Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-09-10
An>1sii11g 8eaamg,
TIN PEDLAR AND SLEEPY DAVID.

purports to be told to another by South
Carolinian
"That Yankees, as I said before, are apt
to be too cute for US in everything 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
purse of two thousand He had won little
sum the year before with all ease. In short
he was the best horse at that time in South
Carolina. There were, to be sure, two 9TH
er horses, and very fine ones too, entered a.
gainst him, but they were no touch to South
ern, and was as sure of winning as [ am of
sitting here this moment-when who should
come along but a Yankee, with tin cart
He had the shabbiest, worst looking horse l
ever put my eyes on. He was lean, slab
sided, crooked legged, rough-haired 'critter'
as ever went on four legs. He stood all the
time as if he was asleep-in fact his owner
called him Sleepy David. In short, sir, he
was such horse as would not have brought
twenty dollars.
1t was near the hour of starting, when
the pedlar, whose exterior corresponded mar
velorsly with that of his horse, and who said
his name was Zadock Barber, to the aston
ishment of all, intimated wish to enter his
horse with the rest.
"Your horsep' exclaimed I-;swhat, that
sleepy looking devil there? You'd better
enter him for the turkey-buzzards,"
"Not as you knows on, Mister" resumed
the Yankee, with some show of spirit. "To
be sure the critter looks rather sleepy as he
stands, and on that account call him Sleepy
David, but he's jo f'd smart horse for all
that. He's like sinched cat, darned sight
better nor he looks should like tarnation
we'll 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 I might time it
so as to kill two birds with one stone, for
thinks I to myself, if I can win the purse
and peddle off my notions at the same time,
Ishall make plaguy good speck. But l
had to hurry on like the nation to get here
in time and that's one reason why my hoss
looks so shabby and out of fix this morning
But for all that he'll perform days work,
tell you"
Supposing he had no idea of running his,
and that all he said was merely to crafty his
propensity for talking, 1 bade him begone,
and not trouble me with his Yankee palaver.
"Why, mister" said he, sthis is a free
country, and man has right to talk or
let it alone, jist as he can afford. Now I've
taken a great deal of pains to git here this
morning, in order to run Sleepy David again
some of your Southern hosses. I amt jo-
king, sir, I'm in airnest | understand there
is.a purse of two thousand dollars, and |
should like amasing to pick it up
"You talk of picking up two thousand
dollars with that bit of carton of yours? A
way with you, and don't trouble us any fur
ther"
"Well, if I can't run, I suppose I can't !;
but it's darned hard anyhow for man to
take so much pains as have to come up to
the races, and then can't run arter ALL"
"It's too late now; by the rules of the
course the horse should have been entered
yesterday; however, if you'll plank the en-
trance money, perhaps you may get in yet."
I said this by way of getting rid of the
fellow, having no idea that he could COM
mand 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.
"It aint more nor quarter of dollar or so,
I'll plank it on the nail"
cit is two hundred dollars"
1.-TWO hundredw exclaimed the Yankee.
"By gauley, what price ! Why they axed
me only twenty-five cents to see the elephant
and the h. | caravan in New York Two
hundred dollars! Why you must be joking
now-bless me! my hull load of tin ware,
hoss, wagon and all wouldn't fetch that
But mister, don't you think could git in
for ten dollars %
"Nothing short of two hundred, and that
must be paid in five minutes"
We now thought that we had fairly got rid
Of the fellow; but he returned to the charge
and asked if fifty dollars would't do, then
seventy, then a hundred, and finding he
could not make bargain for less than the
regular sum, he engaged to give it provided
he could find any one to loan him the mon
ey, for which he would pawn his wagon load
of notions, and Sleepy Dave to boot. He
asked one, and then another to accommodate
him with the loan-declariug that as soon
as ever he took the purse the money should
be returned and he would give dozen tin
whistles into the bargain. He however got
more curses than coppers until some wag
who had plenty of cash and liked to see the
sport 60 on, lent him the two hunnred dol
ars out of sheer malice. Though, as it after
wards turned out, the Yankee had plenty of
money about him, aud was merely playing
"possom" all the while.
His next object was to borrow a saddle.
In this he wasalso accommodated; and taking
Sleepy David from the tin cart, he scrambled
upon his back and took his station on the
course You never saw fellow sit on horse
so awkward in your life. Every one said he
would fall before had gone hundred yards
and some out of compassion urged him to
withdraw
ttNot bY darned sioht - excla;ned he.