The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-09-14
DICK aIHsING.

farm life-and ii holds true in almost every
kind of life-there will come to him ne
cessity for bargaining. 1t is part Of tie
curse, ! think, entali led upon mankind, AT
the expulsion from eden, that he should
sweat at a barg,in. When a French woman
with her hand full Of gloves,--hehind her
dainty counter, Asks the double what her
goods are worth, you are noway surprised.
You accept the enormity, as q symptom of
the deprayily Of her race, which is bal
anced By the suavity Of her manner.
But when hard faced, upright. Sabbath
KEEPING New England bank officer or select
man, asks you the double, or offers you the
half, of what a thing is really worth, there
IS q revolution OF feeling, which no charm
in his manner can drive away. Unlike the
case Of the French shop woman, l feel
like passing hin--on The other side of the
street.
And yet all this is to be met land con-
quered, | suppose) by whoever has butter,
eggs, or hay, or tcattIe to SELL vsntured
once to express my surprise to q shrewd
foreman who had charge of this business
for manage it by proxy as much as can
that staid gentleman with his ten thou
sand year Of income, should have insisted
upon deduction Of two cents q buehel in
the price of his potatoes, in view Of quart
OF small ones, that had insinuated them
selves in the intersticas; i think | hear his
horse-laugh now, as lie replied --"Why, sir,
1t the way he grew rich"
The idea struck me IS novel: but upon
reflection am inclined to think il is we'll
based. AS l said, often as possible, | ac-
compiish this business by proxy; and, in
consequence, have made some bad debts by
proxy. But proxy is not always available.
There are customers who insist upon chat
fering with the "boss.' Such a one has
dropped in, on morning in which you
happen TO be deeply engaged. lie wishes
to stake a look AT horse, which lie has
seen advertised for sale. Tie stable is free
to his observation, and the attentive Pat is
at hand; but the customer wants to talk
with the esquire
1t is stamch Canadian horse, for which
you have no further use. You paid for him,
six months gone, hundred and fifty dollars,
and you now name a hundred dollars as his
price. ! never yet met a man WAC sold a
horse for as much as he gave-unless he
was jockey; never expect to.
Alernln', Squire"
"Good morning
'Bin a lookin' at yer hoss''
"Ahi"
4AiAoAA lump VI u uOsS.
Yes, nice horse"
"D'n know as you know it, but SIGH
bosses ant SO salable as they was a spell
back"
"Ah"
"They're gittin' fancy for bigger
hosses."
Silence.
"Put that pony to heavy cart, and he
wouldn't do not him ~
"You are mistaken; he's capital cart
horse"
swell, don't say but what he d be han
dy with litish load. Don't call him spav-
ined, do ye?"
"No, perfectly sound"
"That looks kinder like spavin''-rub-
bing his off hind leg.
can't much of boss doctor, be YEP,
s'Not much"
"Don't kick, dooz he?"
"No."
"Them little Kanucks is apt to kick"
Silence, and an impatient movement,
which work off by pulling out my watch.
"What time O. days got to be ?"
"Eleyen."
"Thunder! l must be agoin';-should
like to trade, Squire, but guess we can't
agree ls'pose you'd be askin' as much as
-sixty-or-seventy dollars for that are
hoss-wouldn't yep
"A hundred dollars is the price, and /
gave fifty more
"Don't say Gave laundering sigh,
too much, Squire"
"Pat, you may put up the horse; don't
think the gentleman wants him."
:" Look o here, Sqaire;-ef you was to
say-some! hing -like-seventy, or-seyen-
~ Un II lIu, 81.
use in talkin'."
'sNot one bit of use," Gnpatiently
turning on my heel.
'--say, squire,-ever had him to q
plough p
eyes"
"Work we'll ?"
"Perfectly we'll"
"Fractious any? Them Kanucks is con-
trary critters when they've mind to be-
:" He is quite GENTLE
"Thats good pint; but them that's
worked till they get quiet, kinder gifts the
spirit lost on em-ant SO brisk when YOU
put 'em to Vaughn. Don't you find it 50,
Squire ?"
"Not at all"
How old, Squire. did ye say he was p"
Cooking in his mouth again).
"Seven."
"Well-I guess he is; good many fig
gers higher that, than he is to tew-any
way"
Patrick, you had better put this horse
up"
"Hold on, Squire" and taking out his
purse, he counts out, "seventy, eighty, and
i've, and two, and fifty-there, Squire,
,tant worth talkil' about; Iii split the diff
ference with ye, ana take the boss"
"Patrick, put him up"
At which the customer is puzzled. hesi-
tates, and the horse is entering the stable
again, when he breaks Out explosivcly:
We'll, Squire, here's your money:
but you're the most thunderin Uneasy m an
for dicker that ever traded with; I'll
say that for ye."
And the horse is transferred to his keep
ing.
"S'pose you throw in the halter and
blanket, Squire, don't ye?
"Give him the halter and blanket. Pat
rick"
"And, Patrick. you ant nary old curry
comb. you don't use you could let me
have?"
"Give him curry comb, Pat"