Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-08-07

Does anybody know?
For everything has changed so much
Since twenty years ago?
Stories About HOrsetrader-Ten Upon E.
Monsieur Gervais was once in the Norfolk
Market purchasing materials for his breakfast
He stopped at a cart to buy dozen eggs. He
was attracted by the looks of an old horse
munching his provender behind the vehicle, and
asked his owner how much he would take for
him. He answered, "a dollar for every year be
is DID,"
"How old your horse2" said the FreDchman.
"Twenty-one, was the reply.
"You tink me one fool" said Gervais, s'to glib
you twenty one dollar for dat old tackey. But
will be liberal-l glib you ten dollar for him"
swell, I'll take it." said the man; and SO G..
gave him $lo note, and led the horse up to
his livery-stable Seeing that the beast, in spite
OF his age, was improvable, our horsetrader fed
him high, doctored him in various ways, till he
was very much improved, and took especial
pains to show him up to visitors as one cory no.
bic animal. But nobody would buy him; for
most people were afraid of the talents of the
Frenchman for gougiag
After about q fortnight, however, q man from
the shores of the Chesapeake sauntered into the
stable, and was attracted by the looks of what
he thought tolerably good-looking horse.
"Mr. Jarvay,n' said he, show much do you ask
for that are horsef" ~
Our hero replied
81 II will be liberal, will only sharge you fortee
dollar"
''But he is older than some horses that know. -
I mo doubt of dst-he was once one colt, but
he no colt noso-dat is a tac. How old you tink
he be2"
"Why, at least twelve" tH
"Dare you make one grand meestake; he ten
'pon 'ls6'n.'
"Ten or eleven $50 die not make so great
q mistake after ALL" -
''Oh, Sare, you GER good judge of de age of a
horse-you no fool. But cay if you take him at
my price, or sell him at de auction, and get
sixtee dollar for him. He one superbe aneemal
-he sheeep as dirt at fOrtee dollar-I give you
five mint to buy him, or I send him right off to
de auction"
The man wished to chatter, but Gervais cut
him short by the threat of sending him to the
auctioneer, and before the five minutes were out
the Frenchman had pocketed forty dollars.
In about half an hour the countryman drove
his cart up to the stable, tied the 'ver fine horse
behind it, and started for the Bay-shore. In 3
short time after he reached bis home, he found
out that he had been grievously imposed on, and
determined to drive him back to Norfolk, and
make Gervais refund. Accordingly he hltched
him up; but the beast was ''no CO." He halted,
stumbled, kicked with his only sound leg, and
at last fell down, oversetting the cart His mas.
ter, however, put another beast to the vehicle,
tied his "hard bargain behind, and thus led
slowly the poor spawned creature to Norfolk.
He found Gervais at his stable. He had been
entertaining circle of his fellow Frenchmen
and Others with stories about la grGnde arnsee
telling about 'sde long sword of Frsnce-dat
sword dat cut its way from Lisbon to Moscow )"
and now and then spinning yarn about bis ex-
ploits in horsetrading in ''dis 0ilaine contres," "
as we'll as in Europe. He had just finished tell
ing how brown he had done ''d--m Share
man. of Saxony out of 75 francs in trade, when
the eountryman entered furious. So soon as
he spied Gervais, he cried out:
"Mr. Jarvay, you have cheated me in that
horse-I can't get him to do no:hing-he can't
draw my plough, nor my cart neither, and he
can't hardly stand up-I believe he is thirty
years old. Now have come, Sir, to make you
take back the old thing, and make you pay me
back my money"
Gervais answered.
'Dat is what will not dol no tell you q
lie bout his age. I no speakee de goot Ingleesh,
but did count you his age-I tell you then he
ton pom 'leb'm-dat make what you call twenty
one; and dat is de age of de ole horse-I did
tell you de trute."
''Mr. Jarvay," replied the poor fellow, II
never heard Of such cheat in my life; amt
you afraid the Devil will roast you for telling
me such lie ~ - rl
Here one of G.'s friends, Mr.. B. B., the elo-
quent French Salesman interrupted his Grafton,
excaiming with most supercilious grimaee:
''Debble! Debble!l Debble!!! ALI dat are
foolish ting"
The countryman, seeing his appeal to the fear
of future punishment was received with ridicule,
became the more furious. Choking with rage
he vowed he'd have the law on such swindler
such an abominable rascal, &c, &c. Here
Gervais in his turn became wrathy, and yelled
out
81 one rascal9 You one d-m coquin your
self! show you how to call me one rascal i
and seizing q rake, he rushed at him, bawlinf
ont, 81 send you to your Debble, You d--n
L-f-de paysan."
The Door Bay shore man darted out into the
lane, running for his life, and when he got int
q place of safety, declared he never saw such
a rascal before, and that he'd rather lose tn.
value of dozen horses than again put hlmsel
into the power of such set of heatlens as "Jar
vayn and his friends. r.
ABOUT GIRLs.-The best thing about girl il
cheerfulness. We don't care how ruddy hel
cheeks may be, or how vevety her lips; if shs
wears scowl, even her friends will consider
her i'll looking, while the young lady who iu
inmates her cOuntenance with smiles, will bt
regarded as handsome, though her complexion
is coarse enough to CRATE nutmegs on. As per
fume is to the rose, so is good nature to th'
lovely. Girls, think of this.
A NOBLE SRNTMEN1.-Dsniel Webster pen
ed the sentiment: