The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-12-10
Temple Bari
DOWSE, THE Gypsy.
CHAPTER I-CoNTINUED.

Iue OWL eyes COIuIu IdGtilu uOWu Guo
hill wild yez, like as if. he'd a whin-
bush tied undher the tail Of him an
nothin' on his back at all at all. Be
dad, sir! It's a foine quadripid in
toirely, only not at all the baste for
the loike O. yer honor to be sthridin'
acrass. It's in his illimint he'd be
undher a farmers kyar, an many's
the dacent boy wud give pot O mon
ey for him, as didn't want snowy
like baste, but good un to work"
"You've hit it again, my good fel-
low," | replied, touching Dobbin' s
smooth neck lightly with my whip;
that's what I think Of selling him
for. Do you suppose, now," contin-
ued carelessly, for | ever had pen
chant for "picking other mems
brains," nor disdained to Gull a stray
thought or an odd fact from the talk
of the veriest tramp by the way) 'do
you suppose I should be likely to get
good offer of that kind for him at
the Killnablew fair to-day? [ mean
to sell him there if I can. He's a
good horse, as you say, and valuable
one, but doesn't quite meet my re-
quirements."
The man hesitated for a moment,
and added
"Perhaps, though, you are strang-
er here? merely thought it possible
you might have picked up the local
gossip about the fair, and might be
able to put your finger on a pur-
chaser"
mo. no, yer honor! I'm no stran-
ger! Ye've come to the right shop
for the best of advice, ov it's buyin' a
horse we're afther. Shure [ do be
dalin' in 'em meself in a small wayr'
"Do you? Why, I took You to
be" I checked myself, but he
coolly finished the sentence for me:
"a gipsy, yer honor? An right
yez are to section! Dowse, the gip-
sy, they do call me. An that's how
| comes to dale in such cattle in my
small way. What wild thrampin the
country from one town to another
and from one gintleman's house to
another-shure there isn't har'ly q
horse in the county worth the name
that's been bought or sould widoui
Dowse, the gipsy, havin' stir at the
pot! An that's the way, too, that
can sell a good horse chaper betimes
than e'er regular daler in Oireland
For ye see, I'm there on the spot
ready to pick up a baste afore its
made up it's mind to be sould, as
may say. An when | have purity
consarn to oblige the genthry wild
shure there isn't one Of the quality
for twinty, ay, OF for fifty mile.
| aroun' as wouldn't rather buy from
Dowse, the gypsy, than at the bigges
fair, or the biggest sale as ever was.
I listened with growing interest tt
the mans monologue. Shaking ont
roughened forefnger impressively h
went on solemnly,-
"An' why? I'll tell yez! It's be
kase"-rising into certain rude elo
quence of language, and forcefulnes
of gesture, while his dark face glowet
with honest pride and excitement
''it's bekase they'd liefer buy, an buy
chape, from an honest gipsy, a hors'
as is shure to be tearin good un, o.
a middlin' un, accordin' as the homes
gipsy swears to it, than buy, an buy
dear, ye mind, from big daler, a
may or may not be honest, baste a
may or may not be good, accordin' a
chance and the laws of natur' hav,
settled it atwixt 'em."
There was rugged bluntness ant
sincerity about the mans face and hi
whole bearing. These, combined will
the truthful ring in his voice, at
tracted me towards him irresistibly
and I inquired without further cir
cumlocution,-
"Well, Dowse, then perhaps yor
could tell me whether | am likely tt
get fair bid for my horse? And te
be able to get one in exchange trlft
younger"-the gypsy eyed me with
grave attention-''and smarter, and
altogether more showy?"
"Horses is chape as dirt now, yel
honor. The markets is down dead
low. An it's not big price yell get
for the ould un this day. Avit were
COW, now, or a high-steppin,' haugh-
ty young baste ye wor sellin', ye
might name yer own price, an get it
too, bedadr'
"Hm! That's bad!'' l muttered re-
hectively. Looking at it in that
light. it seems as if | shall have to
sell cheap and to buy dear"
"Thrue for yez! Thrue for yez! Ye
never spoke thruer word" laughed
my friend hilariously, apparently un-
der the delusion that my speech was
intended for witty one. can it's
by the right leg ye've got the ould pig
this offer! Buy dear, an sell chape!
That's always the way; it is sou
The fellows mirth was infectious,
and l could not help laughing at his
simplicity.
"Now, my fine fellow, perhaps you
will tell me what figure horse like
this is likely to be put up at?"
He lodged the question. That did
not surprise me-, No matter how
straightforward the individual Irish
peasant may be he will invariably
shirk giving a direct answer. He is
cautious to a degree, and objects to
committing himself.
"Horses is chape, now," he repeated
oracularlv. might yer honor be
manin' to swap, now; or to sell, an
thin buy again?" The query was put
with all the frankly displayed curios-
ity of child. "Bekase I'd say swap,
av ye wor askin' for my advice"
''Oh, I really do not care! If [
swap, as you say, l should of course
be willing to give few pounds into
the bargain. And If I sell first, what
price should I stipulate for, do you
think, in the present state Of the mar
ket?"
Shure, av ye put reasonable small
price on him, yer honor, it's besaged
yell be wild the farmers. and thrade-
men, an such like. An av ye put
big price on him, sorra lonely bid
yell get from now till yestherday, an
hats big wordr'
Sand what" I pursued patiently