Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-04-30
dtlistelIaneoas.
SAM VARNEY'S VENTURE.

Sam Varney was Green Mountain Boy
| He had worked as hired man on different
farms, and had laid DIP some money. He
had frequently been employed in bringing
loads of produce to the Boston market, and
had made sales quite satisfactory to his en-
ployers. On several occasions he had made
little speculations Of his own which were
quite prof.abfe.
On one of his visits TO Boston, Sam had
fallen in with a sailor, Who was a native OF
the same town where he himself was born,
and they had a great deal Of conversation.
One Of the interesting facts which Sam learn
ed from his townsman was, that sailors were
occasionally permitted to take out small
venture, as it was called, of their own, a lit
tie package Of goods, barrel Of maekerel,
or something of that sort, which would not
take up much room in the vessel. This they
sold, and brought home the proceeds in the
produce of the country they visited.
On his return home. Sam meditated pro-
foundry on this subject; and finally conclu-
ded to make voyage to the West Indies,
and take venture with him. The next
question was what this venture should be.
He had nothing on hand at the time but a
small horse, which he had won in rattle,
and lad not yet been able to dispose Of it.
He was not very beautiful one. On the
contrary, he was generally pronounced by
the neighbors IAN awful ugly hoss." His
neck was too long. His body was lean
and scragsy. His name was rough and re-
fractory, and persisted in standing up in
spite of trimming and grooming, and his
tail looked like mop. But Sam had rid
den him repeatedly, and found that he was
capabls of great speed in running.
The sailor told Sam that whole cargoes
Of horses were frequently sent from Connec-
ticut to the West Indies, aud disposed Of at
a large profit. So he determined that his
horse should be his venture. Accordingly,
he mounted him, rode down to Roston, put
him into stable, and went in search of'his
sailor friend He soon found him, and
communicated his plan. His acquaintance
Tom Standish, by name, was afraid he
would not be able to carry it out; but prom
ised to lend all assistance in his power
He introduced him to the captain, who made
no objection to shipping him as a green
hand. When the question Of the venture
came up, there were difficulties. He had
no accommodation for a horse on board the
brig. Sam offered to put him on deck and
take care Of him. This would be inconve-
nient, and would interfere with his duty
Determined to carry his point, Sam offered
to pay freight, cash down, before sailing !;
and the captain, rather amused at his per-
tinacity, and curious to see, how the venture
would succeed, agreed to the proposal. -
So the horse was shipped, and the vessel
sailed
Sam was the but of the sailors during
the whole passage out. There was no end
to their jeers at the appearance Of his little
horse. Their rautisal jokes on him were
inexhaustible, and Sam Varney's venture
was considered the most desperate and ri
diculous speculation that had ever been at
tempted.
But Sam was perfectly imperturbable. =
He answered all their raileries good-natu-
redly and told them that ''they had better
wait and see the upshot. He had never
made bad speculation yet, and he knew
what he was about. The boss was not a
very handsome boss, but was very good
one. He guessed he could sell him"
At length the brig arrived at Kingston,
Jamaica, and Sam soon had his horse land
ed and stabbed. When he came to offer
him for sale, nobody seemed inclined to
buy The horse was decidedly too ugly
for saddle or gig horse; and the very
draymen turned up their noses at hlm.-
Presently the race came on, and everybody
was hurrying out Of town to the background
Sam mounted his horse and rode out with
the rest He looked on with much inter-
est at the first race He observed that the
horses were not remarkable for their speed.
There appeared to be no thoroughbred
blood horses among them; and he conclu-
ded that the races had been got up by the
planters from their love Of sport, without
having anv real race horses on the island.
He believed that his little horse could beat
them all, and he determined at all hazards
to give him trial So event to the man
ayers and offered to enter him for the next
race.
Sans proposition was received with
shouts Of laughter. 1t was considered a
capital joke Sam told them it was no joke.