The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-11-28

IuStlWs WueU DC 0Ctu6lIy DSR1U 10 make overtures for an exchange, cer- tainly thought that the young man had better con6ne himself to some pursuit in which horsefesh was not an item. Alas, 1 didn't know Sam. The mare was un- questionably more valuable and salable than the cob, but didn't want her, nor on the other hand had any special par tiality for my own beast So, to please the boy, agreed. took the mare and let Sam have the cob.
 The idea that the former was capable of exercising any gymnastics never en- tered for moment into my widest cal culations. A little playfulness that might upset such an elementary horseman as sam would have been perhaps as wei come as it was unsuspected but even playfulpess could never for moment have been thought of in connection with an animal so absolutely wanting in ani- nation. Desperate contortions on the part of such beast were far outside the pale of even momentary thought. | So Sam had the cob and ! took the mare, intending to ride her until picked up something better and then put her to farm work, for which she seemed well suited. had the rowels of my spurs Cor spur, for we never used more than one at a time in Charles county) sharpened for the purpose. It was no good, however the only difference in our rides now 'as that Sam headed the procession and brought up the rear.
 Very soon after this had put the mare to days ploughing, and after the mid day feed followed the negro who had ridden her down to water previous to hitching up" again for the afternoons work.
 As came over the brow of the little hill which led down to the stream, l saw the mare standing in the path with the collar slipped half over head, and the trace chains hanging loose on the ground Sitting upon the bank close to her was the Ethiopian. His black face was puck cred up into very picture of consterna- tion, astonishment, pain and terror; his brooches were covered with dust, his shirt was torn, and blood was trickling slowly down from his woolly pate over his dusly brow.
 "Good heavens, Moses, what's the mat. ter?"
 "Marse James, that ar's the meanest mar that's ever bin in this countrv-sho's yo' born. Thar ain't bin nuthin' like that hoss roun' yer since de surrender, nor befo' it, reckon"
 "Well, she is bit dull, Moses, that's a fact but if you slip off her on to the top of your head instead ot on to your feet, don't see that the mares to blame
 "Slip off, Marse James, did you say Slip of, sab That ar mars jes' busted me all tc pieces. She's come mighty nigh ruinin' me that's fac, sah Thar warn't no slippln' bout me. She jes' flung me bout crar over the lower limb of that poplar tree seen horses cut up befo' now, but l never seen nuthip' like this yer one. Don't you ride that hoss no mo, Marse James"
 Negroes and horses seldom get along well together, and the vivid imaginations of the former were so familiar to me that any little impression Moses vehemence may have for the moment made upon me completely faded away before forty weight hours had passed, and rode the object of his objurgations about the country without any sensation other than that of evaporation with its want of life.
 Very soon afier this an old gentleman living in the immediate neishborhood made me an offer for the mare, which gladly accepted. was sick of bestrid. ing beast whose inertia seemed proof against the sharpest of spurs and the keenest of whips.
 ''I am af aid that you will find her rather dull under the saddle" remarked to the venerable agriculturist, as he climbed up on the mare to ride her home He was short of stature and exceedingly corpulent, and was puff ,g with the exer- ton ot clambering on to her back.
 That is just what 1 want" he said, as soon as he was able to speak tat my time of life like to take time about things"
 rhen," said I, with the emphasis of the most sincere conviction, "you will have no fault to find with her"
 Two days after this met the old gen. tleman and his new purchase upon the road.
 "She's so powerful dull, this mare of yours," sad be-
 "She is so, but think l was pretty plain about that"
 "Yes, that's true but l declare she takes more pushin' than any horse ever got up on. Pm settled man, and done with frolickin' forty years ago. den't want no 2:4o horses ride round the plantation on, but sw'a ar this thing beats - The old gentleman s i'm sgination utterly failed him for an adequate com parison. He dug both the heels of his Wellington boots into the mares sides with as much vehemence as his short fat legs permitted, and fetching her a crack across the hindquarters with big hick. ory stick, starred of again upon his rounds muttering something about his Satanic majesty.
 The very day after this meeting boy came over to my house with note, say. ing the old gentleman had had fall, and was anxious to see me. went over and found him in bed. He had big oandage over his right eye, and a negro woman was bathing his arm. | He looked as black as his nne eye