The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-07-07
to Dolitits
Selerta. Stnrp.
Tom Sweeney's Mistake.

ed,and the proprietor behind the bar was
doing a brisk business dispensing cool.
ing drinks to the thirsty, noisy crowd
that had assembled to discuss the merits
of the different horses that were ente, ed
for the race. -~ -st. $50
Persons were continually going to
and fro between the hotel and the race.
course. when a man rather shabbily
dressed, accompanied by boy, drove
up to the hotel, and hitched his sleepy
looking horse to post by the door.
The man was apparently about fifty
years of age, rather tall, with long, un
kempt hair He wore a broad -brimmec
chip hat,a straw colored duster reaching
to his knees, and pants that were yer,
much sunburned, tucked into boots tina
were evidently entire strangers to black
ing. p. aff .a4 a50
The boys age it was Impossible t.
guess. He was short and slim with boz
legs. His cap, close fitting jacket ant
corduroy pants, like his companion, hat
seen better days. 7E .s q 81. .@E g
The horse, which had rather larg,
head with long ears, was of dirty gray
and wore heavy, clumsy shoes of coun
try manufacture. 80 sab H. di.
The boy remained seated in the wag
on. %" ~ .3t f'4@oa f3Aj
The man lit his pipe and quietly en-
tered the hotel. He stood and listened
to the conversation going on around bin
some little time, when he slowly drew
his pipe from his mouth, and drawlin.
his words, said: 1h' 81 iaa 99aa 8
"What! be there boss race here to
.day.2" @s9r ~ aoli5
The person addressed was Tom Swee
#ney, the keeper of the only livery stabl'
the village boosted of, who had hors
entered for the race, and which he though
was dead sure to win = .g~ y, ,-..... a.
Tom surveyed the stranger, for he haC
never seen him around the village before
and taken by his simple and shabby ap
pearance, thought he would have som
fun, so he answered him and said:
ayes. Do you want to bet ?"''E =
"Wall," answered the stranger, "I',
like to enter my hoss for the race, and
might bet few dollars just for the fu
OF the thing"
"Where is your horse2" exclaime
Tom -.. -.-.., o'.s 81. ''' -
"There be my boss hitched to tha
wagon" answered the stranger, pointin!
to the door. .,:, .'' ", '
Tom smiled, and said it was nseles
entering such a horse as that in the race
as there were five of the best horses i
the county going to run.
"But," said the stranger, II would lik
TO put my horse in just for the fun"
"Well,"" said Tom, "come along" .
He pushed his way through the crow
followed by the stranger, until he reach
ed room just behind the bar, where th
judges were seated looking over the Ii,
of Thames of the horses that were entel
ed for the race Tom addressed tn
Judges and told them that the strange
with him wanted to enter his horse fo
the race. - fr ''''" u
F Tom beckoned the stranger forwart
when the judges asked him his name, :
He gave his name as Jim Brown, sal
he was peddler, and his horses nam
was Sukey. ''01 "a /
He paid the necessary zee and left til
Judges rooms followed. by Tom, VIII
again asked him if he wished to bet
"But, said he, 4 do not bet less ,ha
a hundred dollars. 'asj % !" ;ia
Tom thought the peddler was ne
worth the twentieth part of such sun
but that worthy drawled out a few wore
about such big sum to risk, ,at the sam
time pulling greasy wallet from an il
| side pocket, and producing tue hundre
dollars, which action took, Tom raths
aback, but feeling assured that his hors
would win, be. said he would make b
bet good ,,, fsss1-. s,,I i,.f " . 80 - !,
The peddler left the hotel, unhitche
his horse from the wagon,took from III
der the seat an old saddle, and led Il
horse, followed by the boy, to the rae,
course. t''''i''e' 7a' q hios 90 oi )1a d
The time the race was advertised
commence had almost arrived, the hot
was being deserted forCthe fair ground
and the Judges we're in possession !,
their stand.IabA isa8es--2aaag sgsb !
Il In the meantime our pedlller had so,
died his horse, and producing pairs
pinchers from his pocket, had pulled 0
the large heayyoshoes the horse wor
land disclosed to view a neat set of, r
icing plates underneath. sg gs-gv. (.
| The boy was riding .he horse slow
around the course the horses were
take. The judges had called the hors,
to the stand, and were reading the co
ditions of the race. ~ 49, -
| The crowd, very curious, was eyeir
the pedd.er's horse, and laughing at Ii
sorry appearance as he stood among I'll
others. 't4@ ~ 4S5s 5i@ ili''7i il3i SOS.
The bell rang for the course to 4
cleared for the race. The horses, ,havir
gone back some distance, were now cor
ing down the stretch to the startir
point. TAI.
AS they passed the judges stand
splendid style, the word ''go" was give
The race was dashsof two miles feo,
As they neared the quarter pole, Il
peddler's horse was leading BY lengt
Tom was in a prominent place, ar
was eagerly Watching the horses as the
sped around the course r He was rath
surprised to see. the peddler's horse lea
ing the others, but,confident in the pol
ers of his own horse, he was not uneas
as to the ultimate result of the race b.
as they came past him on the first rour
he perceived, much to his .consternatio
the peddler's horse had increased h
lead to four lengths, and the boy astriC
of the horse was holding him back wi,
all his strength 1.is fl1saoir} ssa1sb
Tom was in a perfect tremble, I'll
perspiration ran down bis face like raj
and he saw at once that he had bee
sold. f 10 Hu llo lEasg aHf 50 =
1.-THE result of the race was the pc,
dlcr's horse came in winner by abo'
fifty Yards The peldler, who had bee
watching Tom, came up to settle h
bet. cas sasla1o99 sia. 5E sgstss,scs
Tom, feeling he had been victimizet