Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-03-25


man by the name of Nutting, who own
ed colt that had been praised very
highly 1t was dark bay colt-dark-
er than the one Tom had shaved on to
him, but about the same age. Nutting
had repeatedly refused hundred and
seventY-fve dollars for him. Phil had
seen the horse go by his place once or
twice, but he had never examined him !;
yet he wished very much to own him.
He had heard the best judges of horse
flesh in the country pronounce it the fn-
est animal in that section, and he was
generally estimated to be worth two
hun9reaedollars. He was not only very
fast, but very stout and powerful.
Tom Cutter kept perfectly quiet about
his colt and to all questions on the sub
ject he simply shook his head, and re-
marked that his colt was not such poor
one after all. He was an expert veter-
marian, and he applied himself at once
to the case in hand. He was not long
in deciding that the case was an incura-
BILE one, but be found that he could SUBJ
due it somewhat for the time being. Af-
ter working month he got the colt SO
that he could drive him off four or FIVE
miles with perfect safety, but this could
be done only under the effect of power
ful medicines. But when the animal did
trot he travelled over the ground very
fast.
At length Tom concluded he would
trade. First he called in upon Sam Nut
ting. Sam was confined to his house by
a very lame leg.
"Sam, | want to sell ye my bay colt, y
said Tom.
"You're joking
mo | amt. Don't you ask any ques-
| tions, but do as tell ye, and you shall
know in the end. Will ye give me three
cents for the bay colt?'
"Yes, returned Sam, who ''smelt'
something though he could not tell ex-
actly what and at the same time he
pulled out his purse and handed Tom a
three cent bit. Tom took it, and gave
it to Mrs. Nutting.
''Of course may sell the colt and
pocket the money p said Tom.
"Yes."
''And may | take two hundred fol
him ?".
With these instructions, Tom started
off. He had now got his colt into one
of his best moods, and having nicely
brushed him down, and cropped hi'
name very carefully, he proceeded tt
harness him to the light wagon, only h'
left the bits out of his mouth In thi
way he led the colt towards the village
being careful to stop when he heard any
one coming, and pretend to be fxin!
some of the harness. In this way he Lex
the colt to the before mentioned water
ing place. Here he stopped and sprink
led the animal with water, being care
full to wet him all over and then with
dry cloth he wiped him down. This pro
duced two appearances; one of makinI
the horse look two shades darker thai
/ before, and the other of making hir
} sweat with fast travelling.
| Now Tom knew very well that tn
colt would stand it to travel about iv
7 miles at good speed without shown
j any signs of trouble SO he put the bit
into the animals mouth and started o
at slow pace; but when he reached tn
edge of the village he let the rein oil
!. and went into Phil Bigbee's yard liz
r lightning, and he holding back upon I'll
o ribbons with all his might.
r "Hallo What ye got here ?" erie
Y Phil, anxiously.
/ 'Got Nutting's colt" answered Tor
+ Just remember-Phil had never see
; the Brock colt in harness and furthe
more, the sweaty appearance gave da
n ker color; and, the thought that TIL
colt could have trotted down to the vi
| lage in harness was notamong the thinI
% of the day. Phil walked around Il
n horse several times and then asked To
) if he might get in and ride.
Il .'sartin, replied Tom. So they bo
n got in. Tom asked Phil to take t
d reins. He did SO. and away they wer
..Gee-crickee don't he travel WI
70 motions Aia't he one of EN-?
f. thunder, Tom, he's worth two hundred
Is "He's worth three if he's worth
4 cent, answered Tom.
4 Wiu two hundred take him o.
m "Nutting told me this morning that
Ii might let him 60 for that. He's sic
n. and can't go out, and he wants the me
he ey."
st "By the great horn spoon, Tom, h
n worth it. He's.he'S mine ~
it. They returned to.the stable yard
7? fine style and Phil had the colt tax
out at once, and Immediately paid L
st. two hundred dollars.
lis Tom left his wagon and walked HON
lie that night he bought Nutting's bona !