rse jockey."

"Well, now, I tell you what," said the major; "I'm a darned fool for
doin' of it; but when I take a fancy, I don't mind expense to gratify
it. I'm willing to swap hosses even with you."

"Even!" screamed the agent. "Now, major, that's a good one. I ain't a
horse jockey. I don't know the value of the critters; but I ain't
altogether a reg'lar, soft-headed, know-nothin' fool; and if I had a
mind to part with this 'ere splendiferous animal, I should want boot."

"You're a hard one," said the major; "but as fur as twenty
dollars----"

"Twenty dollars! get out," said the agent, indignantly. "G'lang, Bob!"
and he actually started his team.

"Hold on!" roared the major. "What do you want?"

"Say forty, and I'll do it--no, I won't," said the agent.

"You said you would. It's a bargain. You said forty, didn't he, Jake?"

The hostler could not deny it.

"Well, you're the hardest customer _I_ ever see!" muttered the agent,
as he got out of the wagon. "This is the wust mornin's work I ever
did. Let me have your old bay, and be a travellin'. You'd hev' a
fellur's eye teeth afore he knowed it, ef you wanted 'em."

The major chuckled as he counted out forty dollars and handed them to
the agent. He eagerly assisted the hostler to ungear the coveted
horse; and when the bay was harnessed up, did not urge the agent to
stop, and the latter drove off, looking as melancholy as if he had
buried all his relations.

The major drove out with his new purchase that very day; but his
performance did not equal his expectations. However, as an experienced
horse jockey, he knew that great allowances are to be made for a green
horse, and he promised to train him up to "2.50," at the least. But
before one week had passed over his head, his expectations were all
dashed. There was no "go" in the animal. His nose dropped to the
ground, his tail slunk, and his toes dug into the gravel as if he was
boring for water. The major had to confess that he had been completely
taken in.

"That infernal rascal!" said he; "I wish I could catch him here
again."

"You ain't very likely to," remarked Jake, the hostler, dryly.

"Why so? Do you know any thing about him? Did you ever see him
before?"

"Ever see him! why, he came from the same place that I did."

"Where's that?"

"Meredith Bridge."

"Meredith Bridge!" exclaimed the landlord. "And he said he wasn't a
horse jockey. O, what an ass I was."

"Very true," said the hostler.