The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-01-11


He was from Bradford county. wa
this old man. He had attended fair
onos before, but this WAS the hrst sx.
pericnce at a horse trot. He did moi
quite comprehend the nature Of the
entertainments, hut as he saw nothing
but horses on exhibition, an idea that
this might be separate and distinct
feature OF the fair, for the exhibition
Of these animals. gradually enlighten-
ed his mind. A quaint specimen c 4
Pennsylvahia was he. In his garments
which looked as though they might
have been clt after the fashion which
predominated in Noah's time. Nor
was he well up in that "set phrase Of
speech y common to sporting men,
MeanderiDg through the driving park.
foiled in his attempts TO penetrate the
crowd. jostled, by exciting sports,
laughed at by boys, and stared at by
all, this innocent but unsophisticated
''tiller Of the soil" finally found him
self near n pool sellers stand. At once
he eomprehended the situation. This
is hoss auction on q big scale" Now
our friend was in need Of q horse. -
John, his son, would be satisfied with
no horse that was not good roadster.
The auctioneer cries:
"How much do / hear for the first
shoice?"
"ren dollars" sings out one in the
crowd.
First choice first choice on what"
inquiries our Solon Shingle.
3 "Choice Of these horses now trot-
ting" replies bystander.
Y ''Why don't they stop and let us
look How am ] to tell whether they
are sound ?"
True enough a horse that can go
as they can, any one of them is worth
ten dollars and more" ss...s vrr,
BY this time the bid had run up to
thirteen dollars.
Fourteen" he sings ont. fi
. Fourteen fourteen! going at four
teen who will give me fifteen ?" cries
the auctioneer.
Fifteen" says a rakish looking fell
low at the left Of our friend.
Fifteen and a half, from the far
mer. =. ..,-.... ...-.,.-.-...
2 Cant take half dollar bid; make
it sixteen2" says the auctioneer.
"Yaas, says he hesitatingly.
"Sixteen, sixteen, going at sixteen;
do / hear any more sixteen. who will
give me seventeen Sold at sixteen
dollars Which horse will you have !"
''I'll wait till they stop. an look 'cm
over"
"You must decide now," says the
auctionser.
But 1 want to look at en-"
choice at sixteen dollars, say so."
Take the Countess, some one sug-
gested.
(which one is that ?"
'"rhe bay mare ahead.
I'm take the-what did you say9"
Countess"
"I'll take the Countess.
He receives his certificate, which he
imagines is bill OF sale. Keeping
his eye on his mare, he waits patiently
till she completes that heat, though
she did not win. He was pleased with
her aud was certain he had made
bargain. He would not tell John that
he bought the mare for sixteen dollars.
but he could give him faster ride
than ever he took, but he reasoned
"She is balky, or blind, or something.
or she never could be bought for six
teen dollars, il horses are cheap"
He thanked the boy for sponging
her, and asked il the harness Was
thrown in.
Thrown in y calculated the boy.
Thrown in. Yaas, sir; bought this
mare for sixteen dollars, and want
something 10, lead her homo with"
In apigs eye you've bousht her for
sixteen dollars. You think you re Civ
in me away, don't you p
AT this point the drivers attention
was attracted. The old man insisted
that the mare was his, and as evidence
produced his certificate, amid the
laughter of the bystanders. The driv-
or, finding the old man was in earnest,
attempted to explain that he had in
vested sixteen dollars in a pool, which
he would win if the Countess should
take three heats.
But all to no purpose. The buyer oi
the pool proposed to take the horse
Immediately, and when the driver re.
fused 10 deliver her, after giving venl
to his opinion Of city frauds, he declar
Ell his intention OF seeking justice at
the hands of Governor Davis Hus
bandmsn.