Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-02-18
A HORSE TRADE.


When Topple was in the horse trade, he
had his eyes constantly about him for q
speculation, and one day in Vermont he fell
in with, among other specimens, a horse
whose principal points were the points Of
bone projecting through his skin-a long
lean, lank white animal that had got some
way beyond his teens, whose qualities as a
good horse were vouched for by a neighbor,
who said he had knowed him for twenty four
years, and kinder crtter never led oxen in
plough than he!
The horse was bought at discount and
shipped with three others in car for Boston,
where he arrived safe, but scarcely sound.
Topple thought it hard investment, and
felt somewhat anxious as to how he should
get his money back again, concluding at last
that he would undoubtedly make enough on
the other three to cover the loss on this one,
which he must, he conceived sustain. He
had him stabbed, and then the idea occurred
to Topple that he would attempt a little
factcous excellence for the poor beast and
endeavor to put him off respectfully. A
horse of some celebrity mad died just before
and Topplc borrowed a large cover that was
wont to envelope the animal after running,
and covered up his own Rosinate Herewith
Immediately afterwards appeared an ad-
vertisement in the Post and other papers
that the famous trotter White Foot was on
exhibition at Bailey's, and would be sold on
a certain day, inviting people to call and
see him. The usual formula was gone
o through with, of sound, kind stand
e without tying &C., concluding with the
n tatement that he had gone his mile in less
n tan three minutes. The advertisement
d bAught many horse fanciers to the stable,
: whre White Foot stood in bed of straw,
: covred by the robe that had been borrowed.
: Topic thought that boldness was the best
b policy and called the attention of his visitors
e to thefact of the horse being so poor, vent
c ing thestatement gratuitously that he had
! fairly rR the flesh off his bones, and it
J.. seemed fobable, as the flesh was not there.
AS thelay of sale arrived, Topple visited
e his racer irregular periods, and with lash
= vigorously spilled, cndeavored to excite in
him dispersion to appear vigorous on in
c spection befo' the public, and succeeded
e so far that befte the time arrived the sound
h of Topples fee on the stable floor wrought
$ the poor beast l. to perfect frenzy. lie
? stamped and struggled in manner extrava-
u giant enough to esblish large reputation
il for mettle, and Topic was satisfied sPer-
$ haps,' whispered h to the aucticneer, swe
: may get seventy dollrs for him.
s The horse was broght to the block, and
at sight of Topple he Manifested every sign
: of spirit. His nostrilswere distended, his
Il eye frightened, and he stepped round
: nervously, as though / we're impatient to
: have somebody buy him, hat he might be
t going, inside of three uuutes, over the
road.
f IIow much am l oferedfor the horse:'
said Baly; chow much folWhite Foot
a Shall have bid?'
q 'Seventy.fve dollors,' said a,oicc.
a sScventy.fvc--thank you-s seventy-fve
: shall hear any more?'
t sOne hundred,' another voice.
Twenty-Five, first bidder.
4 Fifty second.
f 'Go on, gentlemen, said Baileyletting
Y the bidding proceed, seeing the compition;
h 'any more than one hundred and fft for
horse that has been his mile in less than hree
= minutes"
: sOne hundred and sixty another bider.
'Sixty-fve, first bidder.
? Seventy new voice.
: sSeventy-fve,' Grst and second togethe
s!Any more than one hundred and seventy
: five? All done at one-seventy-f five ?
i Sold. DIR. Small, of Cape Cod, takes him
at one hundred and seventy-fve?
The bid was mine, said the second bid
+ der, and insist upon it,
The contestant was man living in town
}. and the auctioneer thought that @or pruden
tial reasons it would be better to let the beast
90 out of town, if he had strength to gel
out, so he gravely decided that DR.. SmalPs
bid was the one he had heard, and to whom
r he had knocked off the bargin.
G So anxious was the disappointed man tc
: procure the horse that he offered the doctor
D fifteen dollars for his bargain, who Informed
Y him that he could not trade. The price
i he said, was not much to him be wanted d
h horse that would go quickly and as he had
u pot a pood one he should hold on to him.