TROTTING HORSES. 65 



New York, where she was sold at the age of four 

 years for the small sum of $13. A few months later, 

 for $80, she passed into the hands of a drover, who 

 took her with him on his way to the city of New 

 York. One bright morning in June, 1850, this drover 

 was passing through the beautiful village of Wash- 

 ington Hollow. He was mounted on a fine gray stal- 

 lion, and kept his cattle in line, while the small bay 

 horse was tied to the tail-board of an open wagon 

 drawn by two stout mules and driven by a sleepy 

 negro. This interesting procession attracted the no- 

 tice of one Mr. Jonathan A. Vielee, a shrewd horse- 

 man, who happened to be basking in the sun at his 

 stable door on the morning in question, and who, re- 

 marking the strong and gamy appearance of the 

 future Queen of the Turf, hailed the drover, and 

 presently " had the little mare by the nose, and was 

 studying every mark upon her teeth. He then " — 

 I quote from Mr. George Wilkes's history of Flora 

 Temple — " took hold of her feet ; and the little mare 

 lifted them successively in his hand, with a quiet, 

 downward glance that seemed to say, 'You'll find 

 everything right there, Mr. Vielee, and as fair and 

 as firm as if you wished me to trot for a man's life ! ' 

 And so Mr. Vielee did : and as he dropped the last 

 foot, he liked the promise of the little mare amaz 

 ingly, and it struck him that if he could get her for 

 any sum short of $250 she would be a mighty good 

 bargain. 



" ' She is about five years old ? ' said Mr. Vielee, 

 inquiringly. 



"'You have seen for yourself,' replied the drover. 

 6Ci I should judge she was all right?' again sug- 



5 



