Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-02-16
TURNING A SCREW.

TURNING A SCkEW.
But you won't sell him, Tom 9''
said Mrs. Tozer.
By-the-way, my name is Tozer-the
Reverend Thomas Tozer, NJ. A., for
merly of Caius College, Cambridge, and
now of Stogglesby Rectory, Lincoln
shire-Mrs. -Tozer being my wife.
my dear" / said, humanity is
humanity, but incomes are incomes I;
and though the former says no, the lat
ter says yes. / cannot afford to turn
the paddock into hospital for decayed
horses This lameness decides it; and
old Prince must 60"
''But where shall you sell him?n
''Well / shall not sell him at all !;
Mr.. Tomson will DO that for me at
to drive him over / dare say Prince
can hobble that distance
'And what do you suppose You. viii
get for him r. said Mrs. Tozer
"Oh, not more than ten pounds" 1
replied.
"Dear, deari What a shame it
seems to part with poor old Prince for
ten poundsl
''My love-" said, decisively, in that
tone which always closes a discussion,
cit is not the ten pounds, but the cost
of keeping the old horse. If you like
to do without our having another, well
and good. Stout walking boots suffice
for me in the winter
But Mrs. Tozer seemed to think that
1t would be a pity to let our four
wheeled chaise grow mouldy in the
coach-house; and the consequence was
that the next morning at eleven o'clock
| was driving my church-warden,
Farmer Tomson, over the half dozen
miles that intervened between Stog-
glesby and the world famed horse fair;
{ but very slowly, for Princes limp in
what horsey people call 1.-The off fore
leg" was rather marked.
Perhaps you'd like me to do the
other bit OF business for you, Master
Tozer ~ SAID nv companion.
''Well, no; thank you,- said. eff
you'll do the selling part, l shall be
obliged. I think I'd rather buy for
there is any thing secular do know
little about, think it is horse
Farmer Tomson chuckled.
"Well, WELL" he said; ''don't get
took in, for they're rough lot down
here at fair time M
That's precisely why / want You TO
sell Prince for me. / know they would
get him from me, and then there would
be some difficulty about payment; and
as n clergyman, / don't want to be
nixedsnp with any unpleasantness.
And besides, you see, the class of men
who GO about buying lame horses are
not those with whom I care TO have
dealings. y
"All right, parson, all right" said
Tomson son1y don't blame me if ]
don't get enough for him. / promise
you though, that I'll bring back the
ready cash"
DO your best Tomson, do your best,
and / shall not complain said, for
had implicit confidence In him, his only
failings being too great leaning TO
ward gin-and-water, and tendency t0
familiarity, as evinced in his address
ing his pastor as "Parson."
We reached the head inn: brought
out halter, and Mr. Tomson led of
poor old Prince, the chase and harness
being left in, charge of the hostIer, q
fresh man.
As the old horse was led off he seemed
to give me mournful look, as though
he would have said, "Do you turn youl
back like this upon your old friends y
And then he went hmping out of Che
yard, 'whisking his gray tail about in q
melancholy manner; and thought OF
the many times those four white stock.
ings had gone over the road with oul
modest conveyance never too fast
never taking fright; never shying; new
er being inserted, as to the hind stock
ings, in fierce kicks through the splash.
board. And i thought that If, for the
ive-and thirty pounds / had placed Al
the outside sum, could get as good 3
steed to dwell with us for the next ter
years, should do well.
i went into the coffee-room to await
Farmer Tomson's return, and somehow
I rather regretted that 1 had not called
in a veterinary surgeon, and giyez
Prince months rest; but the mex
minute drove away the thought an(
stood at the window, looking out ct th'
busy turmoil of the little town durinl
the horse fair
My wife had stipulated for horse q
much Like Prince as could get; and a
/ stood gazing ont, saw one or tw'
goodly looking cobs, with one, two, 80
even three white-stockinged feet, Du
not one, like old Prince, with four.
'.But / cs1't study that, though
to myself A good sound horse i
what require, and black-legged col
is likely to be the more durable"
Before had vaded half through TIN
day before's Times, Farmer Tomsol
was back.
"Well, how have you got on ~
said
9sOh, Just as well as l expected, par
son; the regular thing for an old hors'
pound a leg !" and he dashed forL
sovefeisns down upon the table.
Twas disappointed, for / had expect
ed doub1e, but / did not say so. Tom
som sawit, though : = - =
ssIt was its real value, parson," b
said quietly; "the horse was lame
dead lame
"Donf say another word, Tomsor
pray" ] said, hastily. 81 am indee
much Obliged. "-,''ss-
"You're quite wlcome, parson- -
shall look in ON you in the mornin,
about that bit of wall In the churs
ward, and then you can show me you
new horse purchase.
ssBut won't you let me drive yo
backf" said,