The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-02-08
THE JOCKEYS TRICK.

| lOf tnere was gong 10 Ue u HoTSe race
on the following day; and 6. crowd of
strangers had collected there from un-
known quarters gentlemen, jockeys,
sporting men, gamblers, pickpockets and
thieves-all hoping to profit by an occa-
|sion of so much public importance. The
two inns in the place were doing a tre-
memlous business in their small way land
the landlords were secretly rubbing their
hands and chucklin9 over the prospect
of getting rid of large quantity of bad
liquor at an immense profit, to say moth
ling of crowded tables, two in a bed all
around, and numbers on the floor. !
Late in the afternoon, when the piazza
at one of the inns was filled with mis-
ccllaneous crowd of all the different
classes named-some discussing the
qualities and merits of the entered hor-
ses, others booking bets, and Others de-
vising and perfccting plans for fleeing
land robbing the inexperienced and un-
wary-the attention of all was attracted
to green looking countryman,w who was
mounted on skinny, long -necked sharp
boned, rough haired horse, with an old
Itoggled up saddle under him and hempen
strings for bridle-reins, who was shout
ing ''landlord" at the top of his lungs,
notwithstanding two negro boys were
ready, as they expressed it, '.to GIN de
gemmen's hoss de best feed oat dare an
imile eber saw" A loud and general
laugh from the amused spectators was
heard in response to the stentorian ef-
forts of Country, as several 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
"D'ye see that here hoss ?" said Coun-
try.
"Reckon l does see so'thing as has
hossy look" facetiously replied the land
lord, with sly wink at the spectators,
who responded with a regular shout.
"Wall, landlord" pursued Country,as
he deliberately dismounted, 81 don't keer
nothin' at all about myself; but this yere
lcritter must be took keer on, and the
best keer that n-be gin him, ,bekase I'm
gwine to put him or the race course to
run agin all the scrubs to morrow, and !
want him rubbed down beautiful, ,and fed
up to the lions strength. / don't keer a
darn about myself amt nowhere
alongside of this hoss; l ken eat any
thing from billed tater to a turkey
ken sleep anywhar, from the cellar to tue
garret; but I'm agwineto go my pile on
this yere hoss, and | want him to have
good care"
These injunctions were given in tone
loud enough for all to hear, and were re-
ceived with shouts and screams of laugh
ter. Country merely cast a contemptu-
Gus look at the spectators. and then qui-
city remarked to the host that he would
90 along with the boys and see justice
done to bis hoss.
! The main race Of the following day
was to be succeeded by scrub race, in
which any one could join on payment of
/ the entrance fee, and this Country was
1prompt to do, to tiae great delight of
those who were beht on amusement as
4 well as speculation. Considering him a
fit subject for sport and ridicule, quite
a crowd collected around him in the eve
ming and teazed, quizzed and bantered
him in all sorts Of ways.
/ 'How much is that animal of yours
worth p inquired one with very serious
speculative look.
Il don't know; I've never set any
price onto him." as seriously replied
Country. IS
s'Don't want to sell him ?"
Rather 'speet / don't"
"How fast can he trot or run 2" in
qnired another ~;.
don't know that-but guess about
as goods anything you've got in these
parts.n
! 'Couldn't go a mile in minute, could
he.n
don't know about that answered
Ceuntry, with look of serious calcula-
ltion; 'that's purity fast, amt it r m
"Rather."
II never tried him that quick that fur,
pursued Country; "but spun him over
a hundred rods once, on straight road,
and l tell you L thought the scalp was a
comm right off the top of my head, |
ldid.n -
"Do you expect to win the race to-
morrow = inquired IA third. a
"Wall, yes that's what : l 'spect to do
--ef l didn't, what did pay my meney
land 60 in for!"
"Sure enough y ssi o M
i "Maybe you'd like to bet something
on it 2" said one who had thus far taken
no part in the conversation.
| "Well, yes,I don't keer if kin get
an even thing" replied Country.
What do you call an even thing9"
| "Why, you see, stranger, my hoss'll
have to take his chance agin all the other
horses-say thirty of 'em-and eff bet
he'll win, l ought to have thirty to oEe,
hadn't l, now, hey p
| "If your horse is an ordinary one,per
Ihaps that might be fair" answered the
other; ssbut the beast that can run your
scalp off in hundred rods ought to
'Ibeat anything and everything in these
Iparts." ...i.e+
/ "4oure right thar, stranger" laughed
Country you're right, thar,and atween
me and you, he's agwine to do do 1t, but
you see, tho ] knows that myself, it
would look rather green for me to bet
even. wouldn't it, hey ?"
: swell, perhaps it would. Suppose,
(, then, / offer you odds; say two to one" ;"
sFor how much p
"Oh, as much as you like. "
i "Reckon it wouldn't pay" replied
4 Country. after serious calculation, ,coun-
J ting on his fingers. mo, two to one
wouldn't do I'd want as much as Eve
to one"
i "Well, suppose we say five to one,
them rejoined the other, "any thing
for bet"
| 'sI've. got thousand dollars I'll put
lup at that" said Country. KS
i "Done, then!' cried the other, highly
delighted that he had secured what he
Regarded as safe bet, where he had only
expected to have little 9unprofitable