Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-02-16
9 Who is your master?n I said.


the we'll known crest of the Smiths-a
fist clenched upon hammer-and /
asked him few more questions.
'eWhat is he parting with the cob for ?"
was among the rest.
Missus used to drive him, Sir; but
we're going to have broom now and
sixteen-hander. It's pity though, for
this here's as nice little thing as ever
stepped. That quiet you may do any
manner o. thing with him" f.stl.
"Not very young, my lad" said,
knowingly, after look in the horses
mouth.
"No, Sir, he amt young; but he
amt old oss Masters only had him
two years. l 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 I like,
l said.
"Skittish, Sir" 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 loose box,
and the missus coming and blowing you
out with corn at unreg'lar times till you
blew upon it. Wouldn't yoA beskittish9
Why, see how slow he is: he might do
two mile more an hour if he warn't so
fat"
| "Well, and now how about price 2"
"Forty guineas, sir, said the groom
-" forty-two pounds in gold"
(Which means that five-and thirty
pounds will buy him, l suppose 2" I
said; for l liked the horse, the man,
and the character of the affair alto.
gether
The groom looked hard at me for a
few moments, and then his face wrin-
killed. 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"
L looked the cob over and over again,
felt his hooks and fetlocks, and, with
all my manipulation, found him as
quiet as lamb.
"Well, my lad" said, after bidding
him thirty in vain, "Tll give you the
five-and- thirty pounds"
"Suvrings, Sir"
"Well, check on Garfit's bank will
do 2" l said, smiling.
81 don't know nothing about checks
nor notes, Sir; suvrings forme please"
said the lad; and the purchase was COM
pleted by my fetching the gold from the
bank myself. to return finding the groom
just moving off.
"Thought it was all a do, Sir" said
the man, touching his hat and bright
ening up and then, on my remember
ing him with five shillings, he led my
purchase to the inn, where he was put
to, and 1 drove 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 respect
ably, and was as nice-looking a plump
cob as parson need wish to drive.
Our boy was absent on my return,
and l had to take the new horse out
myself, my wife coming to see him by
lantern light, patting him, and express
ing her admiration loudly.
Farmer Tomson, being an early man,
was over next morning by the time We
had done breakfast and proudly led
halter, and brought on the purchase
smilingly, while the old man walked
round it, and round it again; looked at
it's head, it's tail; ran his hand all over
it; stopped down by it's legs one by
one, and then looked at me.
"Wel," I said, "what ought to
have given for it ~
Pound a leg!" he exclaimed.
"Pooh nonsense ~ / said "What
is he wortha /
Pound a leg, tell you, man. Why,
drat it, parson, you've bought your
own old boss again!"
"What !" l exclaimed, laughing. !
"Absurd - exclaimed Mrs. Tozer,
Prince had four white legs, and he'd
follow me about like dog And so
will you some day, then-a poor fell
low, them
To my utter surprise, the horse
walked up to her and put his nose il
her hand, as | had seen Prince do
scores of times.
| thought | knew little about
horses, but | did not. The hollows
over poor Princes eyes, that had been
blown out, followed out again; his
locked tail grew, and the dye wore off
his four stockings; while the dodge to
re-shoeing him, SO as to give limp IN
the near fore-foot, was shown to me by
the old farmer; and l learned how
that, where two legs were lame, they
formed pair, and the lameness was
not noticed.
But, after all, | did not lose thirty
one pounds five; for upon choking
down my disgust, and asking Farmer