Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-03-17
The Leisure Hour.
n HORSE TRANSACTION.

"But you won't sell him, Tom ?" said
| Mrs. Tozer.
By-the-way, my name is Tozer-The
| Reverend Thomas Tozer, NJ. A., formerly
of Caius College, Cambridge, and now OF
Stogglesby Rectory, Lincolnshre-Mrs.
Tozer being my wife.
"My DEAR" said, "humanity is human
| ito. but incomes are incomes and though
the former says no, the latter says yes.
cannot afford to turn the paddock into a
hospital for decayed horses. This lame
ness decides it, and old Prince must CO."
"But where shall you sell him ?"
"Well, l shall not sell him at all ; Mr..
Tomson will do that for me at Horncastle
| Fair tomorrow. am going to drive him
over. l dare say Prince can hobble that
| distance"
"And what do you suppose you will get
for him ?" said Mrs. Tozer.
"Oh, not more than ten pounds" | re-
piled.
"Dear, dear What shame it seems to
part with poor old Prince for ten poundsr'
| "My love-" | said decisively, in that tone
which always closes discussion, ''it is
not the ten pounds, but the cost of keep
| ing the old horse. If you like to do with
out our keeping another, well and good.
Stout walking boots suffiece for me in the
| winter"
| But Mrs. Tozer seemed to think that 1t
would be a pity to let our four-wheeled
chase grow mouldy in the coach house;
and the consequence was that the next
morning at eleven o'clock l was driving
| ol,,
| the half dozen miles that intervened be-
tween Stogglesby 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 9th er
bit of business for you, Master TOzer?"
said my companion.
"Well, no; thank you,' l said. "If
you'll do the selling part, shall be oblig
ed. l think I'd rather buy for myself. I
don't boast, mind; but if there is anything
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.''
"That's precisely why l want you to sell
Prince for me. l know they would get
him from me, and then there would be
some difficulty about payment; and as 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 l care to have dealings"
"All right, parson, all right" said Tom
son only don't blame me if don't get
enough for him. l promise you though
that I'll bring you back the ready cash"
"Do your best, Tomson, do your best,
and shall not complain" | said, for had
implicit confidence in him, his only fai ling
being too great leaning toward gin-and-
water, and tendency to familiarity, AS
evinced in his addressing 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, fresh man.
AS the old horse was led Off he seemed
to give me a mournful look, as though he
would have said, "Do you turn your back
like this upon your old friends?" And
then he went limping out of the yard,
whisking his gray tail about in mean-
choly manner and thought of the many
times those four white stockings had gone
over the road with our modest conveyance;
never too fast, never taking fright; never
shying; never being inserted as to the
hind stockings, in fierce kicks through the
splash-board. And l thought that if, for
the five-and-thirty pounds had placed as
the outside sum, could getas good steed
to dwell with us for the next ten years,
should do well.
l went into the coffee room to await Mr.
Tomson's return, and somehow | rather
regretted that had not called in a yeterin.
AIRY surgeon, and given Prince months
rest but the next minute | drove away
the thought, and stood at the window,
looking out at the busy turmoil of the lit.
tie town during the horse fair.
My wife had stipulated for horse as
much like Prince as / could get ; and as
stood gazing out, saw one or two goodly
looking cobs with one two, and even three
ite-stockened- feet, but not one like old
Prince, with four.
"But | can't study that" | thought tc
myself. "a good sound horse is what
require, and back-legged cob is likel,
to be more durable"
Before | had waded half through the
day belore's Times, Farmer Tomson wa,
back.
"Well, how have you got on ?" said.
"Oh, just as well as expected, parson
the regular thing for an old horse-pount
a leg; and he dashed four soyereign
down upon the table.
was disappointed, for | had expected
double, but did not say so. Tomson saw
ii, though.