The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-07-16
THE SORREL HORSE.

In the village of Saybrook, within the
confines of the Pine Tree State, lived
Deacon Aaron Adamson. He was moi
only deacon, but he was also esquire,
having been appointed Justice of the
Peace by Governor Hubbard at time
when men were not plenty who would
accept the Office, and pay the fee-at
least they had not been plenty in Say
brook. Bnt, be he deacon, or be he
esquire, no glittering tide, or high
sounding refrain could cover up the
man-and the man was simply skin
flint, as we shall see.
The deacon had beef in his day a
noted breeder of horses; and he might
have become wealthy from that source
alone, could he have contented himself
with honest returns for his ventures;
but nothing would content him while
there appeared shadow of gain beyond
the stated bound. The last penny he
would pocket, and then fume. and
storm, and hagggle, and lie until he got
another penny on top of that. Yes
he had been a householder in his day,
and what he did not know about horses
was not worth knowing. OF late, how.
ever, he had kept little stock, choosing,
he declared, to
''Shelter one or two of the very best
horses in the world rather than have
his stable filled with common, every
day trash"
But the truth was, he did not keep
many horses because nobody who knew
him dared to buy of him; and horse
known to have been bought of Deacon
Adamson was very hard to sell.
One spring there moved into the town
a young farmer, named Moses Midwell,
who purchased the old Cummings place,
believing he could bring it back to what
it had been in the other years, when it
had rated as the best farm in Cumber-
land County. Midwell had bought the
farm, and paid for it-had bought all
the tools of the former owner-and had
bought, and paid cash for everything
needed, save a horse. He had heard
his father, in the years agone, speak of
Deacon Adamson as the best Judge of
horsefiesh in the State, and having
learned that the deacon was still alive,
and living at the village. he concluded
that he would apply to him for horse.
elf you're going to trade with Deacon
Adamson,' said one of his neighbors,
lido you jest keep yer eyes open. He's
a dreadful cheat, and he's got so used
to lynn that he don't rally know when
he does let the truth slip OUT
However, Midwell knew something of
horses, and was not afraid of being badly
cheated.
"But," said he to himself, elf he
does cheat me Intentionally, shall try
to get even with him."
So Mr.. Moses Midwell called upon the
deacon and made known his want.
"Ah! Midwell! son of my old friend!
/ declare, it does me good to see you.
And you have come to live with us!
Good! Your father and were Like
brothers,
And so the old man ratified on as they
walked towards the stable.
Upon my word. my dear boy, you
have hit me in just the right moment, II
you want the kind of horse | should
want. if were in your place. Only the
color-I don't know how that will suit
YOU. Some folks don't like sorrel-and
I can't say it's q favorite color with
me-"
But Midwell did not object to that.
They reached the stable and the dea-
con backed the horse from the stall. If
he pinched the animals nose, or twisted
his tongue, or stuck q pin into his
shoulder, we cannot say; but we can
saw, that the horse came out lively.
prancine and vigorous, with ears erect
and nostrils distended. And it was GER
tainlv a handsome horse standing
proudly erect Though pressure OF the