194 CANADIAN TUBE BECOLLECTIONS 



HOI THE GYPSIES. 



Of late years the gypsies have invaded Canada in con- 

 siderable numbers and these restless, roaming spirits, 

 that rarely abide in towns or cities longer than necessary 

 to look over the horse stock or drop a hint of where the 

 fortune tellers of their race may be found, have in some 

 sections bred a very wholesome respect for their ability 

 as horse traders. 



I remember one of their exploits in the latter line which 

 occurred down Kingston way a number of years ago, 

 which proves their ability to give even a Yorkshireman a 

 good many points and beat him. One day a string of 

 gypsies ' vans was on the road from Gananoque to Kings- 

 ton, when a wealthy resident of the latter place, who was 

 driving eastward, was strongly attracted by the appear- 

 ance of a chestnut gelding with a star in forehead and 

 two white heels, being led behind one of the vans. Hav- 

 ing priced him, and received assurances that he was 

 sound as a ''bloomin' " sovereign and kind as a kitten, 

 he had his own horse removed from the shafts of his dog 

 cart and had a trial of the chestnut there and then. 



The trial was quite satisfactory and as the price asked, 

 $200, was not unreasonable, the horse was bought and an 

 order given his gypsy owner to call at the purchaser's 

 office on his arrival at Kingston and collect his money. 

 This was carried out and the horse delivered at the sta- 

 ble of his new owner. The following day he was hooked 

 up for a twelve-mile drive, but became so used up before 

 he had completed the journey that his new owner com- 

 menced to think his purchase was on the sick list. Re- 

 turning to the stable with him, a vet. was called in, and 

 it was soon made clear that the gypsies had worked off 

 one of their specially prepared samples on the Kings- 

 tonian. He was touched in the wind, tender in the feet. 



