The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1901-08-02
THE CHAPLAIN'S HORSE.
no" Clergyman Unconsciousiy
Turned Neat Trick in
Horse Trade

| reached csUrr at Chickamauga OF.
Saturday, had service on Sunday. and
on Monday proceeded to buy a horse.
Being sailor by education and
natural prediction, knew but little
about horses, so | turned over the
conduct of negotiations to an old
trooper of the seventh United STATES
| cavalry who had enlisted with us. He
bought the horse. says Cyrus Town
send Brady, in the Sunday School
! Times.
He took me to see him. and he was
present when the purchase was con-
summated. He stood by the seller.
| and calmly pointed out defect after
! defect In the animal, which the other
man repudiated vehemently. at the
! same time calling attention to per-
fectlon after perfection in his steed
Fever saw such divergent views
about single animal Finally.
alarmed at the zeal of my advocate,
l remarked decisively that if the
horse had all the faults he said il
! had / didn't want it at any price.
! whereupon the seller with alarming
! promptness came down IN his figures
to reasonable basis, and before |
could utter protest the horse was
my own. As | had unequiyocally com
mitted the negotiation to the ex-
trooper, | felt that | was in honor
bound to abide by his decision. We
led the horse away. | confess, with
very rueful. Disguised feeling on my
part. When we were short distance
off the trooper remarked, chuckling
with glee:
That was a fine play of yours,
chaplain. l didn't know YOU were so
keen in a horse trade, sir. That lust
| settled the deal. That was mighty
cute, tell you. You had the fellow
scared. y little more on your part
and we'd "a got him for nothin'."
Keen? Gute?" | exclaimed in sur.
prise. II was perfectly honest in
what | said; | didn't want broken
down old hack such as you described.
Why, look at that and that and
that
pointed to various hlemishes
which he had indicated during the
| trade. He stared at me in amaze
meat moment, and then fairly
shouted with laughter, apologizing
the while until it gradually dawned
upon me that It was simply a case of
balancing lies and assertions. and
that | had been guilty of aiding and
abetting the deal. and that he had
! taken an honest refusal for an adroit
move. | always felt that I got that
| horse under false pretenses, but,
| however that may be. he was I'M
| doubtedlY the best horse in the regi-
ment. Every other officer who owned
horse. l admit. was ready to make
the claim, but | knew my own bore
the palm. Te anticipate little, hav-
! ing no means of keeping him when
| returned home and was mustered
out, | sold him to a United States
cavalry officer
/ was in the Union League one dav
and friend Of mine met me with the
query:
Hello, archdeacon, when did you
return from the Philippines
Il have never been there" an
swered
"oh, GOMEZ" he replied iokingly.
''You can't tell me that. you know. !
received letter from a friend OF
mine a week or so ago from Manila
stating that Arehdeaeon Brady was
the gamest thing in the regiment
that he WAS always in the front of
the battle line, that he was never
tired and never complained, and that
the writer and the men of his troop
positively adored him"
! was mystifed, of course, until I
learned that it was Clifford, my
horse. The cavalry officer had re-
named him for me. and ! have al
ways been thankful to the gallant
animal that he gave me so good
reputation. l wish had him now