Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-11-24
The Horse Mart.


- Young Folks.
The Horse Mart.
BY "sQUID SCOTCH"
The business portion of city is very
Ike kaleidoscope; it changes with
every turn, and unless one is curious or
interested, locations might be passed
and repassed without even thought of
what was there. So business man.
sitting in his easy carriage, and driving
his fine horse, with never thought of
parting from either, Or once feeling the
necessity, may not notice the sign which
is several feet broad and long, that reads
IS Grimes & Co., Auction and Commits
sion. Sale days, Tuesdays and Fri
days" Under this is painted big red
horse. That explains the business.
There is g. small office, with an auc-
tioneers stand at the back, which over
looks large yard surrounded on two
sides and the back by high board
fence, while the front has pickets which
support a long line of loungers.
In the yard are double teams, single
teams, horses In harness, horses in sad
die, waiting. they know not for what;
but their owners kaow-sometime it
may be for sacrifice Again the pur-
chaser is the victim. Horses, like peo-
pie, may hide fault in horse mart.
The horses must be sold.
What for? Money.
The owners are pressed for money.
have changed their business, OF perhaps
the animals are stolen,-al. the same,
they must be sold.
"Here they come" cries the auction
eer. ''Trot 'em out,-a fine bay horse,
and buggy nearly new. I don't see
any defect whatever warranted to
work III any harness, or money re-
funded"
A man drives the horse around the
ring. check rein tight, head up, tail up;
under the lash he shows his best.
How much am / offere12 What do
I hear? Twenty dollars! What ashame!
See what a bargain. Come, bid up, gen
tlemen; bid up. twenty-five; that's
nothing. Thirty, thirty, thirty five;
better. Go on now; bid up Forty.
forty-fve I'm offered, and goin' at"-he
stopped with uplifted hammer NOM
ent-"an' gone at forty-fve dollars
perfect shamep'
More crowd into the already crowded
yard and close around the busy auction
Ger. He fumes and sweats.
Here you, Sam, bring out that dap
pie gray. Oh my, what a beauty !'-
rubs his hands-s'here is the bargain of
the season. family horse, really the
pet and plaything of household
Outside the fence were three child
ren, two girls and boy. Their heads
nestled together and their eyes peering
through the pickets.
Sam led the noble gray horse around,
his beautiful neck arched and his nos
trils dlstended, he gave a low neigh, as
though he had found friends. It was
answered by despairing cry from one
of the children-"Oh, Dapple! dear
Dapple. !"
Dapple pranced around uneasily, and
pulled hard on his bride, neighing
louder.
ooh, what shall we do /" said one of
the little girls, .'Dapple knows us and
we cannot save him.
he brother put an arm around each
sister, choking back his own tears, said.
In comforting way, with all the man
inees he could command, ''Never mind,
I'll soon be a man; then I'll buy Dap
pie back. If Uncle Guy were onl here,
he'd lend me the money, I'm sure
There Wee three pairs of hands
stretched toward Dapple, through the
pickets. He knew them. He had Ia
Ken many a handful of sweet grass and
clover from them, and carried all three
on lbs back many times as gently as a
mother rocks cradle.
"Unclo Guy''-the words were softly
spoken, but they caught the ear of a
gentleman who had just crossed the
street from depot near. He elbowed
his way to the auctioneer who was still
praising Dapple. The crowd had seemed
TO be silenced by Dapple's fine appear
ance, and bid lad not yet been Of
tered, but only comments upon the
animal.
Whose horse is that?" whispered
the newcomer In the auctioneers ear.
81 wish to know as special favor. II
will explain to you after the SALE"
A Mrs. May 's-a mighty nice lady.
Came to see me herself about this crea-
ture. POUNDS, hate TO sell him; poor,
you know; got to sell to buy bread for
them children over there. BOUNDS, I
hate to do it do SO"
"Come, gentlemen" resumed the
auctioneer, turning from the stranger,
g What do you make it; give ms a bid;
the horse has got to be sold.