Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1875-01-29
BOZEMAN MONTANA TERRITORY, FRIDAY JANUARY 29, 187
THE SPAN GRAYA.

THE SPAN OF GRAYA |
Samuel johnson! Well. he was fine
man in many respects. and wLo IS not
Indeed, l know Of no one. Mr.. Johnson
lived in small village on tile Green
Mou, tains. rs msEy others do, and he
never would lose . good bargain. if he
could &c. it, And generally he did get it.
for he was keen on trade Many are the
good things toit! Of him. but there WAS one
too good TO be lost. That was about the
span of grays. lie fairy bit off his own
nose, and lDst TWENTY-FIVE dollars in the
bargain. 1t PLEASED his neighbors consid-
erably, for he was church member ''ard
all" Never was he so completely used up
before or since Perhaps it taught him
good lesson.
Acc;den,ly hearing that man on the
tker side Of the mountain hed a nice spah
Of crays that lie would sell very Teasnna-
b,y, he determined to possess them; SO one
fine msrning he tonk the stage, and went
over 10 see Mr.. Jones. the owner. Never
were two persons nearer alike in all re
spects, only Mr. Jones was the Oldest, and
little very lcetle. the keeDest. In
neither, dih the bump Of conscientiousness
predomiDatc, while cunning f,,r.ned very
considerable part OF their composition. 1t
is lndicrous sight to see two such men
trade, and, like MARY other good thirgs,
it is indescribable
Good morning, Mr.. Jones'"
..Gnod morning, Mr. Johnson-g'ai to
see you. How are all the people in your
part Of the country"
"Vcry well. Thank you" was the an
swer Of Joh nson, who then added, Il hear
Mr. Jones, that you have very nice spa n
Of gray horses which you would ike to
sell. How is it.''
In truth, Mr. johnson, have" replied
Jones proudly. land = ] ke ier span is not
10 be found everywhere"
"Oh, presume not" was the response.
Come in ard see them Mr. Johnson
This way. sir. if you please" and Mr..
Jones very cnmralccnily opened the stable
door where the horses were kept.
Fine, very fine" said johnson by way
Of compliment. and this was 70 lowed by
qucs.ions and answers as regarded the
good qualities Of the beasts.
Il suppose they are perfectly sound
and looked them over again for the seven
III time.
"Perfectly, assure you. was the re
NO !ieavcs:"
mot in the least"
..Spraned ?"
NO, sir"
/ "Can'i you take two hund.e cd and forty
6sc."
, '.Can'i upon honor"
Then l will k them at two fifty"
Johns n paid for gh.m. and drove then
home. But he was moi long in discover
i.g that one IF the superb grays wa
troubled with the sprinr.halt. and th'
o her with something el>t, have forgottel
what J,h-san WAS in Il pet, and b.
wrote letter after letter to JDues. but r.
ceiyed no answer, and 50 one day cailet
| over 10 see him.
MIR. Jones, those hnrscs are rot sound,
, were the fist words tha, passed his lips
Il can't help that." was the response
.Blt you must help it, and quickly, Q
| sbaii take the law /" cried johnson pas
siona,ely, for he was nrgry.
''Hpw much will you settle for, Nj
johnson. O"me, talk away aud Jonc
I was angry as the other
/ Fifty dollars. snapped johnson.
| "I'il give you twenty five"
''Shln'l do IT,"
| "Then take the law abou. it: prov
! what you cal, but be uff with vourxe:
r quickly!' AID Johnson had thr satisfat
ton of being kicked gu! OF doors.
Home be Went, chating with rage, an
was just starting over 10 squire BIS for
writ. when man accOstee, him
Have you got pair Of horses to sell
sr?"
!, Now" thought johnson. ''Ycs, sir,
/ haze. Walk this way sir. There, cir,
ard Johrson showed him.. the horses
J Can you beat tha,?"
.Prctty we'll matched" suggested III
{ stranger; ''tbey are not sound, are they :
/, ..Sound!" repeated johnson. rs it as
,onishcd ut the QUESTION. Indeed the
are, every way"
II suppose, then, if 1 should buy then
you would remember what you say now
but here are witnesses. and the strange
locked kecnly 1t johnson.
Long and earnestly did they tax, but
spite of all the proies,ations of JOh'
;, son, the stranger would not take the gray
! then.
: in one week you will hear from me,
said the stranger. Il shall then make U
4 my mind as to buying Or not,
johnson did pot have to walt 90 long
l that
Box sixty--four-sixty--fou,!" erie
!. JohDs0n at the p0sl-ofiice. Jones ban
writing" said he, - be opened the lett
which ~as given him, ''guess be has SCI
! that fifty dollars along"
81 But all this illusion vanished. -
e read:
III &c, Dec %, 1884,.
!. ..Nr. Samuel johnson:
q Dear sir regret exceedingly 70 ha'
,f been force to this STEP but you told
particular friend of mine, Mr.. N
. ,hst your hots we're perfectly sound,
j shall nOt take the trouble 10 settle for the1
IN-Wlll no. have THIN.
IL DExyBR JOKES"
Poor fused up" johnson! That's 81
RcDresentative Cox's bill, to reduce q
Presidents salary e. 81, 200, has oe'
le laid ON The table Ut the House Appropri