Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-04-05

wouldn't be satisfied with less three hundred
dollars for that COLT
"Ihree hundred" exclaimed. "Well, I
| won't give it-that's all "
mo more 1 wouldn't, Mister, if was you.
Cos you can't alters tell about ive-year-
| il he is smart and purity. He might break
down; and can sell him in the city, easy"
| I wanted the horse, but 1 let him 20. And
| did not see Jem Saltum till afternoon, whom
he turned the nag out for exercise again, and
| admiration of everybody who saw him.
"Saltum,' said, " come. didn't mean
| to do 1t, but 1 like your horse Give me a
bill of him. I'll take him at three hundred,
though it's great price for him"
"Well, Mister" said the scamp, coolly,
sence this morning I've made up my mind
| at he ken go faster than we thought he could,
| and ken take three hundred and ha 'af for
him, of a man up the road here. I've THAR
| fore concluded that the old man won't be sat-
isfied 'nless do the best can; though, rally.
I don't b'leeve the old man would allow me to
| sell him any way"
"Confound the 'old man and his colt, too''
I said, not little vexed at the sharp practice
Of my green appearing friend from Vermont
/ ''YOu get no four hundred dollars out of me,
for that horse, at present"
"No, spoze not, Mister. But there needn t
be no hard feelin's atween uS. He's q dredful
good COLT an the ole man wouldn't be salts
fed unless ne brought him a good price, I'm
sure"
And with these words Saltam returned his
dazzling pony to the stable once more
was bound to buy this horse, and, 1 think,
now, that Jem Saltum knew it. But four
hundred dollars was an awful figure, 1 thought.
Still, fearing that the fellow would dodge me
again, L mustered courage, and before retired
at night, 1 said, od-naturedly, as Jem sat
sucking his flip:
Well, SGltum. we've had a good deal of
talk
Yaas, we hev''
"And L like your horse.'
{" know you do"
for him-though L never believed should be
| such fool as to pay like this for single
horse"
The Vermont sharper shook his fig-mur.
and drained it to the bottom slowly, and re-
piled: carter all we've said, Mister, there
amt no man I'd rayther'd hev that hoss than
yer. But I'm bound to do what's right. an,
at the same time 1 must not forget the old
man at raised the colt. Ef 1 can't git five
hundred for the pony, I don't believe the ole
man d be satisfied, an I've concluded to take
him back to Varmont accordingly"
Fire h~mdred dollars p" I yelled; why
you're crazy. Or perhaps you think I'm a
fool" l added, rising. Good night, sir. I
trust you will get FIVE hundred dollars for your
6ve-year-old. That's a hundred q year, ex-
actly. Good night" And went to bed in
high dudgeon.
Hes plaguey quick at figures, anyhow" !"
remarked Jem, drily, as retired. And very
shortly afterwards he went to bed himself.
When L came down next morning the colt
stood in the sleigh at the front door, and Jem
was just ready, apparently, to leave. The
golden opportunity to become the owner of a
really fine animal was about to pass from me,
and coveted the beast, inwardly, and in
earnest.
1. Which way, Jom?" inquired
"To town. Afore night I'm goin' to hev my
price for this colt or my name amt Saltum %
" How much do ask for him today" said, =,
tartly.
oval, Mister, I've thought it all over, and
az good horses amt plenty just now, I've made
up my mind 'at the ole man neverd be salts
fed eff l didnt bring $500 or ,he colt; an I've
concluded at shall do one or t'other, sure's
preechin, anyhow"
six hundred" said I. "Wby don't you
say a thousand at once, Jem2"
Wall, he's wuth thousand-but you shall
have him for jest six hundred, eff you want him
7lOtc''
Jem took up the ribbons The colt arched
his beautiful neck, and was about to turn
away. l was beaten.
" Put him in the stable, Jem," said I. IN
take him-thought it's an awful price, And
thus became the owner of my first "fast
horse"
The landlord laughed. The ostIers laughed.
Jem laughed-so they said; and was half in
clined to laugh myself at the shrewdness of the
VerIhonters management Still, had got
fine colt 1 was sure Of this-and so, two weeks
after my little New Years Day adventure, I
found myself on the Bloomingdale road in a
natty New York cutter, skimming sharply
over the newly made snow path, and beating
with ease most of the dashers that frequented
that then splendid thoroughfare of the fast
'uns.
My colt quickly attracted the attention of
the crowd Of horse men there, and one among
their number, who was wealthy and who knew
what good nag was, very shortly waited upon
me, and bantered me for my purchase.
He's goOa 'un," l said, land cost me
high"
What will you sell him fOr?" he asked.
twenty-five hundred dollars, " answered
without winking.
The man Of fortune drew a long breath
looked the horse over at his leisure, and then
drew his check fer the amount-somewhat to
my surprise, confess
Two years afterwards my six hundred dollar
colt had become famous for his superior speed
and bottom, and the present owner, to my GER
tain knowledge, has more than once since re-
fused bona tide offer of FIVE thousand dollars
for this splendid trotter. He has made his
mile in 2 26, repeatedly, and is now among the
fastest horses in America.
My only regret is that, when parted with
him, 1 did not possess the talents of my Yer
mont friend in disposing of him. am now
certain that sold my colt TOO cheap