M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1858-11-25


er he took the purse, the money sho'
be returned, and he would give a doz
en- tin whistles into the bargain. He
however, got more curses than cop
| pers, until some wag, who had plent,
| OF cash, and liked to SEQ the sport q
on, lent him the two hundred dollar
out of sheer malice. Though it after
wards turned out, that the Yankee haC
plenty Of money about him, and wa
merely playing the pOssum all tn,
while.
His next object was to borrow {
saddle. In this he was also accom-.
modateI; and, taking SLEEPY David
from the tin cart, he scrambled upon
his back and took his station on the
course. You never saw a fellow sit on
a horse so awkward in your life. Ev.
cry one said he would fall before he
had gone hundred yards-aud some,
ont of compassion, urged him to with
draw.
mot by a darnod sight," said he.
"Do you think am such q darned
fool as to pay two hundred dollars
and then withdraw, and not run arter
all?n
Others who wanted to see the sport,
though it would cost some broken
bones, encouraged him to proceed,
saying, as they laughed aloud, they
had no doubt but he would carry off
the purse.
"Ihat's what | mean to do" said
he; "ain't come here for nothing, lean
tell you. Wake up "Sloepy David"
and look about you; you must have
your eyes open to-day; it's no time to
be snoozin' when there's money at
stake"
The horse, as if he understood what
his master was saying, pricked up his
ears and actually began to show signs
of life.
The signal was given to start
Away sprang Southern" with the
speed of lightning, and leaving "SIeo-
py David" far in the rear, the pedler
verging from one side to the other, as
if he was just ready to fall off.
But they improved as they proceed
ed; the pedler sat more jockey like,
and his horse evidently gained upon
the others. 1t was now thought the
Yankee had enough of tho race, and
would withdraw before the heat
Contrary to all expectations, however,
he perSevered, and offered to bet one
thousand dollars on the issue of the
race.
"The fellows a fool" said one.
"He don't know which side Of his
bread is buttered, Or else he wouldn't
bet any money on so desperate a
stake"
"lIe is safe enough there" said a
third, "fot he has no more to risk"
Here, however, all we're mistaken
again, for the pedler hauled out a
greasy old pocket book, and planked
the thousand dollars. 1t was covered ,
of course. But | confess l now be-
gan to be staggered, and to suspect
the Yankee was, after al. more rogue
than fool. | had no fears, however,
for the purse. Southern" was not q
horse to be distanoed by such a miser-
0ble devil as Sleepy David"
The second heat was now COM
meneed, and if had felt confidence
in The entire superiority of my noble
"Southren," that confidence was
strengthened as again saw him COM
ing in ahead Of the rest. considered
the purse as now my own property
In imagination had grasped it, and
was about putting it safely in my
pocket, when, 10! and behold! the ped
ler's horse shot forward as if the dev-
il had kicked him, and, stretching his
ne3k like a crane, won the heat by a
head.
Everybody was astonished. "That
horse must be the devil himself" }" said
one.
cat least he has the devil to back
him." said another.
81 was sure ne would play some
Yankee trick before he got through,
said a third.
Such were the observations that
passed from mouth to mouth.
The Yankee, in the meantime, off
cred to take another thousand dollar
bet, but nobody felt disposed to bet
with him, and it was well they didn't,
for at the third heat "Sleepy DAVID
not only distanced every horse, but
even came in full quarter of mile
ahead of Southern" himself.
"There, by gauley," said the Yam.
kee as he dsmounted, "Pll take that
ERE little purse if you please, and the
other cool thousand, tewl l knowed
we'll enough that your southern bosses
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