you think so,
we will stop negotiation. Good morning.
Hold on, cried Stafle, " hold on-don't be
in such hurry. Suppose I offer you,-say,
twenty-five dollars-hOw would that please
you?'
. 1t would not please me at all" was the re-
ply. +" L shouldn't want to take less than eigh
" dollars"
:" Well,'' said Static, " L can't do that: "but
III tell you what will do-I'll leave it out to
"DOne," replied the stranger; anything
for trade. Whom will you leave it to ;
Somebody, 1 hope, that knows what good
Z" Never better, sir, ;" said Static, delighted
ly and here 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 30, and then stood with his hands under
his apron looking at the horses
" Mr.. Wax, continued Stafie, "this gentle
man 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 cx-
cellent horse the colt is, and can Judge hy
comparing the two, what the difference should
ibe."
Mr. Wax are you good Judge of horses p"
Mr.. Wax nodded, and looked up into his
face, as much as to say, " should like to have
you find better one" He then proceeded
gravely to examine the two horses, and after
standing with his arms akmbo for some FIVE
minutes said
=" should think seventy five dollars would be
about right"
Good, said the stranger /" five dollars
isn't much in trade. Give me seventy-fiye
dollars and take the horse"
Static was red as beat, and drawing out
his pocket-bOok he counted out seventy-fyo
dollars, aud paid them over. The transfer was
made IN silence, and the stranger drove away
After ne had gone, Static turned to Wax, who
stood there very smilingly, saying
= That was a devil of a trick you PLAYED me-
What was you thinking Of? Didn't you under
stand the "cOlt" was mine?''
" Yes" replied Wax; "but you didn't sus-
pect that the other horse was mine, did you
bought him yesterday on speculation. .'--Bos-
ton Saturday Gazstts