The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-09-21
THE OLD MANS COLT.
NEW YEARS ADVENTURE.

y
roads, the country sledgeS were rattling
ty, filled with rosy checked girls and
merry lads; the more elegant turnouts
from the city--iOurtcen miles distant
occasionally fitted past the tavern door,
where | was tarrying, temporarily, and
the season WAS peculiarly gay, AZ the
holidays were passing away.
Ia the bar-rOOm Of the country hotel
where | sojourned had right heartily
enjoyed the various samples OF human
character | met, and | had for week,
day and evening, had the opportunity to
listen TO the "yarns" Of the villagers, or
the numerous visitors who congrcgated IN
the old tavern, which had for many
long year been the resort Of hundreds OF
farmers. cowboys, hoIncjockles, and
travellers Of one kind or another, en- route
to aud from the city, Or homeward.
had given out among the settlers that
| wished to purchase n good horse-lf one
CHANGED to turn up during my stay at
the tavern--and all hands were OH the
look out for me; for it was understood
that would pay for such an animal aS |
tnncied liberal price.
Whether any Of my newly made ac'
luaintancrS aided the setter or not, never
knew but there came along on this very
afternoon alluded to, the last day of De-
ccmber, 1856, young man from Vermont
$50 he said, and ] guess he did, , who
drove up to the tavern door q greyish-
locking beast that attracted my attention
at once. for he was a good stopper, and he
came in in gallant style.
Whoa! shouted the driver; and he
jumped from the heavy old sleigh upon
the doorstep, and flung the reins careless
lv over the dashcr, as the stable boy came
to look after the new arrival. "
THAT'S Jcm Saltum,' said one Of the
bar-room loungers. Hes from Brattle-
boro' nnd he's got good 'un. he never
comes down with anything but good 'uns
cyther.'
Perhaps this remark was intended for
my benefit, aud perhaps not. heard II,
but seemed not to observe it.
An hour afterwards. Jcm Saltum en-
Sconccd himself before the great BARRON
fire, ordered mug Of flip, and commence
ed leisurcly 20 smoke short six, and sip
his NECTAR as he called it. had been
out to the stable and examined his colt
n beautiful bright bay, with heavy tail and
name, well put together in limb, and very
stylish in action concluded to buy
him. As yet had said nothing to Jen
Saltum, however, and he had observed q
marked silence after entering the house
waited for him TO open up 10 me, or tc
some one around, but he smoked and drank
his flip, and looked into the great blazing
fire, aud finally seemed to Gc dropping
into dozc.
1t was cold night. that 3lst day o.
December, 1856. The snow had ceaSeC
falling. aud the prospect Of glorious gOot
Sleighing for New Years Day, was never
more promising. waited for Jem Salt
um to begin, hut he said not word abou
his horse, and so. at last, l went to him.
a good looking nag you drove dOwT
today remarked, in commencement.
IIcdid not reply. but opened his eyes la
lilly then continued to seem to be sleeping
"A young 'usy' qucried.
Did you speak TO me, sir!' he asked
looking up.
4 was saying you've e.looking colt.
oh, yaas. That's the ole mans, that is.
For sale y
No-not cdzaclv. That is, I reck'r
the ole man wouldn't agree to sell him lo
no reasonable price
Who's the old man you speak OFF,
who? Why he's my uncle the maj
live with
What are his qualities ~
Whose? The ole man'S'
NO; the colts
OH thought you meant my uncle
Wal, the hOSs is what we call up'n on
country, a good 'un. lie gets up well, al
round, is five years old, coming six
square trOtter, way down in tho iortics
sound as new dollar, good size, neve
ShicS or bolts, 'lraid of n0thin' but whip
and on the road he takes it NIL his owl
way. don't think the ole man'll sell
though anyhow, continued Jem and h.
turned round and began to settle himsel
down in his chair for another nap.
| made up my mind to purchase tn
colt-or, at least, to try him-SO | added
Is he fast? 2
i told you, just now, that he was com
in six, and could foot it down in the for
ties. That'll do, reck'n, for five year
old, stranger
Yes, yes. Have you any objection t,
let me see him move:'
None in the world, sir. To morrow.
Yes The slipping will be fine, and
would like to buy good horse, added
If l can light on one that suits ne, ever,
way, and that don't come too high
Jem Saltum knew all this before. Blu
did not know whether he wished to sell
and thought he didn't.
Yes Wal, then, tomorrow we vii
take turn with the colt, and you sha
see him go. But rs near as can cal'late
from what the ole man said, when LEI
home, he don't kccr TO sell him any way
And with this conSolatory remark, Jeu
Saltum fell sound asleep Tor certainly up
peared toy before the big bar-rOom fire.
At an early hour next morning me
Jem again, and gave him the customar
salutatiOn Of the season.
Happy New Year, sir said !, pleas
antly.
wal, vas, so it is! New Years Da
an very nice 'un it is, to be Sure.'
HOw's the pony this morning y open
ing the subject again.
'Oh, nicrly-never better. Yaas, I sec
You're the gentleman as spoke about hir
last night
Yes, and we'll give him trial whe
you are quite ready added.
'Iaas, we'll try him--but l don't bC
lieve the ole man cares to sell him, insist
cd Jem.
However, we got aboard Of light cut
ter. and at last started for iaunt, to tes
the speed and Mettle of the horse ha
been SO favOrably struck with, at frs
sight, and away we went, followed by
half.dOzen good 'uns, rigged out at tn
tavern stables, to see and help enjoy th
promised sport.
The handsome bay colt proved "flyer.
How fast he could trot I could not say
but he distanced all competitors for mi
two, five, six, seven miles--and r
turned to the hotel in gallant style, at Il
81 Ne