The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-12-29
JOSEPH'S 2:37 HORSE.
AN EoUiNG oclS BRICK THAT MADE
AoREAT RECORD.

| TAe Interesting History Of . Slight
Mistake That Caused the Price
Asked Fer the Ancient Nag to Take
~ Awful and Sudden Tumble.
II never could miss horse DEAL" said
one Of tho former proprietors Of the Gut
tanbsrg race track with chuokle Of sat-
isfaction, "but my last venture was Jim
dandy. was driving along the pike
about five miles from my country home In
New Jersey when an old farmer know
poked his whiskers over his fence and ask
ed II didn't want to buy an ancient plug
which he held by halter to keep from
falling down. stopped, Of course, and
examined the steed. There were about %
worth Of meat on him, IS worth Of vital.
ity and cents worth Of speed. I didn't
exactly see what I could do with such
monumental wreck, but the horse trading
passion grew strong within me, and
said:
"'How much for the equine gold brlok'
"'Thirty dollars, returned the farmer.
s'For how manys' asked politely.
"'This is selected stock; comes one In
box, was his retort.
"'In give you &c. said I. and no
questions asked
"'Let's divide tho pot, he said. Call
1t go, and this beautiful Hambletonian
Is yonrn.
bis sporty talk, and as had spent some
previous time in dallianoe at the road
house money had ceased to look as lovely
as usual. 30 gave him the $50 and led
the four legged graveyard home. 1 kept
him on grass for week or two and no.
tced that he began to pick up little
form. This also attracted the attention
Of coal black gentleman whom employ
on my place us valet to the COWS and less
or stock. Ono bright, dewy morning he
shuffied up and said:
Boss. what yo' taak TO- de new hossP'
Does some benevolent association
want to buy himr asked. Tho black
gentleman grinned till his teeth looked
like a monument builders exhibit at Q
worlds fair.
"'No, sab, said he Abs lookin TO
hossflssh TO- III self. - -a. ,r,.-
" But this 10 very valuable animal,
Joseph said reflectively, and his posi-
bilities In speed are unlimited. The only
thing that worries me Ia his impossible
ties l should think 5000
"'Ah'll give 20 $50, boss, broke in
Joseph, 'Cawn't spare no Inore'n dat.
"A kind heart and a generous, noble
nature have always been against me in
matters of commerce, so sold the nag to
the black gentleman for his half century
and dismissed the transaction from my
mind as unworthy of ragret. But a few
days after he came around to discuss his
purchase
".Boss. said he 'Ah's pow'ful sorry
TO yo'.
:" What's the matter with me?' asked
Am ! sick ugain?'
"'Yo' done will be wen 20 heahs de
news he answered. Boss, dat $50 boss
yo' done solo NO goes in 2:37!
J." Don't. Joseph, said l, panied beyond
expression at this evidence Of decadenco.
Remember Ananas and what one puny
little effort did for him.
Fact. boss; decd hit is, he insisted
Then lie called a runt of an African who
had recently appeared in tho ncighbor
hood to come and back up his assertion.
"'Iwo.t huty .Eevcn's his stime, sab,
sad tho runt, pulling out a handsome
stop watch which he explained in some
confusion bad been presented to him by
lady friend for being good Me an Joe
done had him down to the track an trotted
him round in yo' ole sulky in dat time,
sub, c0rdin to do watch.
IF that Is the case, Joseph said I, i
am willing TO buy tho animal back mt u
comfortable advance Looking at tho
horse now in charitable light, l perceive
that his days are numbered and will soon
he tabulated Oh cold, cold stone You
may touch me for $50 and I'll take the
animal off your hands.
"But tho low dcwn African grinned.
Bid him up. 6oss. said he. Abs
used to auctions.
"'.Joseph, said ], you grieve me deep
ly. Would you for the mere greed of filthy
gold restrain the hand of benevolence? IN
give you sos.
"Moneyll havo t. talk loudern dat,
boss, said the perverse one, 'Once mo-.
eff 70, please ~.
( '"Soycnty dollars, then, if you re good
/ "'Dat's A b C, boss Sling some good
old diction'ry langwidge wild free flgahs
IN hit
"Wcll, before got through with .Io-
scpb he rsn Inc up to Gl25 TEen start
ed over to the liirt. with him, his runt
friend with the s,up wGtch, and the hony
old glue pot filler OF II horse to witness II
performance before paying my cash. Tho
track in question is an abandoned bicycle
course which l overhauied as u spriNting
place for my own horses and the horses of
my friends When wa arrived, the two
black gentlemen hustled the mig into an
old sulky. Joseph mounted, ard The fu-
neral procession moved up the course.
Tho runt pulled his stop watch and con
suited mine Joseph piled tho whiu and
let his record breaker out for all he was
worth, which appeared to be about az
much as goat htChcd 10 II canalbolt.
BY and Ivy, as tho sun went down and
the moon came up, Joseph and his bose
came under tho wire.
Whats tic time? Ee asked his sable
friend expectantly A smile of triumph
split the runt's face in half
He done hit in o-thurty-six an er
half, he answered, and laid my wnary
head between my hands and laughed till
1t hurt me.
"'Wha' TO- 20 laugh, boss?' asked 10.
seph, coming up to receive tho expected
sl25 Am yo' glad t. git him so chenp9
" Joseph, l said when l caught my
brenth, III not deprive you Of your thor
oughbrcd unless you insist, and in that
event must alter my figures Instead of
sl2b have not the heart to offer you more
than $l.26
70 dc IInwd's sake, bossl What's de
mattah wid yoY' Pnsped Joseph. pep eyed
with asto,:lsl,mant Didn't he GO round
dc track in tTo-thuty-six an err halfY'
lie die for u fact. Joseph; he did.
said l
"'Don what's wrong he demanded
"'NothuQ, Joseph, absolutely moth
Ing, answered. only this happens to
u n half mile track
And both black gentlemen fell down
IL tho dust New York Sun