The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-05
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Hank DeWberry Had a , ChanSt to Get a HOSS for Nothing, but
 Failed

There was a good cal of excitement and almost a fatality in Bingville last Tues day afternoon which come about In pecooliar way. Hoke Smith had rode into Bingville from his farm two miles west to see if there was any mall for him at the postoffce (there wasnO and to get five Lbs. of sugar at Hen Weatherspy store for his wife and a Lb. of prunes II Hen had any Che had).
 Hoke rode his little piebald Injun pony which he purchased last year from Abe Hawkins who bought 1t from man who brought a car load of ponies from Texas and sold them out to whoever wished to buy one for $75 each. Holpes pony didn't have no name when he bought 1t but 1t had a brand on its trump which was ''G' in a circle and so Hoke he called the pony "Ginjer' which he calkilated was what the "G" stood for.
 We'll after Hoke had asked for his mall and purchased his sugar and prunes and also a seegar which he set down in the store and smoked up while he engaged in social discourse on the crops, ct cetera, he calkilated he must be on his way back to the farm so he went outside the store and unhitched Ginjer from the hitching rail Several of the fellers had follered Hoke outen the store to wish him god speed and see him off, as you might say, and among them was Hank Dewberry. HOke he put the pTuIftS III OHo clu ol d grain bag and the sugar in t'other and slung the bag crost the saddle and clim on the pony which seemed to be most asleep. While Hoke was getting his feet fixed in the stirrups Hank Dewberry he up and says, "EIoke calkllate that pony would be tolerable good riding hoss if he was leetle more wide awake"
 i1es wide awake enough" says Hoke: 'hes got enough git-up-and-go in him when he wants it.
 "Aw shucks," says Hank. "he aint got no more sprawl n a ole COW, that pony ain't-he couldn't keep up to the hearse at funeral"
 It kind of Tiled Hoke up to have any person make invidious remarks like that concerning his pony and so he jumps offen the pony and goes up to Hank and says "Il tell you what I'll do. Hank Dewberry-I'll let you take this pony and git on him right here and now and if you kin ride him down Main street to the Town Hall and back and stay in the saddle all the time you're doin' it, I'll make you a present of him an if I was to sell him I wouldn't take cent less'n a hundred dollars for him."
 You surprise me-" says Hank. Do you mean to say that If ride that pony down to the Town Hall an back I git him to keep for my own personal prop erty?'
 Them S what l mean, says HOKe, "an' I call on everybody present to be witness"
 By gosh. I'll take you up," says Hank hauling off his coat but it's almost shame to get hoss so easy-seems like I was gettin' him under false pretenses.
 Hoke didn't say nothing to this-he jest handed Hank the reins and. every body present gathered around to see what would happen. As for Ginjer, he opened his eyes and seemed to take notice of Hank. but he looked as friend ly as could be and when Hank tuk holt of his mane in one hand and the back of the saddle with tother and put his foot in the stirrup and says. Steady, now. Ginjer, til I git on!' Ginjer, he stood jest as quiet a lamb and Hank he pulled hisself into the saddle and gathered up the reins and looked around with a smile. Ginjer stood there with his head down like as if he would haft to be pushed if he was ever moved outen his tracks. 'I calkilate he's as good as mine right now" says Hank to Hoke. "an' I give you warning that you can't back out" 'T don't want to back out" says HolSe; "go ahead and ride him to