Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-27
CHAPLAIN IN A HORSE TRADE.
How He Inwittingly Aided i'm Driy-
Ing a Sharp Bargain.

From the Sunday School Times.
I reached camp at Chickamauga on Sat-
urday, had service on Sunday; and on
Monday proceeded to buy a horse. Being
u sailor by education and natural predilec-
ton. I knew but little about horses SO
turned over the conduct Of negotiations to
an old trooper Of the 7th United States
Cavalry who had enlisted with US. He
bought the horse.
He took me to him. and 1 was pres
ent when the purchase was consummated
He stood by the seller. and calmly pointed
out defect after defect in the animal,
which the other man repudiated yehem-
emily, at the same time calling attention
to perfection after perfection in his steed
l never 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
1t had l didn't want it Mt 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 1
had unequtvocaily committed the negotia-
ton to the ex-trooper. 1 felt that l was
in honor bound to abide by his decision.
We led the horse away, I confess. with
a very rueful. disguised feeling on my
part. When we were a short distance Off,
the trooper remarked. chuckling with glee:
THAT was a fine play Of yours, chaplain.
1 didn't know you were so keen in horse
trade. sir That just settled the deal That
was mighty cute, ] tell you. You had the
fellow scared. little more on your part,
and we'd a got him for noth;n'."
"Keen? Cute?' l exclaimed in surprise.
Il was perfectly honest in what 1 said. 1
didn't want a broken-down old hack such
as you described. Why, look at that and
that and that!'
I pointed to various blemishes which he
had indicated during the trade. He stared
a m mr. nnf nd ar,
fairly shouted with laughter apologizing
the while. until it gradually dawned upon
me that it was simply 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. I always felt that 1 got that
horse under false pretenses. but, however
that may be. he was Undoubtedly the best
horse In the regiment. Every other OFF,
Ger who owned horse. admit was ready
to make the same cfaim but | knew my
own bore the palm. To anticipate little.
having no means of keeping him when /
returned home and was mustered out, /
sold him to United States cavalry off,
Ger. JisF "a
was in the Union League one day. and
friend OF mine met me with the query:
Hello. Archdeacon, when did you return
from the Philippines?, d
Il have never been there" l answered
oh. corner he replied jokingly. You
can't tell me that you know. / received
letter from a friend OF mine a week or
so ago. from Manila,o stating that Arch
deacon Brady, was the. earnest 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 nd the men ofahis troop positively
| was mystihed, of course, until I learn
ed that it was Clifford, my horse The
cavalry officer had renamed him for me,
and 1 have always been thankful to the
gallant animal that he gave me SO good
a reputation. l wish l had him now