Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-01-29
The Jockeys Trick.

The little village OF R, in Georgia. was in
a high state of excitement, for there was going
to be horse-race on the following day and Il
crowd of strangers had collected here from un-
known quarters-gentemen, jockeys, sporting
men, gamblers pick-pockets and thieves-all
| hoping TO profit by an occasion of so much pub
| lie importance. The two inns in the place were
doing tremendous business in their small way
and the landlords were secretly rubbing their
hands and chuckling over the prospects of get
| ting rid OF large quantity of bad liquor at
| immense profit to say nothing of crowded TIA
bles, two in bed all round, and numbers on
the floor
| Late in the afternoon, when the piazza of one
of these inns was filled with miscellaneous
| crowd of all the different classes named-some
discussing the qualities and merits of the entered
horses, others booking bets, and Others devising
and perfectng plans for Fleeing and robbing the
inexperienced and unwary-the attention of all
was attracted to a green-lookng country man,
who was mounted on skinny, loug-necked,
sharp-boned, rough-haired horse, with an old
toggled up saddle under him and hempen strings
for bride reins, who was shouting "andlord I"
at the top of his lungs, notwithstanding two
negro boys were ready, as they expressed it, "to
give the gemman's hoss de best feed dat dar
anme eber saw" A loud and general laugh
from the amused spectators was heard in reply
to the stsntorian efforts of 90 Country" as severel
had already dubbed the rustic stranger, and in
the midst of the new excitement the inn keeper
made his appearance and inquired what was
wanted.
"Dye see this yere hoss," said Country.
/" Recken does see so thing as has IL hossy
look" iacetiously replied the landlord with n
SLY wink at the spectators, who responded with
a regular shout.
"Wall, landlord" pursued Country, as he
deliberately dsmounted, I" don't keer nothing
at all about myself; but this yere critter must
hat tala nd tba hao Eaor 4,
gin him, bekase I'm agwine to put him on the
race-course to run against all scrubs tomorrow,
and wants him rubbed down beautifully and
fed up to the lions strength | don't keer dern
about myself aint nowhar alongside of this
boss ! ken eat anything, from billed later to a
turkey ken sleep anywhar, from the cellar to
the garret but Pm agwine to 60 my pile on this
yere boss, and wants him to have good keer."
These njunctions were given loud enough for
all to hear, and were received with loud shouts
and screams of laughter. Country eiely cast a
contemptuous look at the spectators, and then
quietly remarked to the host that he would go
along with the boys to see justice done to his
I" hoss.h
The main race of the following day was to be
succeeded by a scrub race, in which any one
could join on payment of the entrance fee, and
this Country was prompt to do, to the great de-
light of those who were bent on amusements as
well as speculation. Considering him a Gt sub
ject for sport and ridicule, quite crowd coec-
| ted around him in the evening, and teased, quiz
zed and bantered him in all sorts of ways.
How much is that animal of yours worth 2'
inquired one with very serious, speculative
look.
81 don't know-Tve never sot no price onto
him p as seriously replied Country.
Don't you want to sell hm?"
% Rayther 'spect don't"
I" How fast can he trot or 2" inquired
another.
"Don't know that-but l guess about as
goods anything you We got in these parts"
" Couldn't go mile minute could heP'
"Don't know bout that - answered Country,
with look of serious calculation " that's purity
fast amt itY'
" Rather"
81 never tried him that quick that fur, said
the other but spun him over hundred rods
onct, on straight road, and | thought the
scalp was cumin' right off the top of my head,
| did,
"Do you expect to win the race tomorrow ?"
inquired third.
"wall, yes, that's what 'spects to do-ef
didn't, what did pay my money and go in forT
4" Sure enough ~
"Maybe you'd like to bet something on it2'
said one who had thus far taken no part IN the
conversation.
"Wall, yes, don't keer, if kin get an even
thing" replied Country.
" What DO you call an even thng T.
"Why, you see, stranger, my bossll have to
take his chance agin all the other hosses--say
thirty of 'em-and eff bet he'll win, ought toi
have thirty to one-hadn't now-ehi"
Ifyour horse was ordinary one, perhaps
that might be fair" answered the other, " but
the beast that can run your scalp of in a humid
red rods, ought to beat anything and everything
in these parts"
You're right thar, stranger" laughed Coun-
try "you're right thar-and, atween me aud
you, he's gwne to do it-but you see, tho
knows that myself, it would look rather green
for me to bet even-woudn't it--heh p
"Wel, perhaps it would. Suppose then Of
fer you odds ?-say two to one?"
For how much?'
"Oh, as much as you like"
Reckon it would pay" replied Conutry, af-
ter serious calculation, counting up on his fin
gers. "Two to one wouldn't do. I'd want as
much as FIVE to one."
"Weil, suppose we say five to one then p re-
joined the other, anything for bet