Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-06-27
Selrtt Gale.
HOW WAS "SOI.D. q


BY raE AvgHoR os THE sEaESow-sR,ss N.HgRs
! have bought me a horse. Having
got comfortably settled in our country
home, nay wife and thought we ought
to have a horse.
AS had obtained some skill in the
moneqe during my younger days, it was a
matter Of consideration to have q saddle
horse.
1t surprised me to find good sad,tle.
horses very abundant soon after my con-
sultation with stage. proprietor upon
this topic. There were strange saddle
horses to sell almost every day, One man
was very candid about his horse be told
mo, il his horse had a blemish, he would
not wait TO be asked about it, ho wonll
tell it right out, and if a man didn't want
him then, be needn't take him, lie also
proposed to pMt him On trial for sixty
days, giving his note for the amount paid
him TOR the horse. to be taken mp in case
the animal was returned. | asked him
what were the principal defects of the
horse He said he'd been firatl once, be-
cause they thought he was spawned but
there WAS no moro SPAWN to him than
there was to fresh laid egg--he was ms
sound as o dollar. asked him it he would
lust state what were the defects OF the
horse He answered that he once had the
pink-cyc and added, "now that's honest ,
thought so, but proceeded to question
him closely | asked him if he had the
bots. lie said not bot, asked him if
he would go. lie said he would go till
he dropped down dead just touch him
with whip and he'll jump ont of his
hide. enquired how old he was. Hc
answered just eight years, exactly--somc
men, he said, wanted to make their horses
younger than they be; he was willing to
speak right out, and own mp he WAS eight
wears. asked him if there was any 9TH
er objection. lie said no, except that he
was inclined to be a little gay ; but" he
added, che is so kind, a child can drive
( him with u thread" / asked him if he
was a good family horse. lie said that
no lady that ever diew rein over him
would be willing to part with him. Then
| asked him his price. He answered that
no man could have bought him for one
hundred dollars month ago, but now ht
was willing to sell him for seventy
on account of having note to pay. This
seemed such very low price, was about
saving | would take him, when my wife
whispered that had better See tie horSC
frSt. confess | was little afraid OF
losing my bargain by it, but, ont of def
4 ercnce to my lady, did ask to see the
horse before bought him. lie said he
would fetch him down; ono man" he
added, fought to buy horse unless he
saw him"
When the horse came down, it struck
me that whatever his qualities might be
his personal appearance was againt him
One Of his fore legs was shaped like the
handle of a punch ladle, and the remain
ing three legs, abont the ietlocks, wcr'
slightly punched. BESIDES nc had no tai
to brag Of; and his q k had very hol
low sweep, FROM his high launches t.
.. his low shoulder blades. | was mucl
pleased however, with the fondness ant
pride manifested by his owner, as he hell
up, by both sides of the bride, the rathe
longish head. snrmounting n neck shape
like pea-pod, and said in sort of tri
nmphant voise, "three-q quarters blood !
Mrs. sparrowgrass flushed up, an
asked if ! intended to purchase hat hors'
and added if l ded, she would never wal
TO ride. So told the man that he wonl
not suit me. He answered by suldenl
throwing himself upon his stomach acro
y the back bone OF his horse, and then, t
-. turning round as on pivot. got u
a.straddlc of him then he gave his horl
q kick in the ribs that caused him TO jun
out with all his legs like frog, and the
off went the spoon-legged animal with
D gait that was not trot, nor yet precise
y pacing. He rode around our grsss-pl
twice, and then pulled up his horses I
like the cock Of a musket. "That" ss
be, lis time" replied that be did see