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

years, 1 should do WELL
/ went into the coffee-room to await
Farmer Tomson's return, and somehow
I rather regretted that had not called
in a veterinary surgeon, and given
Prince a months rest; but the next
minute / drove away the thought, and
stood at the window, looking out at the
busy turmoil of the little town during
! the horse fair.
My wife had stipulated for a horse as
much like Prince as l could get; and as
/ stood gazing out, l saw one or two
goodly looking cobs, with one, two, and
even three white-stockinged feet, but
not one, like old Prince, with four.
"But can't study that" I thought
to myself "A good sound horse is
what require, and black-legged cob
is likely to be the more durable"
Before l had waded half through the
day before's Times, Farmer Tomson
was back
"Well, how have you got en!" I
said.
"Oh, just as well as l expected, par
son. the regular thing for an old horse
pound leg" and he dashed four
sovereigns down upon the table
Twas disappointed, for I had expect
ed double, but did not say So Tom
som saw it, though.
cit was its real value, parson," he
said quietly; the horse was lame,
dead lame"
"Don't say another word, Tomson,
pray" l said, hastily. 81 am indeed
much obliged"
"You're quite welcome, parson. l
shall look in on you in the morning
about that bit of wall in the church
yard, and then you can show me your
new horse purchase" :
"But won't you let mo drive you
back" said.
"No, no, thanky," he said 81 dare
say l shall be late. Good-morning
and be on the look-out for sharpers.
Farmer Tomson departed; and l
went about the town attending to q few
domestic commissions before venturing
upon the prime business of the day.
At last, though, l had look round, to
see splendid carriage horses selling at
from two hundred and fifty to three
hundred guineas pair and hunters,
park hacks, ladies' well-broken mares,
sturdy cobs, gigantic rt-horses--every
description of the equine race; but
though | wandered about for quite an
hour and half, / could not see the
sort of cob that took my eye. Invita-
tions to buy had in plenty from cum
ning-looking gentlemen, who could see
what l was about; but word from
any of these horsey-loaking gentry was
sufficient to put me on my guard, and
to take me to another part of the fair.
Tired at last of the noise and hustle,
the shouting horse dealers and the trot-
ting hoofs, l began to wish that, after
all, | had intrusted some one else with
the commission; and walking back to
the inn, l had glass of sherry and
biscuit, sat down for half an hour, and
then went to have one more look round,
intending, if were unsue cessful in my
search, to hire horse from the inn to
drive back, and then trust my case to
other hands.
"Plenty OF horses are bought through
advertisements, / said to myself
"and old Baldox could examine it"
Mr.. Baldox being the vet who came
round our neighborhood
"The very thing | want" | said to
myself the next moment; but, all the
same, l preserved strict appearance
of want of interest {; for just then a
rather d-faced young fellow, in aquiet
groom's livery, passed me, leading a
very good looking dark cob, very
plumplooking, full head, short, we'll
carried tail, four black legs, good dark,
glossy coat, but rather playful looking
and given to dancing about.
| let the man pass me two or three
times as l looked unconcernedly on,
while first one horsey mnn 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 as if he would haye none
of them, always walking off a few
yards before he came to another stend
"Horse for said atsale, my lad +"
last
The groom looked at me surlily all
over, his eyes resting long on my white
handkerchief 500 you want to buy
oneGo he said at last.
"Well, | don't know / said, smil
ing: "but that don't seem to me the
way to sell him."
"Oh, don't it P'raps it don't"
said the man. l know what I'm up
to-"
whats the price ?" I asked, as l
walked round the cob, liking his looks
more and more.
"Now look here said the groom,
gazing at me as seacrhing as in him lay
"Do you want to buy him2 Because,
if you do, say so: if you don't, just
leave me alone, please, for Eve been
humbugged enough for one day"
"Well. my lad,N | said, "you are