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


name and tail, and fast one-able to
trot mile inside of three minutes-and
only seven years old. As soon as Tom
came up, Phil went to his boy and bade
him take the bay colt and lead him out
by the back way to distant pasture,
and then return by a roundabout way.
"Tom," said Phil, at the same time
feeling the ribs of the sorrel mare, "d'ye
ever see that four-year-old of Brock ?''
"No."
"Never did ? Ye ought to. It's just
the handsomest piece of horse-fesh ye
ever see. Comm five next spring
smooth as pin-fat as cub-weighs
ten hundred and half-and can trot,
now | tell you"
"Where is he ?" asked Tom.
''I've traded for him. Traded off old
Peter for him.
."Where is he ?''
''Out in the pasture. Come, let's go
out and see him."
Tom agreed, so Phil took a dish of
oats, and neck-halter, and started off.
They found the colt in the pasture, and
the oats seduced him to the halter. Tom
led him about-snapped him up-and
liked him much for, remember the an
imal was a splendid looking one.
"Going to keep him p asked Tom.
"He's no use to me- returned Phil,
frankly. Il dare not let him, for fear
he'll tear things to pieces. Brock rec
ommended him for kind horse, and
safe but he amt. l knew he'd never
been used any, but l thought of course
he was well broke. What motions !''
Now Tom Gutter was an expert in
horsemanship, and one of the finest
horse breakers in the country. He was
small man, but full of nerve and mus
Gle, and could subdue wild horse as
quickly as any one. Phil knew all this
"Now I'd thunderin' sight better
give this colt away than to keep him, .
resumed Phil, taking the halter and
leading the animal around in a small
circle, ''for l hain't got time to break
him, nor | don't believe l could if
should try
"Is he very ugly ?" asked Tom, eye
ing the animal sharply, for he was sta
ken"
Ugly? Not bit of that but he S
so full of fire and spirit Why. l shouIu
as soon think of letting a wild bull to a
man as to let this thing. I'll tell ye
what, Tom old Brock rather come it
over me "
Tom felt of the animals legs thor
oughly, and finally came to the conclu-
sion that the beast was good one.
How'll you trade for my mare?'' he
asked.
"Auy way. Take this thing off from
my hands and you shall have him al
your own price. Blast him, l hate him.
Tom mistrusted not thing of Phil''
real meaning. The story was SO simple
and plausible that he swallowed it. H,
could see that the animal was not ye
five years old, and he was perfectly
smooth in every way and manner; ant
he could of course think of no disease il
such horse. So after pondering, h
said "Give me seventy-fve dollars anC
I'll trade with you"
"Ho-don't talk so, Tom. Now sa
something reasonable. l will give 20
twenty-five"
But this Tom refused. He had Offer
ed his horse for one hundred and fifty
but he wanted twenty-five more nov
She was very small, weighing not owe
eight hundred pounds at the outside, S
not so valuable as larger, strongt
horse, her speed being only good qualit
above common seventy-fve or hunt
red dollar beast. However, it was +;
length settled that Phil should pay fift,
five dollars boot
81 wonder if it's best to take hi
home tonight 2" queried Tom.
81 guess [ wouldn't" returned Phi
''He's got both hind shoes off and |
might stave his hoofs up. And the
3 you'll want to break him in little, to
before you try to drive him off Il te
> you what I'll do; I'll send him down
q the morning and have him shod, al
then III let my boy lead him up
I; So it was settled. They returned
the stable, where Phil paid over the f
ty-fve dollars. and shortly afterwar
Tom drove off. In the morning, accor
:. ing to promise, Phil had the colt she
e and then sent his boy off, giving hi
d particular directions to lead the CT
k slowly, and let him carry his head dow
n Before noon the boy returned with t
sorrel mare, and then Phil Bigbee bur
Now what 'ye think p he exclai
a ed, rubbing his hands with deligl
u Caught old Phil nappin', did the
L. Not quite p
q Common decency would have sugge
u ed to Phil the propriety of keeping Il
thing to himself; but he could not.