The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-09-08
SAM VARNEY,s VENTURE.

ooy' ne nad worked as hired man on
different farms, and had laid up some
money. He had frequently been employ
ed IN bringing 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 great deal of
conversation. One of the interesting facts
which Sam learned from his townsman
was, that sailors were occasionally per.
mitted TO take out small venture. as If
was so called, Of their own, little pack
age of goods, barrel of mackereI. 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 visited.
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.
lie had nothing on hand at the time
but small horse, which he had won al
ratlie-not very beautiful horse. On
the contrary, he was generally pronounced
by the neighbars san awful ugly boss"
Ills neck was tCo short, his head too long.
his body was lean and scraggy, his name
was rough and refractory, and persisted
IN standing up too much in spite of trim-
ming and grooming, and bis 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 carpoos
OF horses were frequently sent from Com
necticut 10 the West Indies, and disposed
OF at great profit, SO he determined that
his horse should be his venture. Accord
Ingly he mounted him, rode down 10 Bos-
ton, put him in stable, and went in
search of his sailor friend. He soon
found him, and communicated his plan.
His acquaintance, Tom Siandish by name
was afraid he would not carry i out. but
he promised TO lend him all the assistance
IN bis power. He had just Slipped in a
vessel bound for Jamaica, and more hands
were wanted He introduced him TO the
captain, who made no objection to ship
ping him as green hand. " hen the
question OF the venture came up there was
the difficulty He had no accommodation
Tor horse aboard the brig Sam offered
10 put him on deck and take care of him.
but this would be inconvenient and inter
fere with his duty. Determined to carry
his point, Sam offered to pay freight, cash
down, before sailing, and the captain,
rather amused at his pernacity, and curl
Gus to see how the venture would succeed.
agreed to the proposal, SD 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 inex4
haustable, and Sam Varney's venture was
considered the most desperate and ridicu-
lous speculation that had ever been at
tempted.
But Sam was perfectly inperturbable.
He answered all their railleries good ma
turedly, 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 hoss,''
he said, was not a very handsome boss,
but he was very good one he guessed
he could sell him.
AT length the brig arrived at Kingstown,
Jamaica, and Sam soon had his horse
landed and stabbed When he came TO
offer him for sale, nobody seemed inclined
to buy. The horse was decidedly too
ugly for saddle or gig horse, and the
very draymen 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 seemed to be no thorough bred horses
among them, and he concluded that the
races had been gotten up by the planters
for their sport, without having any real
race horse on the island He believed
his little horse could beat them all, and he !
determined to give him a trial so be went
to the managers and offered TO enter him
for the next race.
Sans proposition was received with !
shouts of laughter. 1t was considered a |
capital joke but Sam told them it was
no Joke--he was perfectly serious he |
wanted to run his horse against the whole |
field, and was ready to bet on him. He |
accordingly entered, and instantly heavy
odds were offered against him-two to |
one, ten to one, and finally, one planter
offered twenty TO one
On hearing of this offer, Sam said he
would take If. 1t was necessary to pro-
duce the amount of his bet. He was in
the dress OF common sailor, and his an |
tagonist said he was not going to be trifed t
with, the stakes must be deposited with
the manager How much would he bet |
Give hundred dollars" replied Sam - !
"Well, down with your DUST" said the
nlanlnE wv haraLar.c.r,