, 1859-03-25

a stick Of cord IO00d :" and Uncle Ben laughed
heartily, for he could contain himself no longer
The crowd Of bar-rOOm loungers joined in, while
Teat rode of, with their shouts ringing in his
cars
And such a figure as he and that horse pre-
sented Don QuixOte, mounted on his Rosin-
ante" wasn't patch on 1t, while the figures Of
Sancho Panza and his "DApple" would have
been models for a sculptor in comparison.
Alter the lapse Of few days, Teat returned
with tho saddle on his back, when Uncle Ben
met him, and laughingly. asked If he had sold
the horse, supposing at the same time that the
poor old beast had died by the roadside.
"Tell you what it is, Uncle Ben" said Teat
"that's a mighty good specimen Of horsefesh,
for all he's So darned lean, and l think I've got
chance to sell him for you"
"Se him |" calculated Uncle Ben "who in
thunder would be fool enough to buy that con-
founded old crow-bait9 Why, you could not
give him away"
"But tell you have got chance to sell him,
and at what ! consider good price, too. You
don't know the value Of that horse, Uncle Ben !;
he's worth scventy-6vc dollars, II he's 1Orth a
cent n
is that honest, Tcat!" eagerly asked Uncle
Ben, whose cupidity was now fairly aroused, and
quickly swapping at the bait.
True as scripture, Uncle Ben. He had a
little touch Of the distemper while l was gone,
and so l left him about thirty miles back 10 be
doctored; but that won't hurt him, you know,
and met man who wants him bad"
"Nuff said, Tat and wen try him. If we
sell the horse, it's my treat--that's all"
In the course Of few days more, Uncle Ben
made his arrangements to go and see the man
who wished to purchase the horse, and accord
ingly, one fine morning, set out taking Teat with
him Durino tho intnrvanino, time houyavav
Teat had "stutied him well with bright hopes
and Aattering anticipatiOns, and had eulogized
the merits Of the horse to such an extent that
Uncle Ben really began to think that he was val
liable.
Arriving at the residence Of the supposed
would-be purchaser, they drove under the she'd
and entered the house, the proprietor of which
was seated at the window, quietly smoking his
pipe.
"Wel," said Uncle Ben, after the formalities
Of an introduction had been gone through with,
d" ] understand that you have taken quite fancy
TO that horse Of mine, and would like to pur-
chase hime"
"Yes," was the response, al think would
like to buy him but what do you want for him :"
"Well, again resumed Uncle Ben, "as don't
want to winter him, I'll sell him at a sacrifice
give me seventy-6ve dollars, and he's your prop
erty. He's cheap as dirt at that"
The customer seemed to ponder for moment
and then said -
"Have you got him with your 1 should like
to see him again before buy"
:" He's at . tavern about mile back on the
road, and If you like, III bring him up" was the
answer.
The man signiied his assent, and back Uncle
Ben and Teat started for the inn The horse
was brought out and bill Of ten dollars and
II 4. =.
This was paid without murmur, for Uncle Ben
considered he had sure thing on the sale, and
again they hurried back to the house Of the sup
posed victim. "HOpe told hattering tale to
the worthy uncle; but was it to be realized
Nous eerr0ns
The man examined the horse closely, shook
his head doubdngly, and finally expressed the
opinion that he was hardly worth the money.
Uncle Ben persisted he was the best horse in
the country-"Of his ages" but he could not
bring the man to the scratch. He would not
think SO; though Of a verify, Uncle Ben spoke
truly, for there was not another horse in the
country as old as ho was. Finally, however,
after considerable dickcring, Uncle Ben grew
desperate, and stumped him for an offer.
Now, again the ran dropped his head in
brown study, seemingly pOndering the subject
seriously. After the lapse Of few moments he
looked up, when Uncle Ben's face again bright
ened.
"Well," says the would-be purchaser, appar-
emily having arrived at a conclusion, " as want
q horse Of that kind, and you seem to be q pretty
liberal kind of 4 man, feel disposed to be li6
eral myself So, IL you'll stand the liquor, I'll
give you sightesn pence for him, and that's the
best III dol"
Uncle Ben wilted, while TOit vamOsed the
ranch through the back door, and struck bee
linz enp ho kawv, l.. ...A .hn-k
time after in state Of sufOcation, from the effect
Of having stuffed q bundle Of hay In his mouth
to choke of his "risibilities." t'-
Notwithstanding Uncle Ben's love for Joke,
he could not stand this. To come thirty miles
70 sell horse, pay ten dollars and half for
his keeping, and then be served in this way, was
too much for human endurance. The Joke
might bc very palpable, but it was altogether too
practical Accordingly, our friend Teat had to
foot il back to the village. It is needless to re-
mark, however, that Uncle Ben never played any
more practical jokes upon him, and that was the
last Of his speculatlons in old horses He had
indeed been sold, at a sacrifice Of both time and
mOney-Teat was square
In q village school recently, when the word
waif' occurred In the sentence; the younker
who was up-a tTight-eyed little iellow-puz-
zled over the word for a few minutes, and then,
As bright idea struck him, he burst out with
can ccnjugate it Positive, waif; compare
tive, wafer; superlative, sealing wax"
A'witty lawyer once jocOsely asked boarding
house keeper the following question: " Mr..
-, if nan give you five hundred dollars
to keep for him, and he dies what do you dot
Do you pray for hiniY" " No, SIR" replied -,
I" pray for another like him."
Dr. Adam Clark had perfect adherence Of
10th nnrk and inhaccn. Ht Is rannrtad N have