Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 August 1859 — A SINGULAR HORSE TRADE. [ARTICLE]

A SINGULAR HORSE TRADE.

The farmers out on the “ Ridge,” two to four miles east of town s are a clever set of fellows, and as sharp as a two-edged sword, cutting both ways. They always come to town in squads, and they never come without astonishing our citizens with their excessive good nature and hilarity, and right, welcome they always are by our people, for not ten minutes passes after their arrival before the ringing laugh is heard from one end of the street to the other. Their hilarity is contagious, and during their stay boisterous laughs nnd smiling faces are to be met in all directions. They are continually playing tricks anti telling jokes on one another, which is always taken in good part, for they arc all too jovial to become angry. The latest joke is the following., and when told in town by one of their number last Monday, roars and shouts of laughter followed, fo>- the parties concerned are both as sharp as they get them up. C. and M. had each a horse that each desired to trade with the other, and neither horse, we are told, was worth more than what his hide would bring. After taking in a roundabout manner without coming |o the point for a long time, they resorted to “marking,” a plan much in vogue among jockeys when they are ashamed to boldly let one know how had they intend to “do” him. They agreed to observe “honor among neighbors,” and mark honestly. C. marked th.it lie would not takers thin S3O to boot, and M. marked that he would not give more than S4O. On comparing figures there was found to be a difference between them of $lO. Here was a dilemma. C. declared that, as they were trading up n “honor between neighbors,” lie wi u d not take more than S3O; while M. as strenuously insisted that, as they were trading upon “honor he- ; tween neighbors,” he would not give ess than S4O. Both were determined, and’it was evident that no trade could he effected; so it was agreed to fall back on the jockey system, atid throw “honor between neighbors” to the winds. Alter this they soon 1 effected a trade, M. giving C. forty-five dollars to boot, when both the neighbors went on their way rejoicing, each believing that he Imd the best end of the bargain.