Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-12-25
Bob's Horse Trade.

"You know Bob Warden, gucssf" said
Uncle Mike.
"NOt that rccoIlcct," I replied.
Well, Bob was IN Amazin' hand at tradin'
horses, and generally comes out ahead, too
never knew him really girdlcd and the un-
derbrush cut but once"
How was that Uncle Mike?"
"Why, you see, Bob had been gettin' .
grey horse in some Of his dealings, that was
jist about a. nice horse to look at as ever
put his nose through the rack sticks he Was
human lOokin' horse, and nothin shorter I;
he was always loOkin' arter stars, and caraiel
his tail like the national flag on the 4th OF
July but he wouldn't work-he was shove
it; he'd almost stop when he saw his shadow
lOllerin' him for fear he might he drawin' II.
Nov, them" says Bob. "sOme individual
is bound to be picked up"
So maxim an excuse that old Grey's shoes
wanted fxin', he sent him to the blacksmth's,
harnesscd up his t'Othcr horse, hitchcd them
to wagon load of stone, drove down to Sam
llewett'S, stopped before the door, took out
the near horse and harncsscd up the gray in
his place, went in, took drink, aud waited
around till some fcllcr should come along who
wanted to speculate. lie hadn't waited long,
when he seen some fellcr comm down the
road like all creation, his horse under . full
run, while he was sawin' the bits and hollerin'
wO, wo! with all his might and main. lie
managed to stop him after q little by Sam
llewitts, and turning him around, he come
up slappin' his hands, and in q tearin' pas
sion with his horse.
Hes never ready to Stop," says lie, "that
horse aint; an though he's the best horse
ever owned, yet I'm determined to get shut Of
him."
Well. just then out comes Bob, and mount
cd his wagon, just as If he was goin' to drive
Oft, when, says he,
:" Hello, stranger, perhaps you'd like to deal
with me for q steady one Y"
"Why, yes" said the stranger, 81 would
like something little more quiet than that
goahead, snaP.dragon rascal Of mine."
So Bob looked at the sOrrel, and found him
o square built animal, his eye full Of fire, and
every muscle in play.
"Wcll, says Bob, after few words with
me, " there's my gray, here's your sorrell; -
what's your proposition 2"
snow you're talking" said the stranger,
examining the gray as he stood hitchcd to the
load of stone; III give you sOrrel and the best
forty-dOllar clock in my wagon for the gray"
Done" says Bob; "just unhitch."
Neither of them asked tothcr questions,
cause neither of them wanted to answer anv.
The horses were exchanged Bob had got his
clock, and the stranger got into his wagon,
took up his lines, and biddin' 'em good bye,
was about to start, when gray put stop to
it, and wouldn't bulge hair. In vain did the
stranger whip and coax; not an inch could
he get. There sat Bob, laughing in his sleeve,
almost ready to burst, to see how the stranger
was trying TO start and couldn't Not word
did the stranger say, however; but after he
had got quite tired, and had given up trying
it any more, he came and sat down on the
hOrsO.blOck. Bob thought he might as well
be going; so, picking up the ribbons a
long," says he. The SOrrel turned his head
and looked back ut him, a. much as 10 say,
"dOn't you wish would =" but didn't stir or
pull. In vain Bob coaxed and pattcd, sorrcl
was there and wasn't anywhere else.
"Well, ! reckon it's my turn to laugh now,
said the stranger; "IsuPPOsc you'll call again
when you come 70 town."
"Oh, never mind" says Bob, "sorrel will
60, or else You couldn't get here with him. "
"Oh yes, said the stranger, "you can start
him il you'll only bring SOme shavings and
kindlc fire under him, as did"
"Then he laughed again, and when came
away, they were playiW' game to sec who
should take 'em BOTH"