The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-08-08
A Horse Trade.

| end of box Of goods, while his auditor
were arranged in a circle round him. e
"Well, let's have it." said the crowd.
You see," he continued, 81 was thre,
years with old ongue-buckle, the auction
eer, as Brown was called, and learned thu
nature of that noble animal to perfection
| that would have delighted the soul Of Button
| / learned to appreciate his worth, from the
| full blood to the no blood, in dollars, and
| learned to elevate a horse of questionable
lineage into a charger Of unquestionable
blood and bone, and one whether as pal,
of bellows and spawned, to appear worthy
diploma for soundness in any college Of
equine pharmacy in the world. Browns
mart was very celebrated in those days. He
moved out West afterwards, and |, receiving
a little bit Of a check in the horse line, where
in promised to be SO distinguished, gave
up, and became distinguished in the tape
and dimity occupation"
There was triumph in his flashing eye
as he described his distinguished position as
a orse-dealer, but his eye paled and his
voice trembled as he described the change
in his pursuits and fortunes.
"What was the check" said one
81 was going to tell you," replied he,
" I've had many checks since, of good deal
larger amount, that never affected Inc half
SO much as that did. | was young then,
and was always looking out for trade, with
an eye particularly open for horses about
going oil the stage into retirement-horses
that with judicious pruning and stimulants
could be made to last good while longer,
and become exceedingly valuable and spirit
ed by the biology of the tongue upon ex-
treine ceptibility-that would stand with
out tying, sound and kind in any hal ness,
and 90 mile in two and forty minutes.
"One day gentleman in a very black
cert and a very white neck-eloth came into
c"S place and.informcd Brown that he was
- Sus of purchasing a span of horses.
,.u! Wished them TO be gentle and good, as
..tthey soere for his own family use, at the
same time, that he would not have them of
the frisky sort, they should possess proper
spirit, and bear themselves as became horses
destined to move in respectable society He
did not want them at that time, as he was
going TO Europe with his bride, and should
not return for some months, but in the mean
while we might be looking out for such
pair as would please him. lie gaze his card,
which bore the name of worthy young
clergyman who had lately been married to
an heress, and soon after sailed for Europe.
Tom," said Brown, "youd better look
round and see what you can get for our
clerical friend, and mind that you don't put
it on him too severe"
Never mind me" said |, I'll take care
Of that We winked at each other, and
laughed, probably at the same idea that
crossed the minds of oth, which, like the
warhorse that smells the battle from afar,
smelt a bargain in horse flesh from afar, that
would pay.
" All that summer | was looking round
for pair of horses for my reverend Gus
toner, but they seemed 10 have all gone out
Of the way. | had never known season
when they were so scarce. could find sin
gle ones enough that might make up pretty
well, but ne'er a double One day towards
September, was rather startled at seliBe
my friend the minister at the door.
Well, said he, shave you found any
horses such as you think would snit me -
alt was always hard thing for me to
say no, and informed M friend that | had
my eye on fine span in Vermont which
would suit him | thought to r. but that
probably could not get them for him under
a month. This he said, would suit him, as
he was anxious to get some good ones and
would wait little longer to make sure.
told Brown that 1 was cornered, and
asked him, as | had asked myself many
times, What i'll thunder's to be done.''
Why don't you so down and look at the
widow Hayes span z" said he; Il heard
yesterday that she was going to sell her old
bays and buy new pair. If they were
not too bad, perhaps you might make them
do"
Enough said" cried l, and that very
minute started for the cars to 90 to 3. TO
look at the horses found pair of hays,
rather antlquated in appearance, considera-
bly, the worse for wear, and rather gnarled
about the knees, but l thought they might
DO. | made the old lady an offer Of a hun
dred dollar bill for two, which she accepted,
after | had eloquently explained all the bad
points that they possessed. | immediately
put them into the hands of Phleme the
horse doctor, who commenced with them a
course Of treatment that | saw must make
them just the sort for my clerical friend. and
already jingled an imaginary five hundred
dollar profit III my pocket, resulting from the
speculation.
He came in several times to inquire /
about them, and at last the day arrived when |
they were to come by the cars-in fact, had |
ust received telegraphic dispatch fixing |
the minute-and they would be driven rou d /
for him to see, as soon as they arrived
"On the day specified the horses were
brought round, and a greater metamorphosis
you never saw. Their flowing names and
ong tails and smooth hair were objects of
admiration. The carbuncles had disappear
ed from the legs. and they stepped in man
ner that denoted complete rejuvenation.-l
Brown was delighted.
"What'n you touch for them, Tom, eh!"
said he, rubbing his hands.
"About six hundred, replied, modestly.
"SiX?" continued he; mot bit of it
don't say mill less than eight, at first, and
if you can't get that, fall back on seven hun
lred and stick there. They're prime.
Brown volunteered to 60 round with me,
md we put Off till evening, when bay horses
always look the best. My customer lived |
put of town a little way, and we soon reach |
cd his residence, driving up to his door with |
A swing that would have done credit to an |
imperial team. The reverend gentleman |
came out TO look at his purchase, expressed |
himself well satisfied with their appearance,
and then wished to drive them. He accord |
ngly mounted the box and drove them a |
short distance, much delighted with them. |
And now" said he, "about the terms"
"Well sir,'' replied, 81 have had some
difficulty in procuring them-been up to |
Vermont several times to see about them
md they cost rather more because they are |
both from one dam, and brought up togeth-
er. ! found the man that owned them ra-
her 10th to part with them. He'd Just re- |
used splendid offer for them, but when l |
told him they were for very particular
person who would treat them well, he said |
might take them. don't see how can |
.ake less than eight hundred dollars for
hem. l ought to say thousand to make
hem pay anything.
"All the while Brown was standing aside |
sxpiating upon their points with much ad-
and going into some romantic de- |
sails of their parentage and education, hav-
ing he pretended, known them from their
birth, some ten years previous.
&c am not very particular about hun.