Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1914-01-29
eperduw Jefferson nCounyW 29 1914
The Unexpected Answer.

1he Unexpected answer.
"a soft answer amt the only one
that'll turn away WRATH" observed Caleb
PeasIee, reflectively. "Nine times out
OF ten the unexpected answer will do
just as well-and the tenth time it'll jolt
feIler wuss, mebbe. Suthin' odd come
under my observationth is very mornin'."
Lysander Winchope turned stiffly in
his chair, the better 10 see his friend.
Caleb was gazing musingly at the hori-
zon, and a philosophical smile played
upon his mild old face. Mr.. Winchope
fiddled with his cane impatiently.
care you a-goin' to begin," he asked,
at length, "or amt We 2'
Mr.. Peaslee's eyes twinkled slyly.
"Sartain I'll begin, Lysander," he re-
piled. heartily. "You hadn't showed any
int'rest in il up TO now, and was kind of
studyin' over it. The ways of hoss-
traders are odd and curious. Dickerin'
and tradin' seems TO give them curves
and slants in their minds different from
other folks, and even their ways OF get
tin out OF scrapes seem to be ways OF
their own. Amt you ever noticed it,
Lysander2 Amt il so, Gregg ?"
"Get along with your story!" adiured
the impatient Lysander. Mr.. Gregg said
nothing, but waited expe ctantly.
Don't hurry me-" returned Caleb,
easily. 81 don't want TO get all het up.
Ii seems that Hen Barker has been tryin'
TO sell hoss TO two different people.
You know Hen Barker, over to Amherst
Corner, don't you ?"
81 know him well-consan him y
snapped Mr.. Winchope. Gregg shook
his head doubtfully.
Don't believe ever saw him." he
said. "T least, don't remember him."
you'd remember him if you'd ever
seen him." affirmed Mr.. Peaslee. "lf
he didn't skin you on hoss-trade the
fust time you met him, you'd remember
him for the homelest man you ever saw.
He's so homely that flies won't light on
him. A fly goin' towards Hen Barker
II turn a square corner and get away
soon's he sees where he's goin'-anI
like enough Sprain wing doin' it. He's
so homely he'll scare a strange hoss right
out OF the road, and out into the bushes.
He's awful plain-featured
at seems that Hen had hoSS that he
was tryin TO sell to two different pus-
sons" Mr.. Peaslee continued, land one
OF them was that maiden lady over in
Chfton-the one from Boston that has
that cottage down TO the lake, summers.
She wanted a hosS that she could depend
on not 10 act skittish when she was
drivin', and Hen assured her that the
critter Was just what she wanted.
"The other likely customer was Jim
Sneed, and he wanted hoSS that had
conSd able life and 60 in him-one he'd
got to hang onto some. Hen told Sneed
that if he hunted year he couldn't find
boss that would come nearer 10 tillin'
them requirements than that very critter.
You see, Hens iiggerin' was all right
from hoss- traders pint of view. II
he couldn't sell the hoss 10 the old maid
for quiet one, he could sell him to Jim
for one that was full of ginger.
"The only thing Hen overlooked was
that Jim supplied the old lady with her
butter and garden-truck and she took il
into her head TO tell Jim about the hoSs,
and ask his opinion. and when they got
to comparin' notes, they found out what
Hen was up to. SO the old lady was
a-waitn' for Hen the next time he showed
up, and she give him about as thorough
a goin' over as a man ever got, guess.
Hen sot there and took it-till she wound
up with a final bang
"'Mr. Barker, says she, 4 think you're
the most two. faced man ever met in all
my life!
"Hen looked at her kinder reproachful
for jest minute.
"Miss Graves, he answered her, do
you honestly think that if had two faces
I'd ever use the one I'm wearn' now P
"And would you believe it," Mr.. Peas
lee concluded, impressively, "that an
swer was so unexpected that she bought
the hoss, after all I"