Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-02-20

real meaning. The story was so simple
and plausible that he swallowed it. He
could see that the animal was not yet five
years old, and he was perfectly smooth in
every way and manner; and he could of
q. course think of no disease in such Il horse
So after pondcring, he said: Give me
seyenty-fvo dollars and III trade with
you.
IIo-don't talk so, Tom. Now say some.
thing reasonable. I'll give you twenty
i've
But this Tom refused. He had offered
bis horse for one hundred and fifty, but he
wanted twenty five more now. She was
very small, weighing not over eight hun
dred pounds at the outside, so not 50 val
liable rs larger, stronger horse, her
speed being her only good quality above Il
common seyenty-tive or Il hundred dollar
beast. However, it was at length settled
that Phil should pay ffty-fve dollars boot.
wonder if it's best to take him home
tonight? queried Tom.
guess | wouldn't, returned Phil. He's
got both hind shoes off and he might stave
his hoofs up. And then you'll want to
break him in n little, too, before YOU try
to driveoH He'll you what Ill do; I'll send
him down in the morning and have him
shod and then Iii let my boy lead him
up.
So it WAS settled. They returned to the
stable, where Phil paid over the fifty-fve
dollars, and shortly afterwards Tom drove
of. In the morning, according to prom
ise, Phil had the colt shod, and then set
his boy off. giving him particular direc-
tions to lead the colt slowly, and let him
carry his head down. Before noon the
boy returned with the sorrel mare, and
then Phil Bigbee burst.
N0w what dye think? he exclaimed,
rubbing his hands with delight. Caught
old Phil nappin', did they? Not quite.
Common decency would have suggested
to Phil the property Of keeping this thing
TO himself; but he could not. He had to
tell of it TO every one he met; and some
days afterward Tom, in speaking of the
subject to some of his friends, said that be
had cot terribly taken in but he did not
blame Phil Bigbee so much for that, as he
did for Dragging so much about it.
If he has put off u worthless horse upon
me, he might hold his tongue and give me
a chance to put him off, and not thus make
the animals worthlessness a public affair.
But never worl did Tom speak to Phil
about thlt trade.
Living near by Tom Cutters was a man
by the name OF Nutting, who owned a
colt that had been praised very highly. 1t
was dark bay colt-darker than the one
Iom hat shaved on to him, but about
the same age. Nutting had repeatedly re-
fused hundred and seventy-iive dollars
for him. Phil had seen the horse 90 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 horsehesh in the country pronounce it
the finest animal in that section, and he
was generally estimated to be worth two
hundred dollars. 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 simplyshook his head, and remark
ed that his colt was not such poor one
after all. He was an expert veterinarian,
and he applied himself at once to the case
in hand. lie was not long in deciding
that the case was IN incurable one but he
4OtllN llltNL llC NOulNl SuDuut II oOll4EM lldL
for the time being. After working a
month lie got the colt so that he could
drive him off four or five miles with per-
feet safety, but this could be done only un-
der the effect of powerful medicines. But
when the animal did trot he travelled over
the ground very tast.
At length Tom concluded he would
trade. First he called in upon Sam Nut
ting. Sam WAS confined to his house by u
very lame leg.
sam, l want to sell ye my bay colt,
said Tom
You're joking.
No aint. Don't you ask any questions,
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 smelL " some
thing, though he could not tell exactly
what; and ut the same time he pulled out
his purse and handed Tom three-cent
bit. Tom took it, and gave it to Mrs.
Nutting.
Ofcourse may sell the colt and pocket
the money? said Tom.
Yes.
And may take two hundred for him2
Yes, but no less
With H.Se iQstructi0uS, Tom started off.
He had now got his colt into one of hi,
best moods, and having nicely brushed
mm down, and cropped his name very
carefully, he proceeded to harness him in
to the light wagon, only he left the bits out
of his mouth. In this way he led the colt
towards the village. being careful to stop
when be heard any one coming, and pre-
tend to be fixing some Of the harness. In
| this way he led the colt to the before men,
toned watering place. Here he stopped
and sprlnkled the animal with water, be-
ing careful to wet him all over and then
with Il dry cloth he wiped him down. This
/ produced two appearances one of making
the horse look two shades darker than be-
fore, and the other Of making him sweat
with fast travelling
Now Tom knew very well that the colt
would stand it to travel about five miles
at good speed without showing any signs
of trouble; so he put the bits into the ami
mai ) mouth and started on at Il slow pace;
but wien he reached the edge of the viii
lagc he let the rein on, and went into Phil
Bigbee's yard like lightning. and he hold
luS back upon the ribbons with all his
might.
llallo! Whit ye got here, cried Phil,
anXiously.
Got Nutting's colt, answered Tom.
Just rgmember-Phil had never seen
the Brock colt in harness; and further
more, the sweaty appearance gave dark
er color; and, the thought that that colt
could have trotted down to the village in
harness was not among the things of the
day. Phil walked around the horse sever
al times, and then asked Tom if he might
get in and ride.
Sartin, replied Tom. So they both got
in, Tom asked Phil to lake TIE ieins. lie
did SO, and away they went.
Gee-crickee! don't he travel! What
motions -4iM he one of emp BY thun-
der, Tom, he's worth two hundred.
Hes worth three if he's worth cent,
answered Tom.
IgiH two hundred take him?
Nutting told me this morning that l
might let him 20 for that He's sick, and
can't 90 out, and he wants the money.
BY the great spoon, Tom, he's worth it.
IIe's-he mine!
They returned to the stable-yard in fine
STYLE and Phil had the colt taken out at
once, and immediately paid Tom two hun
dred dollars. Tom left his wagon and
walked home, and that night he bought
H.. .f+s,.A