Year: 1859

or SAM NAhNfN ) VENTURE.


SAM VARNEY was a Green Mountain Boy
lie had worked as a hired man on different
farms, and had laid up some money. He had
frequently been employed in bringing loads of
produce to the Boston market and had made
sales quite satisfactory to his employers. On
several occasions he hade made little specua-
tions of his own which were quite profitable.


On one of his visits to Boston, Sam had fall
en- in with a sal or, who was a native Of the
same town where he himself was born, and they
had a great deal Of conversation One of the
interesting facts which Sam learned from his
townSman was, that sailors were occasionally
permitted to take out small rcnture, as it was
called of their own, little package of goods,
a barrel of mackere, or something of that sort,
which would not take up much room in the ves-
sell This they sold; and brought home the pro-
ceeds in the produce of the country they visited.


On his return home, Sam meditated profound
ly on this subject; and finally concluded to
make voyage to the West Indies, and take
venture with him. The next question was what
this vanture should be. lie had nothing on
hand at the time but small horse, which he
had won in rattle, and had not yet been able to
dispose of. He was not very beautiful horse.
On the contrary, he was generally pronounced
by the neighbors ian awful ugly hosss." His
neck was too shorts his head was too long.
His body was lean and scraggy. His name
was rough and refractory, and persisted in stand
ing up too much in spite of trimming and
grooming. and his tail looked like mop But
sam had ridden him repeatedly, and found that
he was capable OF great speed in running.


The sailor had told Sam that whole cargoes
Of horses were frequently sent from Connect
cut to the west Indies, and dioposed of at a
large profit. So he determined that his horse
should he his venture. Accordingly he noun
ted him, rode down to Boston, put him into a
stable and went in search of his sailor friend
He soon found him. and communicated his plan
His acquaintance, Tom Standish by name was
afraid he would not be able to carry it out but
promised to lend all the assistance in his pow
er. lie had just shipped in a vessel bound for
Jamaica, and more hands were wanted. He
introduced him to the captain, who made no
objection to shipping him as a green hand.
When the question of the venture came up,
there VAS difficulty. He had no accommoda-
ton for rhorse on board the brig. Sam offer
ed to put him on deck and take care of him.
This would be inconvenient and interfere with
his duty Determined to carry his point, Sam
offered to pay freight, cash down, before sailing;
and the captain rather amused at his pertinacity,
and curious to see how the venture would sue
ceed agreed to the proposal. So the horse was
shipped, and the vessel sailed


] sam WAS tut JUL VI lilt tuc
whole passage There was no end to their ccrs
/ at the appearance of helitte horse. There nau-
tical Jokes on him were inexhaustible, and Sam
Narnry's venture was considered the most dcs-
! peratc and ridiculous speculation that had ever
been attempted.


But Sam was perfectly imperturbable. He
answered all their drolleries good-naturedly
and told them "they had better wait and see the
upshot lie had never made bad speculation
vet, and he guessed he knew what he was about.
The hoss was not a very handsome hoss but,
he was a very good one. He guessed he could
sell him.


At length the brig arrived at Kingston, Ja-
maica, and Sam soon had his horse landed and
stabbed. When he came to offer him for sale,
nobody seemed inclined to buy. The horse
was decidedly too ugly for saddle or gig horse;
and the very draymen turned up their noses at
! him. Presently the races came on and every
body was hurrying out of town to the race
ground.


Sam mounted his horse and rode out with
the rest. He looked on with much interest a,
the first rcae. He observed that the horses
we've not remarkable for their speed. There
appeared to be no thoroughbred blood-horses
among them; and he concluded that the races
had been got up by the planters from their love
of SPORT without having any real race-horses or
the Island. He believed that his little horst
could beat them all and he determined at al
hazards to give him trial So he went to th'
managers and offered to enter him for the mex
race.


Sans proposition was received with shouts
of laughter. 1t was considered capital joke
But Sam told them it was no joke. He wal
perfectly serious. He wanted to run his hos


against the whole field, and was ready to bet oil
him. He was accordingly entered and instant
ly heavy odds were offered against him. Tw,
to one, five to one, ten to one, and finally, on
planter offered twenty to one.


On hearing this offer, Sam said he would TAXI


it. 1t was necessary to produce the amount O
his be-. He was in the dress of common sail
or, and his antagonist said that he was not goinl
to be trihed with, the stakes must be deposited
with the managers. How much would he bet
"Fiye hundred dollars replied Sam. "Wel
, down with your dust said the planter Where
upon Sam took off leather belt which he hac
round his waist, under his clothes, and counted
, five hundred dollars in doubloons. The plant
er's check was pronounced satisfactory and re
ceived by the managers Many other bets wer
/ made by different persons, with heavy odd
against Sans horse,


Whom Sam rode up to the starting place ther
, were shouts of laughter at his appearance, an,
the most unspairng censures of his presump


ton in entering on the race. Sam paid no at
tention to this, but started with the rest; and
soou became apparent that he was not such
7 fool as they took him to be. He was anon
, the foremost in two minutes; and at the end q
9 thr race, "that awful ugly hoss' was pronounce
, clearly and unequivocally the victor,