t gentleman with him?"

"Don't know, your honour, never saw him before; he looks like a
furriner, too."

"Come, Mr. Slick," said I, "we are attracting too much attention here,
let us go."

"Cuss 'em," said he, "I'll attract more attention afore I've done yet,
when Old Clay comes, and then I'll tell 'em who I am--Sam Slick,
from Slickville, Onion County, State of Connecticut, United States of
America. But I do suppose we had as good make tracks, for I don't want
folks to know me yet. I'm plaguy sorry I let put that countersign of Old
Clay too, but they won't onderstand it. Critters like the English, that
know everything have generally weak eyes, from studyin' so hard.

"Did you take notice of that critter I was a handlin' of, Squire? that
one that's all drawed up in the middle like a devil's darnin' needle;
her hair a standin' upon eend as if she was amazed at herself, and
a look out of her eye, as if she thort the dogs would find the steak
kinder tough, when they got her for dinner. Well, that's a great mare
that 'are, and there ain't nothin' onder the sun the matter of her,
except the groom has stole her oats, forgot to give her water, and let
her make a supper sometimes off of her nasty, mouldy, filthy beddin'. I
hante see'd a hoss here equal to her a'most--short back, beautiful rake
to the shoulder, great depth of chest, elegant quarter, great stifle,
amazin' strong arm, monstrous nice nostrils, eyes like a weasel, all
outside, game ears, first chop bone and fine flat leg, with no gum on no
part of it. She's a sneezer that; but she'll be knocked down for twenty
or thirty pound, because she looks as if she was used up.

"I intended to a had that mare, for I'd a made her worth twelve hundred
dollars. It was a dreadful pity, I let go, that time, for I actilly
forgot where I was. I'll know better next hitch, for boughten wit is
the best in a general way. Yes, I'm peskily sorry about that mare. Well,
swappin' I've studied, but I doubt if it's as much the fashion here as
with us; and besides, swappin' where you don't know the county and its
tricks, (for every county has its own tricks, different from others), is
dangersome too. I've seen swaps where both sides got took in. Did ever I
tell you the story of the "Elder and the grave-digger?"

"Never," I replied; "but here we are at our lodgings. Come in, and tell
it to me."

"Well," said he, "I must have a glass of mint julip fust, to wash down
that ere disappointment