Connecticut western news., 1911-11-09
Warner Swapped Hosses
Exchanged Horse that Had Fits for
 One that Rolled Over.

Stories of local "hoss swapping" deals were in order, in a conversation between a couple of old-timers, a few days ago. and the reminiscence of a swap some years ago, between Ed. Warner and Warehouse Nash, we'll known and shrewd dealer, was related.
 Mir. Warner at the time was proprietor of the old Warner House which stood on the site of the present Garfield block. Warehouse Nash, a dweller in Sheffield, was frequent visitor in town, generally appearing with team of more or less spirited-or spirited-horses, and al- ways ready for a "deal," swap, buy or sell. He had we'll deserved reputation for shrewdness in dealing. and it used to be said of him that when 1t came to hoss swapping he could fool the most un- sophisticated appearing church deacon which meant much more than it ex- pressed.
 Warner himself had the Yankee in stinct for shrewd bargaining, and it was a rare and noteworthy exception when he came off secondbest in 8 swap. In those days the primary consideration in negotiating swap was not so much to get desirable article in. the exchange, as to palm off on the other fellow some thing he didn't want, and in the final summing up the main point was, which fellow "got stuck?"
 On the occasion referred to, Nash de- posited himself in an armchair in the Warner House office and proceeded to extol the merits and beauties of a new "hoss" that had just come into his possession-a spirited two-y'r-old black colt called Billie" There was nothing within days drive that could compare with Billie for looks, style, speed, gentle ness, and all the hoss virtues in the book.
 "I wonder what the people of Canaan would think if they were to see Billie prancing through the streets before a nice buggy" he said. "He would certain ly create a sensation"
 After an hours eulogy of Billie, War ner began to get interested. "Why don't you drive this Billie down and let's see him." said Warner. "Mebbe we could make trade"
 "Oh, Iwouldn't trade Billie off for any hoss, nor any pair of hosses you've got" said Nash. Billie ain't the kind of hoss to swap off like an ordinary nag. Besides, I've made up my miud to keep him my self, although he's more of a hoss' than I can really afford to own and drive"
 The upshot was that Warner, more than ever determined to own Billie, sue ceeded in persuading Nash to swap him, sight unseen, for horse that the land lord had just purchased from man who had bought him at the auction sale of Robert Bonner's surplus stables, at a rare bargain.
 The next day Nash drove down from Sheffield leading Billie on behind, and hitched him under Warmers shed. and drove off with the Robert Bonner horse in tow. Warner ordered Billie harnessed up to his handsomest buggy, by his stable hldllI Dubtol pi dtOA lO d hAlNC about the streets. Billie looked all right enough, though hardly up to Nash's ad- vance notices, and stood quietly while Butts was harnessing, but as soon as Warner got into the buggy and Butts let go of the bridle, Billie proceeded to lie down in the shafts, much to Warmers disgust. On being ordered to get up, Billie promptly rolled over, like dog, | Warner sat still and waited philosophi- cally to see what Billie would do next Billie didn't disapPoint him. He leisure l ly got up, shook himself, and-immedi- ately lay down on the other side, and rolled over the other way.
 "Unhitch him and put him in the stable, Butts," said Warner, dismounting, land 1 lock the barn door before Warehouse gets back with that ether hoss. The nag just let him have has fits, and balks like a deaf and dumb mule."