The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1871-02-17

"NO, no, thanky," he said; 81 dare
say l shall be late. Good-morning
and be on the lookout for sharpers. !"
Farmer Tomson departed; and
went about the town attending to few
domestic commissions before venturins
upon the prime business of the day.
AT last, though, had look round, tc
see splendid carriage-horses selling al
from two hundred and fifty to thret
hundred guineas pair and hunters,
park hacks, ladies' well-broken mares,
sturdy cobs, gigantic carthorses-
description of the equine race; but
though 1 wandered about for quite an
hournnd half, 1 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 1 was about; but a word from
anyof these harsey-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
] Si1c LIN, lh1 u SAticc VI buCII1 anu u
I biscuit, sat down for half an hour, and
then went to have one more look round,
intending, if were unsuccessful in my
| search, to hire q horse from the inn to
drive back, and then trust my case to
other hands.
"Plenty OF horses are bought through
advertisements, I said to myself;
sand old Baldox could examine it -
Mr.. Baldox being the vet who came
round our neighborhood.
"The very thing L want, I said to
myself the next moment; but, all the
same, 1 preserved strict appearance
of want of interest; for Just then a
rather red-faced young fellow, in aquiet
groom's livery, passed me, leading a
very good-looking dark cob, very
plump-looking, 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 I looked unconcernedly on,
while first one horsey mnn went up, and
then another, wanting to try the horse,
and talking in loud and deprecistory
accents but the groom was very surly,
and seemed as if he would have none
of them, always walking off a few
yards before he came to another stBnd.
"Horse for I said atsale, my lad 2"
last.
The groom looked at me surlily all
over, his eyes resting long on my white
handkerchief 'Do you want to buy
oneY" he said at last.
7 Il
ing; "but that dent seem to me the
way to sell him"
"Oh, don't i'll P'raps it don't,
said the man. / know what I'm up
to-"
"What's the price Z" I asked, as I
walked round the cob, liking his looks
more and more.
"Now look here,r said the groom,
gazing at me as seacrhing as In him lay:
ssDo you want to buy himl Because,
if you do, say so: if you don't, Just
leave me alone, please, for I've been
humbugged enough for one day"
.@a Well, nv lad" 1 said, Hyou are
not very civil; but I do want to buy a
cob.n -
He looked at me again, and then
DIlSub buOuSAb 6ccLlcu W AhsA eO1Ooo
him. "You're a clergyman, amt
you 2" rfeT 7
eyes, said, smiling. I'll L
"Then where's your card 7"
He smiled triumphantly as he said
this, evidently thinking that he had
posed me; but 1 drew out my card-case
and gave him card-Rev. T. Tozer,
Stoggiesby Rectory-when the mans
face underwent complete change, and
he touched his hat respectfully. /
"Beg pardon, sir; but didn't know
but what you might be a chanter
dressed up like parson. Master sent
me here to sell the pony, and told me
to be very careful and not get done,
and I've near been chiseled o of him
twiste. Here's these fellows come
round you with fash notes and duffng
suYrings, and more lodges than you'd
ever think of, and it makes one suspi-
cious.n
90 Who is your masterl ln said.
"Mr. George Smith, of Louth.
I did not know the gentleman, but the
livery buttons on the groom's coat bore
the well known crest of the Smiths
fist clenched upon a hammer-and I
asked him few more questions.
"What is he parting with the cob for9n
was among the rest.
q Missus used to drive him, Sir; but
we're going to have a broom now and a
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."
aNot very young, my lad, !" l said,
knowingly, after look in the horses
mouth.
"No, Sir, he amt young; but he
amt old 'oss. Masters only had him
two years. / don't believe he's eight
year, that / DON'T at.
l had him walked; had him trotted
L had him tried in harness, and drove
him myself; and then he was once more
reduced to the halter.
Rather more skittish than / like,
L said.
"Skittish, Sir!" said the groom. she
amt skittish; but 1 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 uponit. Wouldn't you be skittishg
Why, see how slow he is: he might do
two mile more an hour ii he warn't SO
fat.n
Well, and now how about price2n
ssForty guineas, sir, said the groom
&c forty-two pounds in gold.
Which means that fve-and thirty
pounds viii buy him, I suppose 2"
said /; for 1 liked the horse, the man,
and the character of the affair ako-
gether.l
The groom looked hard at me for
few moments, and then his face wrin-
kled 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 fetlocks, and, with
all my manipulation, found him as
quiet as lamb
"Well, my lad, /" said, after bidding
him thirty in vain, "In give you the
fiye-and- d-thirty pounds
"Suvrings, Sir" ~
"Well, check on Garft's bank will
do 2n said, smiling.