The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1878-02-22
Who Wants q Horse.

Who Wants a Horse.
L would do most anything for Brown.
because he has befriended me. When
he auctioned off his household goods
the other day, preparatory to leave the
state for year or two, he likewise got
rid OF everything else around the place
except his horse. He didn't want to
sell the animal at less than a fair price.
and so he left the roadster with me.
calculating that il wouldn't be over a
week before | could make out a bill of
sale.
know something about a horse. I
can tell gray horse from bay one.
and blind horse from one which will
jump clear across the street at siobt of
a piece of paper. / knew this horse to
DC good one. lie was just seven wears
old, sound as dollar, gentle as lamb,
ana had seen him trot mile in exact
iy $40. l could warrant him in every
respect, and it wasn't two DAYS before
l had callers. The first man for whom
the equine was trotted out stood off
about ten feet, eyed him for two or
three minutes, and then contemptuous-
ly exclaimed
"Yes-um-humphr'
"'lsn't he all right?" | anxiously in
quired.
"All right! Why, what do Won take
me for? That horse, sir, is exactly six
teen years old. Don't tell me he isn't.
sir, for was born in q manger, and
brought up under wagon. You ought
to be ashamed, sir, to try to pass an old
horse of OH me in this manner.v
"He was seven years old this spring ,,
remarked, as chance came; "and fhe
price is two hundred greenback dol
lars"
"Two hundred greenback d-!, he
was going TO say, but he didn't. He
stopped right there, and gave me such
a look as l shall not forget to my diving
day. Then he turned and walked away
without another word. My confidence
in the horse was somewhat shaken. but
yet, when another customer came next
day, led Chilly" out, and warranted
him regular brick.
"That horse-ah !-um-that horse
might as well be taken to the bone-yard
at once" began the man.
"Why, what's the matter!,
"Matter? Why ,he's spawned, for one
thing, got the heaves for another. and
that left hip is four inches lower than
the right one. If you find ANYBODY fool
enough to give you twenty dollars for
the bargain at once"
"This nj. horse is perfectly sound, sir,
and I'll warrant him."
"Warrant! Oh, yes; know. Per-
laps you think Eve always dealt in
oxen, and don't know anything about a
horse. He's the worst used-up animal
eyer saw. Perhaps he is worth thirty
dollars, but wouldn't give a shilling
more,-not another shilling"
Or course | led the horse back, and I
began to wonder if Brown hadn't de-
ceivcd mc,-if my own eyes didn't de-
ceive me. Lots of people knew that the
horse was for sale, and it wasn't long
before the third man called around.
"Fine fellow-beautiful action
bright as dollarw whispered the man.
as the horse pranced before him.
That was encouraging, and, while |
was feeling good, Inc continued
at may or may not affect him when
he gets before cutter"
"What?"
"Why, he Over-reaches, and is liable
to cut his quarters all to pieces. Then
he interferes behind, and of course Won
see that he's knee-sprung in that left
knee"
The horse didn't over-reach. and
knew it. lie didn't interfere behind
and L knew that. lie wasn't knee
sprung, and I'd bet hundred TO one
OH it.
"Oh, well,' replied the man, in an
indifferent way, ''we won't quarrel
over it. see these things as plain as
day, but of course shall Keep still. If
L were you, I'd take him down to some
near-sighted drayman. You want TO
ask twenty-five dollars for him at first.
and then gradually drop down to fif.
teen."
l dropped the horse back info his
stall, and telegraphed Brown TO send
for him. lie replied that he'd like me
to hang on for day or two more, and
so walked 'Billy' out for the fourth
time. The fourth man looked so meek
and innocent that l had great hopes of
efiecting sale, even if the horse had
bots, collie, st. AnthOny's dance, and
chronic rheumatism, in addition to what
the others had found and mentioned.
"Now, then," l began on him, "tbis
horse is warranted sound and gentle in
all respects. If you buy him and find
him otherwise Pll give you five hundred
dollars"
He stopped down as if to pick up a
hoof; but suddenly leaped away, and
cried OUT
"What?'
"Why, he's a kicker!"
mo, he isn't; he never moved foot -
"Don't talk to me! can tell when
horse is going to kick by looking into
his eyes. Then his neck is too Short
his ears are too large, his tail is not long
enough, and''-
| walked the horse to the depot and
shipped him to his owner. He hadn't
been gone three days when each one of
the four men called on me in succession.
and remarked,-
,"Well, seeing it's you, guess I'll
take that horse at your figures"
The Dardanelles, or the Hellespont.
as anciently called, is a narrow Strait
about forty miles long, and from one TO
fOur miles i'm hroo1fb oo.,..:..-..