Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-07-16
What n Man Must Endure Who Has q
S;eed For sale.

IT Is safe TO conclude from COrneliu,
O'Dowd's" reflections under this title in
BIdcki0ood'S, for June, that he has lately
lad little trying experience of the heavy
reduction in price to which horse flesh /,
invariably subject when the owner wishe.
to part with it. There are some touches
from the life in the following picture:
You bear up tclerably well at being
told that it is pity he is not gray, OF
black, or bay, or roam that the purchaser
hates chestnut that chestnuts are hasty
irettul, hot.tempered, and so on and thai
he would not take Il present of chestnut
then from another that he is too tall or toe
short, without exactly saying for what
that he has something treacherous about
HIS eye, or that his tail is not set in some
peculiar fashion which the buyer admires
but at length you come to more touching
csnsures than these.
"'Shows a deal of work. Those fore
legs won't stand 1t much longer-back
tnndon knotted good deall cries one
A leetle bit too straight in the pastern for
my TASTE says another, and feet trife
too small bad shoeing would soon CON
tract that heel for you
"'What's this here r--cappcd hock-ahl
aud threat of blood-spavin, too. That's
enough for me
Are you sure his wind is all right -
asks third. Il thought he hanked
good deal after that Canter. Would you
mind letting your servant give him sharp
gallop has he carried lady? will he run
leaders how does he jump timber?' are
all poured in Supon you by people who
have no thought of deal and once more
come in the doubts upon that eye or that
tendon, or that frog Now, with u full
conviction of your beasts sounduess, and
a thorough belief in your critics igno.
rance, these suspicious are 80 many insults
to your understanding, and WOUNDS to
your pride. Had there been no questions
OF sale, you would have resented those i'm
p p3rtinences AZ personal injuries The con-
verse of Love me, love my dog is, Abuse
my horse abuse me-.
Last of all comes the fellow who walks
around your beast with his eyes ranging
tIom the pastern joint to the knee, never
higher, and, with jerk of the head to
the groom says, Take him in That
wretch could fire every barrel of my re-
vIlvcr at
although you are well aware that the
animus of these disparagcments is to
knock something of the price; that in
every censure of your beasts ears or
name, or tail, there is the question of Il
tcn.pound note, the inSolence is not dimish.
ell by that consciousness. You arrive at
hist at the fact, that where money comes in
courtesy goes out, and that he who has
IT, dispose of anything, eaters the field
Ms a dealer, and must look for no other
etvilities than such as are common with
his craft
"Where mans love for his horse has be.
come u sort of family atf ction; where the
honesty of the animal has made itself a
place, like trusted quality, in his regard I;
where you feel that sort of attachment
that il is no abuse OF terms to call friend.
ship for your beast II is sore trial to
hear his points discussed by ignorance,
aud his powers descanted ON by tltppant
insufiiciency
"For my part, | have to own that
have never figured in the position without
feeling like slave dealer. 1t was rs
though was setting up for sale, not
only the strong .thews and sinews that
had served me, but the sterling qualities
Of temper, courage aud endurance; the
brave intrepidity that had carried me
uobly through danger; the dash and spirit
that had rallied my own heart to daring,
and the loyal obedience that had yielded
to my will, even when that will had been
little better than caprice, If not half a
cruelty
perhaps the worst of all, however, is
the sense that throughout the whole trans.
action you are treated like one little bet
tor than swiudler; every assertion you
make doubted, and every assurance you
give of your hesst's sOundneSs, temper
or performance set down to the score of
an unprincipled rascal who would periure
his soul for the chance of stray tiye,
pound note. The men who would listen
% you with respect, aud Difference, posi-
bly,, ON any other subject, who would hear
yonr opinions on matters of weiShtier
moment and accord you at least the cour-
tesy of appearing TO think you person
OF truth and character, have here no scru.
Pile whatever in showing that they dis
trust and disbelieye you that they look
on you as man pleading to certain
brief, and only eager for his fee, The
people who would not impugn your We.
racity, nor think of treating you with
discredit, have not the slightest hesita,
ton now in listening to you with open
incredulity and actually permit them
selves the liberty of cutting Jokes on
your assertions-snd all this because you
are about 10 sell your horse"
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