The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-11-13
THE THIRTY-NINE DOLLAR MARE,

THE THIRTY-NINE DOLLAR MARE.
Some years ago, while travelling in the
State of Maine, says a correspondent of
the Spirit Of tho Times, CHANGED to halt
at an out-of-the way tavern in those parts,
in the bar-room of which, during the eve
ming, heard the substance of the follow
story related. 1t may divert a portion of
your readers, and so write it out for
you. ....-i-.,..f.. ...E> .a5
"Speaking of horses" remarked the
leading talker Of the evening speaking
of horses, reminds nae of mare knew
a long time ago, when three minute-nags'
weren't so plenty as we hear tell about
nowadays. 5.,.s,.s-
"There was blacksmith in the town
where then lived who was very fair
judge Of horse, and who generally own
ed 'rusher,' for those times--though al
most his entire fortune was ordinarily in
vested in his crab He sold his mare
one day, and kept his eye open for an
other beast, when the right kind Of an
animal might fall in his way. -.-
''It CHANGED soon afterward, that there
came to the door of his little shop, one
day, gray mare-a long, lean bodied
wench-the owner of which desired to
have her shod. The blacksmith looked
in her mouth Gas horsemen sometimes
willy, and then he tried her dock. He
stood in front of her, and then beside
of her, and then examined her feet-and
then went to work to shoe her.
:. "'How old is she?' he asked, quietly,
ba rrocooSo1 RI onl ri
boots.
"'Nine years come spring. said her
owner.
"The blacksmith looked in her mouth
again, and said, Yes, you can warrant
that
"'Warrant! we'll, she's good boast,
anyhow responded the other.
ISIS she sound2'
"sAs a fresh hick'ry nut
"sKindY
"sAs cosset Sheep
"'Maybe you'd sell her2' continued the
blacksmith, slowly, as he finished her
last foot.
"'Yes,' replied the owner, handing the
blacksmith, dollor for his job. Yes,
III sell her.
a'How much money, cash downs"
"'Forty- five dollars
"'Five and forty2 She must be a
good I'm, them ..'.
"'She is good one,' 49,.
Say forty, stranger, and III venture
TO take her. T..
'The bargain was closed, and the
stranger walked away with his old sad
die on his arm, and the gray mare walk
ed into the blacksmith little shed stable.
# It was heap of money for him to put
into single horse, but he thought she
had points in her making up, notwith-
standing the fact that she hadn't been
overfed Of late, or too carefully groomed.
"a little care and grooming soon
developed her more satisfactorily, and
the purchaser, CHANGING to be dozen
miles from home one night, hurried up
her cakes on his way back, and led a
noted three minute pelter straight into
town. like open and shut. .'. .,. . 49,.
"'Well done, we'll done, old thirty
niner said the blacksmith. enthusiast.
cally, as he applied two huge straw wisps
to her reeking sides, nor left her while 8
single hair was turned upon her body
\'Well done, old oman; I'll take you
round Walnut Hill, and we II. see about
this --' - 49, ,l -. 2S''
''And be did take her therc--once
twice, thrice-ftty times; but he sale
nothing, only that the mare was good
sreetur to draw, and he was content will
Ter. w. .'t" 80 49,
AT the end of four or five months, The
old man took leathern pouch, shut ul
shop, and rode his gray mare into Boston
hating at the old Eastern Stage House
in Ann Street. Here he remained quietly
for three or four days, scarcely showing
himself, and never speaking of his mare
'1'Ore evening he heard some of the
boys in the bar-room talking horse,
and he listened earnestly. 81 '''-' 7'1' IT, IA
".Go2" said one Of them, Il rather
think he can. in two-fifty, sure!' 10 i''S'
y "'Ha, hap roared the rest, for three.
minute horses, even, were not very plenty
at that period. .7a bffa ,@tof.sii,;
8 GO! I'd like to match him again s,
something that can trot. Your wriggles
and hackers and runners are not the
thing. Give me q square trotter, and
can Just leave him. That's all. '9fisi64a
i" Ken you2' asked voice near by
modestiy. "s 9hs5ij sy9F 81 sft i fftylf !
III AAc SOAA P0Ay tu4ASu stOOuS1 ouuf saw
an unshorn, rough-visa man sitting il
his shirt-sleeves, to whom the young
buck did not reply at all. Our black
smith, fer it was he, continued to smoke
the pipe. The boys put9their heads to
gether for q lark, and the foremost asked
:" Perhaps YOU We got horse that yor
would like 70 exercise little7'
S"' Yaas,' responded the rude dressed
stranger; Il don't mind a little exercise
for the old mare. But you don't bate
nothing on it, I takeit2' Il a5te s@
why, yes. lust for the name Of the
thing, we'll go five hundred or So Il ID
.''Five hundre 4what?' exclaimed the
green 'un, jumping from his chair an6
smashing his pipe at the same moment.
Five hundred dollars. to be sure.'
30, git out! you're jokin'.' ,i5s
" "'No: we can't trot him short of that
it wouldn't pay
"'Wal, now, look here. nabur; Ill tel
you what III do. I'll trot boss AGAR
hpss-yourn again mins-in1barness.'
:. I" No, sir, that won't do.'& aa5aa a!4