The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-01-12
The Josh Billings Papers.
Low ten PICK Ont a Good Horse.


First.-Let the color be sorrel, roam, a
red, n gray, white, black, blue, green, a
chcsnut, brown, dapple, spotted, cream,
a buckskin, or sum other good color.
Second.-Examn hiz ears see that he haz
got tew ears, and pound a tin pan cluss to him,
to find out whether hz hearing iz good. All
hosses arc dun, but def and DUN hoss, arc
not desirable.
Third-Look well to hiz eyes; see that he
haz got pupil in hiz eyes, and not too large u
one neither hosnes with too large pupils in
their eyes are near sighted, and kant see oats,
and hav tew wear green goggles, and green
goggles make boss look tn mutch like o. trakt
pedar.
Fourth.-Feel ov his neck with the inside ov
yure right hand, zee that the spinal collum il
we'll fatted, and runs the whole length ov him
from fo7c to aft, hoss without good phatt
spinal collum from fore to aft, amt worth
speaking sudden) amt worth we'll defined
cuss.
Fifth.-Put yure hand on hz breast, (this il
allowable in the case oy aquadriped,) see if hiz
harte kan beat seventy, squeeze hiz fore leggs
to see if he IL well muscled, lift up hiz before
feet and see if there il emmy frogs in them,
frogs keep HOSES feet cool, and sweet, just az
u
Six.-Look we'll tew hiz shoes, see what num-
Der he wears, nuraber s il about right.
Seven.-Run ylre hand along the dividing
ridge oy hiz boldly, from the top ov hiz wthers
to the commencement ov hz tail Tor dorsul YER
tibra) and pinch him az yu go along, to see if
he knows how tew kick.
Eight-Iook on hiz hind legs for sum spay-
ins, kurbs, windgalls, ringhoncs, skratches,
quittors, thrush, grease-heels, thorough-pins,
spring halt; quarter cracks see if he haz got
i whirl-bonc look for sum pin-hips hunt for
strains in the back tendons, let-downs and
capped hooks.
IA years old last May, with teeth fled down,
and a six year old black mark burnt into the
top ov them, with a hot iron,
| Ten.-Smell of hiz breath, to see if he haint
got sum glanders; look just back ov hiz ears
| for signs of pole evil, pinch him on the top ov
his withers for a fstua and look sharp at both
shoulders for a sweeny.
Elevcn.-TIook him tew wagon that rat
ties, drive him up TO an Irishman and hiz
wheelharrow, meet rag merchant with a cow
bell strMng acrost the top ov hiz cart let an
express train pass him at IS miles to the hour
when he il swetty, heaye a buffalo robe over
him TO keep oph tho cold; ride him with an
umbrel highstcd, and learn hiz opynun ov these
things.
Twelve.-Prospekt hiz wind, sarch diigent-
ly for the heaves ask if he il a roarer, and
don't be afraid tew find out if he il whistler
Thireen-Bc sure that he aint kribbiter,
aint balky, ant weaver, and don't pull at the
halter.
Thezc are few simple things to be looked
at in buying good family hoss, there iz n CRATE
menny other things tew be looked at (at your
leizurc) after you have bought him.
Good hosscs are skarsc, and good men, that
deal in emmy kind ov hosses, are skarser.
Ask man all about hiz wife and he may tell
you, examine him cuss for Sunday school
teacher and find him all on the square, send
him tcw the New York legislature and rejoice
that money won't buy him, lend him seven hun
dred dollars, in The highway, without witness
or note, even swop dorgs with him with perlekt
impunity, but when yu buy good family hoss
ov him, Young, sound and trew, watch the man
cluss, and make up yurc mind besides, that you
will have tew ask the Lord to forgive him.
can honest man il the noblest work ov God, "
this famous saying was written in CRATE anguish
ov heart, by The late Alexander Pope just after
buying good family hoss.