Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-02-16
TURNING A SCREW.

"But you won't sell him, Tom Z"
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 l said, humanity is
humanity, but incomes are incomes;
and though the former says no, the lat
ter says yes. l cannot afford to turn
the paddock into hospital for decayed
horses. This lameness decides it; and
old Prince must GO
"But where shall you sell him."
"Well l shall not sell him at all
Mr.. Tomson will do that for me Mt
Horncastle Fair tomorrow | am going
10 drive him over. dare say Prince
can hobble that distance"
"And what do you suppose you will
get for him p said Mrs. Tozer
ooh, not more than ten pounds" [
replied.
Dear, dear! What shame it
seems to part with poor old Prince for
ten pounds !"
"My love-" said, decisively, in that
tone which always closes discussion,
sit 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
it would be pity to let our four
wheeled chaise grow mouldy in the
l. h,
that the next morning at eleven o'clock
/ was driving my church warden,
Farmer Tomson, over the half dozen
miles that interviewed between Stog
glesby and the world famed horse fair;
but very slowly, for Princes limp in
what horsey people call ''the off fore
leg" WAS rather marked.
Perhaps you'd like me to do the
other bit of business for you, Master
Tozer ?" said my companion.
"Well, no thank you,' | said ''f
you'll do the selling part, shall be
obliged. | think I'd rather buy for
myself / don't boast, mind but il
there is any thing secular l do know
little about, think it is a horse"
Farmer Tomson chuckled
"Well, WE'LL he said; "don't get
took in, for they're rough lot down
here at fair time y
That's precisely why | want you to
sell Prince for me. 1 know they would
get him from me, and then there would
be some difficulty about payment; and
rs a clergyman, | don't want to be
mixed up with any unpleasantness.
And besides, you see, the class of men
who go about buying lame horses are
not those with whom | care to have
dealings.
Gan right, parson, all right" said
Tomson "only don't blame me if /
don't get enough for him. l promise
you though, that I'll bring back the
ready cash. f"
"Do your best Tomson, DO your best,
and | shall not complain, | said, for |
had implicit confidence in him, his only
failings being too great a leaning to-
ward gin-and water, and q tendency to
familiarity, as eyinced in his address
ing his pastor as "Parson.
We reached the head inn; brought
out halter, and Mr.. Tomson led off
poor old Prince, the chaise and harness
being left in charge of the hostler, a
fresh man.
As the old horse was led off he seemed
to give me mournful look, as though
he would have said, " do youturn your
back like this upon your old friends 2"
And then he went hmping out of the
yard, whisking his gray tail about in a
melancholy manner; and | thought of
the many times those four white stock
fngs had gone over the road with cur
modest conveyance never too fast
never taking fright; never shying; new
az being inserted. as to the hind stock
iI4s. in tieroa kicks through the splash