East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1860-11-08


ney was among the sheep, scoring some
mark or other on their backs with piece
of red chalk. Pcnrudlock scattered
what spare coppers he possessed am ong
the bystanders, and away they went to
sing the praises of the next bargain
maker.
Pen turned to me, laughing. "This is
nice occupation for gentleman of re-
spectacle birth and liberal education, is
it not?n
"0dd. 1t is amusing to watch the
process by which your sheep are convert.
ed into banknotes. Does your friend, (,
Mr.. Loney, buy the animals for himself?"
"Oh, dear no. We must have middle
men of one kind or another in this
country. Loney is commissioned to pur-
chase, aud is allowed so much on the
transaction" .H's
BY this time young, handsome fellow
pushed his horse through the crowd and
approached US. "Good morning." cried
he to Penruddock. "Any business do.
ing?n
81 have just sold mp sheep"
"Good pricc?"
''Fair Fourteen-and.six."
"Ah, not so bad. These cattle sup
pose are yours? We must try if we
can't come to a bargain about them. y
Dismounting, he gave his horse in keep
ing to lad, and he and John went off to
inspect the stock.
Business was proceeding briskly on all
sides. There was great higgling as to
prices, and shillings and half-crowns were
tossed in a wonderful manner from palm
to palm. Apparently, no transaction
could be transacted without that ceremo-
ny, whatever it might mean. Illers were
everywhere celebrating the merits and
"decency" of the various buyers and SELL
ers. Huge greasy leather pocket-boolls
of undoubtcd antiquity, were to be seen
in many hand, and rolls of bank notes
were deftly changing owners. The
ground, TOO, was beginning to clear, and
purchasers were driving off their cattle.
Many of the dealers who had disposed of
stock were taking their ease in the inns.
You could see them looking out Of the
open windows; and, occasionally a man
whose potations had been early and cx-
cessivc went whooping through the crowd.
In a short time John returned with his
friend. aseaI
captain Broster," said John, present
ing him, "has promised to dine with us at
three. Sharp at the hour, mind, for we
wish to leave early"
"I'll he punctual as clockwork,' said
the captain, turning to look after his pur-
chases.
We strolled up and down till 3 o'clock,
and then bent our steps to the inn, where
we found Brostcr waiting. In honor to
the guests the landlord himself brought
in dinner and waited with great diligence.
When the table was cleared we had punch
and cigars, and sat chatting at the open
window. The space in front was toler-
ably clear of cattle now, but dealers were
lowering about, standing in clumps, or
promenading in parties of two and three.
But at this point new element had en-
tered into the scene. 1t was dinner hour,
and many Of the forgemen from the fu r.
naccs above had come down to see what
was going on. Huge, hulkins, swarthy-
featured fellows they were, Welshmen
chiefly, as l was afterwards told who
confident in their strength, were at no
pains to conceal their contempt for the
natives. They, too, mingled in the crowd,
but the greater number leaned !azily
against the houses, smoking their short
pipes, and indulging in the dangerous
luxury Of "chaifing" the farmers. Many
rude wit combat was going on, accom-
panied by roars of laughter, snatches o.
which we occasionally heard. Brostel
had been in the Crimea, was wounded al
Alma, recovered, went through all the
work and privation Of the first winter Of
the siege, got knocked up, came home on
sick leave, and having had enough Of it,
as ho frankly confessed, took the oppor.
tun;ty on his fathers death, which hap
pencd then, to sell out aud settle as q
farmer on a small property to which hs
fell heir. He chatlcd about the event
of the war in an easy, familiar way
quietly, as if tho whole affair had been q