The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-22
HIS LAST HORSE TRADE.

tne experience OF MI. SparfOWRrasS Wltl
his first horse purchase. w. =. ....
al rather think, my DEAR" said /, with
the air of a connoisseur in horse flesh
''that a jockey would find it pretty hare
work to shove any such worthless beas
upon me-"
"Indeedl' said my good lady, with tht
faintest intonation OF scorn apparent il
her tone, ".and why should you not be a
easi y taken in by horse jockey as an!
onc?'
Because" said I, somewhat nettled a
the implied doubt of my shrewdness, {"
should, if about to purchase horse, taxi
Mr.. Avery, the stablekeeper, with me
give him ten dollars and ask him to Sc
iect such an animal as ! should like"
"A ten-doliar horse" said my wife
with that fine irony for which she il
somewhat peculiar, "would doubtless hC
an economical purchase, but l am in
clined to think would be poor specula
ton in point of utility"
81 did not mean, as you very vel
know, that ten dollars should be expended
for the horse" i answered with some
dignity, with view Of checking any un
due levity, "but that it should be re-
compense to Mr. Avery for his trouble
"Humph" said my wife.
After the good lady had thus expressed
herself in an exclamation, whichis neith.
er a grunt nor groan, but an ejaculation
of the most exasperating tendency-l
knew it was hopeless to pursue the sub,
ject further, and so held my peace.
"Ef man wanted to buy family
horse" said Mr.. Avery, few days after.
wards, as had carefully inquired the
price of the animal which ! had that
evening hired of him, "it I'D be cheaper
for him to git some good judge of horse
to 60 with I'M an pick i'm out somethin'
as would do him service"
Mr.. Avery had tried several times to
sell me a horse from his stable, but | had
such strong opinion of my own shrewd-
ness that | would never listen TO his
establishments. And this advice that so
tailed with the remarks ] had made to
my wife, Immediately impressed me that
Avery was not man of bad Judgment
after ALL AS | put up my pocket-book, |
remarked;
well, Avery, I'll give any man $40 to
60 with me and pick out such an animal
as would suit me-"
Couldn't say fifteen, anyway, could
ye, sguire| said the worthy Mr.. Avery,
with a furtive glance at me, as he bit oft
the end of piece of straw and chcwed
it refectiyely "Truth of it is, squire"
Il had lately received commission as
Justice of the Peace, and the title of
Squire had Il dignitcd sound in my
ears), said Avery, with a suddcn burst of
unexpected franknesS, II know a man
over to IaIlington tAats got five hosses
to dispose of, an cf | can't pick out one
of the lot that'Il suit. why, then I'm a
Dutchman, that's all and Mr. Avery
srat the piece Of straw from bis mouth
and yawned with the air of man wearcd
with the much discussion of an unprClit-
able topic
Il don't find no fault with ye, squire"
continued Mr.. Avery, as | made no i'm
mediate answer, "'cOs YOU don't fancy
none o my hoses; some men would cit
their backs up, just as though you was a
insinuatin' trut they wanted to cheat
you, but that isn't my style. | caPlate
to alters Accommodate s'long anybody
commentaries me, so ef you want to ride
over to Tatling;on tomorrow, eff you'll
give me Sl5, Ill pick out jes' such hoss
us you ought to have"
In the lullness of my heart | slapped
the honest stable-keepcr on the shoulder,
and told him I'd give him $50 and
pay for the team besides, an Offer
which, when that evening It'd il to my
wife. telling her of my engagement for
the morrow, she remarked pointcdly that
she had always supposed me to be a fool,
and at the time of which spoke she was
sure of it.
My good lady is trife impulsive in
her speech, aud | have found from long
experience that to contradict any little
personal observation, or to ret0rt in any
way, is calculated to bring on discus
sion more marked by its power of ex-
preston than by brevity, therefore pre-
serve Il discreet silence on all such occJ-
SiOns.
But at the same time | generally pur-
sue the even tenor of my way in relation
to the desired point that may have called
forth her remarks, and, sensible woman
that she is, after series Of lectures, de-
| iivered when we have retired, she sub
mits to the inevitable. / am comforlcd
in the reflection that | am having my
own way.
Therefore, on the morrow | accom-
panied Mr.. Avery to TllIington, and
having been duly Introduced by my COM
panion to the possessor of the five horses,
1 accompanied the twain to Mr.. Choppers
stable, where the said horses were kept.
"You see, Cropper," said Mr.. Avery,
as we pursued our way, ''my friend here
isn't very well posted on the horse ques-
tion''-Mr. Croppcr gave short, dry
cough-"an' bein' Il pers'nal friend Of
his'n, came with him to see fair play.
Amt that so, squire?'
l replied with some dignity that !
had thought proper 10 bring Mr.. Avery
with me rs being better Judge Of the
equine race than myself-at which re.
mark could have sworn | saw an cx.
prcssvc wink pass between these two
worthless, but as Cropper merely an
swcrcd 'Jes' so square," and Mr.. Avery
re-echoed that lucid remark, | thought
no more of it.
"There, square," said Cropper, as, hay
ing arrived at that gentleman's stable
he caused the hostlcr to lead a tall, raw
boncd animal with a vicious looking ey,
into the floor, there's hoss that'lI d,
his mile in 2:35 when he's in good con
dition-sound, kind, an gcntle"-heIc
the beast made a grab at the hostler, ant
took a square foot Of material from the