The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-09-13
SAM VARNEY'S VENTURE.

Jaw VARNEY was Green Noun
~ tain boy. He had worked as a hired
man on different farms, and had laid up
some money. He had frequently been
employed in bringing loads of produce to-
Boston market, and had made sales quite
satisfactory to his employer. On several
occasions he had made little speculations
of his own which were quite profitable.
On one of his visits to Boston, Sam had
fallen in with sailor who was a native
OF the same town where he himself was
born, and they had a great deal of con-
versation. One of the interesting facts
which Sam learned from his townsman
was, that sailors were occasionally per-
mltted to take out small venture as it
was so-called, of their own, little pack
age of goods, barrel of mackerel, or
something Of that sort, which would not
take up much room in the vessel This
they sold, and brought home the proceeds
In the produce of the country they visi-
ted.
On his return home, Sam meditated
profoundly on this subject, and finally
concluded to make voyage to the West
Indies, and take venture with him.
The question was what that venture
should be.
He had nothing on hand at the time
but small horse, which he had won at
rattle, and had not been able to dispose
Of He was not a very beautiful horse.
On the contrary he was generally pro-
nounced by the neighbors I" an awful ugly
hoss." His neck was too short, his head
too long, his body was lean andIscraggy,
his name was rough and refractory.
and persisted in standing up too much
in spite of trimming and grooming, and
his tail looked like mop. But Sam had
ridden him repeatedly and found that he
was capable of great speed in running.
The sailor told Sam that whole car
goes OF horses were frequently sent from
Connecticut to the West Indies, and dis
posed of at a great profit, so he determin-
ed that his horse should be his venture.
Accordingly he mounted him, rode down
to Boston, put him in stable, and went
in search of his sailor friend. He soon
found, him and communicated his plan.
His acquaintance, Tom Standish by name
was afraid he would not carry it out, but
he promised to lend all the assistance in
his power. He had just shipped in
vessel bound for Jamaica, and more hands
were wanted. He introduced him to
the captain, who made no objection to
shipping him as green hand. When
the question of the venture came up there
was the difficulty. He had no accommo-
dation for horse aboard the brig Sam
offered to put him on deck and take care
OF him, this would be inconvenient and in
terfere with his duty. Determined to
carry his point, Sam offered to pay freight
cash down, before sailing, and the captain
rather amused at his pertinacity and curl
Gus to see how the venture would succeed
agreed to the proposal, so the horse was
shipped, and the vessel sailed.
Sam was the butt of the sailors all the
passage out. There was no end to their
jeers at the appearance of the little horse
Their nautical jokes on him were mex
haustible, and Sam Varney's venture was
considered the most desperate and redicu-
lous speculation that had ever been at
tempted.
But Sam was perfectly impurtable. He
answered all their railieries GOOD natured.
ly, and told them they had better wait
and see the upshot. He had never made
a bad speculation yet and he guessed he
knew what he was about "The boss"
he said was not a very handsome hoss but
he was very good one; he guessed he
could sell him.
At length the brig arrived at Kings
town, Jamaica and Sam soon has his
horse landed and stabbed When he
came to offer him for sale, nobody seemed
inclined to buy. The horse was decided
ly too ugly for saddle or gig horse, and
the very drayman turned up their noses
at him. Presently the races came on,
and everybody was hurrying out of town
to the race ground.
Sam mounted his horse and rode out
with the rest He observed that the
horses were not remarkable for their
speed there appeared to be no thorough