Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-24


tisements," | said to myself; "and old Baldox
could examine IT." Mr. BaldoX being the vet
who came round our neighborhood.
"The very thngI want" / said to myself the
next moment; but, all the same, preserved
strict appearance of want of interest: for just
then rather red-faced young fellow, in quiet
groom's livery, passed me, leading a very good
looking dark cob, very plump looking, full
head, short, well-carried tail, four black legs,
good dark, glossy coat, but rather playful look
ing, and given to dance about.
let the man pass me two or three times as
| looked unconcernedly on,lwhilelfrst one horse
man went up, and then another, wanting to try
the horse, and talking in loud and depreciatory
accents; but the groom was very surly, and
seemed az if he would have none Of them, all
ways walking off few yards before he came to
another stand.
"Horse for sale, my lad~ l said at last.
The groom looked at me surlily ali over, his
eyes resting long on my white handkerchief
do you want to buy one I" he said at last;
"Well' don't KNOW" l said smiling; "but
that don't seem to me the way to sell him"
ooh, don't i'll P'pups it don't" said the
man. 81 know what Pm up to-"
whats the price?' said, as walked round
the cob, liking his looks more and more.
"Now look here" said the groom, gazing at
me as searchingly as in him lay; "do you want
to buy him? Because, if you do, say so; if you
don't, just leave me alone, please, for Pve been
humbugged enough for one day"
"Well, my, lad" said, 'you are not very
civil; butt do want TO buy a cob"
He looked at me again, and then q bright
thought seemed to alsh across him, "You're
clergyman, amt youp
eyes" said, smiling.
"Then where's your card"
He smiled triumphantly as he said this, evil
IDENTIFY thinking that he had posed me; but /
drew out my card-case and gave him a card
Rev. t. Tozer, Stogglesby Rectory-when the
mans face underwent complete change, and
he touched his ha. respectfully.
"Beg pardon, sir; but a didn't know but
what you might be chanter dressed up like a
parson. Master sent me here to sell the pony,
and tod me to be very careful and not get done,
and Pve nearly been Ckiseed out of him
twyste. Here's these fellows come round you
with flash notes and dufflng suyrngs, and more
lodges than you'd ever think of, and it makes
one suspicious
"Who is your master" l said.
"Mr. George Smith, sir, of Louth."
did not know the gentleman, but the livery
buttons on the gro0m's coat bore the well
known crest of the Smiths-a fist clenched up
on hammer-and | asked him few more
questions What is he parting with the colt
torP was among the rest.
"Mssus used to drive him, sir; but we're
gong to have broom now and a sixteen
handler. 1t is pity, though, for this here's as
nice little thing as ever stepped. That quiet
you may do any manner o'thng with him."
Not very young, my lad" said, knowingly,
after look in the holse's mouth.
"No sir, he ail't young; but he amt old
'oss. Masters only had him two years. don't
believe he's eight year, that don't.
had him walked; had him trotted; had
him tried in harness, and drove him myself;
and then he was once more reduced to the
halter,
"Rather more skittish than like" said
"Skittish, sirp said the groom He amt
skittish; but | tell you what he is, sir; he's
that fat and lazy, and full of play, that he's
spoiled. just fancy yourself, sir, shet up in a
loose box, and the missus coming and blowing
you out with corn at unreg'lar times till you
blew upon it. Wouldn't you be skittish? Why,
see how slow he is: he might do two miles more
an hour if he warn't so tat"
"Well, and now about priceP'
Forty guineas, sir" said the groom-"fOrty
two pound in gold"
(Which means that five-and-thirty pounds
will buy him, 1 suppose?' / said; for liked the
horse, the man, and the character of the affair
altogether.
The groom looked hard at me for few mo-
ments, and then his face wTinklrd all over into
simple grin. "Well, sir, master said, ASK forty
pound, and stick to it; but if you can't get FIVE
and-thirty, bring him back again
looked the cob over and over again, felt his
hooks and fetocks, and with all my manipula-
ton found him as quiet as a lamb.
"Well, my lad i" said, after bidding him thirty
in vain,. "Pll give you the 6ve-and-thirty
pounds"
"SIvrings, sir"
''Wen, check on Garfit's hank will do?" 1
said, smiling.
81 don't know nothing about checks nor notes.
sir; suvrings for me, please" said the lad; and
the purchase was completed by my fetching the
gold from the bank myself, to return finding the
groom just moving off.
Thou hit it was all Il do sir" said the man,
touching his hat and frightening up; and tn en-,
on my remembering him with five shillings, he
led my purchase to the inn, where he was put
to; and drove him home, delighted with my
bargain, for no horse could have gone better. He
required touch Or TWO with the whip once, but,
| on the whole he trotted along most respectfully,
| and was as nice looking plump cob as parson
| need wish TO drive.
| Our boy was absent on my return, and had
to take the new horse out myself my wife COM
ing to see him by lantern light, patting him, and
| expressing her admiration loudly.
Farmer Johnson, being an early man, was
| over the next mo hing by the time we had done
breakfast; and proudly led him out to the
| stable, unfastened the halter, and brought out
the purchase smilingly, while the old man
| walked round it, and round it again; looked at
It's head, its tail; ran his hand all over it,;
stopped down by its legs one by one, and then
looked at me.
well" said, "what ought I to have given
IOuuu IL icy! nc exclaimed.
pooh !-nonsenseP l said. whats he
| worth?'
Pound a leg, | tell you, man. Why, drat it,,
parson;;, you've bought your own old boss
| againP
'Whatp | exclaimed, Laughing.
"Absurdp exclaimed Mrs. Tozer, who just
then joined us. "Why, Prince had four white
legs, and he'd follow me about like dog. And
SO will you some day, then-a poor fellow,
then"
To my utter surprise, the horse walked up to
her and put his nose in her hand, as had seen
Prince do scores Of times.
Thought knew little about horses, but
did not. The holows over poor Princes eyes,
that had been blown out, followed out again
his locked tail grew, and the dye wore off his
fore stockings while the dodge in reshoeing
him, so as to give limp to his left fore foot,
was shown to me by the old farmer; and
learned how that, where two legs were lame,
| they formed pair, and the lameness was not
noticed
| But, after ALL l did not lose thirty-one pounds
five; for upon choking down my disgust, and
asking farmer TOmson's advice, he said "Tun
him out in the paddock; the lameness may 90
off; but don't think of trying law. Bear the
first loss, and don't throw good money after bad.
| I'll never say nowt about it"
Neither did till now; and in proof of my
| journey not being all loss, the lameness did go
off, and we drove old Prince till he died, sudden
lV mfr ri ha Tur nf fha