Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-05-15

with his id Yankee palaver.
Why, Mister" said he, this is a
free country, and man has right to
talk or let it alone, jest as he can afford.
Now I've taken good deal of pains to
git here this morning in order to run
Sleepy David against some of your
Southern HOSES. | amt joking, sir, I'm
airnest. | understand there is purse
of two thousand dollars and / should
like amazingly to pick it up"
"You talk of picking up a purse OF
two thousand dollars with that bit Of car
rion of yours Away with you, and
don't trouble us any further"
Well, if | can't run, then spose |
can't; but it's darned hard any how
for man to take so much pains as |
have to come to the races, and then can't
be allowed to run arter al"
It's too late now; by the rules of the
course the horse should have been en-
tered yesterday; however, if you'll plank
the entrance money, perhaps you can
get in yet"
| said this by way of getting rid of the
fellow, having no idea he could COM
mand fourth part of the sum required.
How much might the entrance mon-
ey be 2" drawing out purse containing
few shillings in silver, and few pence
in copper" If it amt more'n qua
ter of dollar or so, I'll plank it on the
nail"
1t is two hundred dollars"
1.-TWO hundred dollars!" exclaimed
the Yankee. By gauly, what price,
Why, they axed me only a quarter of a
dollar to see the Elephant and the whole
caravan in N. Y. Two hundred dollarsl
Why you must be joking now. Bless
me! my whole load of tin ware, hoss,
wagon and all, wouldn't fetch that. But,
Mister, don't you think could get in for
ten dollars
Nothing short of two hundred; and
and that must be paid in the short space
of FIVE minutes"
We now thought we had fairly got rid
of the fellow but he returned to the
charge, and asked if fifty dollars would mt
do, then seventy-fve, then hundred
and finding he could not make bargain
for less than the regular sum, he engaged
to give it, provided he could find any
one to loan him the money, for which he
offered to pawn his wagon load of notions
and Sleepy David to boot. He asked
one, then another, to accommodate him
with the loan-declaring that as soon as
ever he took the purse, the money should
be returned, and he would give dozen
of tin aohiStLes into the bargaini He
however, got more curses than coppers
until some wag, who had plenty of cash,
and liked to see the sport go on, lent him
the two hundred dollars out of sheer
malice. Though, as it afterwards turned
out, the Yankee had money enough
about him, and was merely playing the
possum all the while.
His next object was to borrow sad
die. Here also he was accommodated !;
and taking sleepy David from the tin
cart, he scrambled upon his back, and
took his station on the course. You
never saw fellow sit ON his horse SO
awkwardly in all your life. Every body
said he would fall before he had gone
hundred yards and some out of com
passion urged him to withdraw.
:" Not by darned sight" exclaimed
he" Why, do you think I'm such
tarnal fool as 20 pay two hundred dol.
lars, and then not run arter all 2"
Others who wanted to see the sport,
though it should cost some broken bones,
encouraged him to proceed-saying, as
they laughed aloud, that they had no
doubt he would carry off the purse.
"That's what l mean to do" said he,
" | hain't come here for nothing, can
tell you. Wake up Sleepy David, and
look about you; you must have your
eyes open to-day it's no time to besnooz-
ing when there's money at stake"
The horse, as if he understood what
his master was saying opened his eyes.
pricked up his ears, and actually showed
some signs of life.
The signal was now given to start
Away sprang Southron, with the speed
of lightning, and away sprang the other
Southern horses, leaving Sleepy David
far in the rear, and the peddler verging
from side to side, as if he was ready 10
fall of. The horse went paving along
with his tail clinging close to his haunch-
es, and his nose stuck out straight be.
fore him; and you never beheld so queer
a figure cut by any man and horse as
this singular pair made.
But they improved as they proceeded !;
the peddIar sat more jockey like. and the
horse evidently gained upon the others.