Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-08-20
THE OLD MANS COLT.
A New Years adventure.

The snow was falling right cheeriIy on
the last day of the year Of 1855, and al
ready there lay upon the ground sufficient
to make mos. excellent sleighing. The
youngsters were enjoying the fun in the
roads, the country sledges were rafting by
filled with Tosy-cheeked girls, and merry
lads; the more elegant turnouts from the
city-fvuTteen miles distant-occasinnaliy
fitted past the tavern door, where | was
tarrying, temuorarily, and the season was
peculiarly gay, as the holidays were pass
ing away.
IN tire bar room Of the country hotel
where | s'jnurned | had right heartily ems
joyed the various samples of human char
actcr met, and hai for week, day and
evening. had the opportunity to listen u
to the yarn of the villagers. or the num-
erous visitors who cungregated in the old
taverrs, which had for many "a long year
been the resort or kundredS Of farmers,
cow boys, horse jockies. and travellers of
one kind or another, en- route to and from
the city, or homeward bound.
| bad given out among the settlers that
| wished to purchase good horse-if one
Glanced to turn up during my STAY at tina
tavern-and all hands were on the Look out
for me for 1t was understood that | would
pay for such an animal as fancied a lib
ersl price.
Whether any Of my newly made ac-
qua'ntauces aided the seller or not, | never
knew but there came along this very af-
ternoon alluded to, the last dav of Decem>
Der 1855, young man from Vermont $50
he saiG, ano | guess he did y whC drove up
to the tavern door a gayish.looking beast
that attracted my attention at once, for he
was a good stopper, and he came in gallant
style.
Who a y shouted the driver; and he
| jumped from the heavy old sleigh upon the
door step, and flung the re;ns caTelessly
| over the dash, as the stable boy came to
look after the new arrival.
That's Jem Saltum," said one of the
| bar room loungers. He's from BrattIe-
boro' and he's got a good 'un. He never
comes down with anything but good 'uns
! eyther."
Perhaps this remark was intended for my
benefit and perhaps not. | heard II, bu
seemed not to observe it.
An hour afterwards, Jem Saltum en-
sconced himself before the great bar room
fire. ordered mug Of flip, and commeL Gee
leisurely to smoke short six, and sip hi:
nectar as he called it. had been out Il
the stable and examined his colt-a beau
tiiul bright bay, with heavy tail and man
we'll put together in limb, and very stylish
in actiOn-and | concluded to buy him -
As yet had SAID nothing to Jem Saltum
however, and he had observed marker
silence on entering the house. waited
for Jem Saltum t. open up TO me, or Il
some one around, but he smoked and draDl
his flip, and looked into the great blaziU;
fire, and finally seemed to be dropping il
to GUZc.
1t was a cold night, that 3lst day of De
cember, 1855. The snow had ceased fal-
ling and the prospect of glorious go"C
sleighing for New Years day was neve
more promising waited for him to be
gin, hut he said not a word about his horse
aud 20, at last, ] went to him.
"A good looking nag you drove down to
day remarked by way Of commence
inert.
He did not reply, but opened his eye
lazi!y, then continued to seem to be sleep
ing.
"A youug'un p queried
Did you speak to me, sir 2 he asked
looking up.
Il was saying you had a nice looking
colt
oh, yaas. That's the old mans tina
is
For sale p
'No-not edzacty. That is, reck'
the ole man wouldn't agree to sell bin 70
no reasonable price
who's the ole man you speak Off
Who? Why he's my uncle; the man
live with
What are his qualities 2
Whose? The ole man's?
No; the colts
oh, thought you meant my uncle
Wal, the boss is what we call Jpn in on
country, good 'un. He gets up well, al
round, is Eve years old, coming six, squar
trotter, way down in the fors:es, sound a
a new dollar, good size, never SHES o
bolts, 'fraid of nothin' but whip, and OIL
the road he takes it all his own way.
don't think the old man'll sell though