HINDRANCES AND HELPS. 265 



and a fifty there, Squire, 'tant worth talkin' about ; 

 I'll split the difference with ye, and take the hoss." 



" Patrick, put him up." 



At which the customer is puzzled, hesitates, and 

 the horse is entering the stable again, when he breaks 

 out explosively 



" Well, Squire, here's your money ; but 



you're the most thunderin' oneasy man for a dicker 

 that I ever traded with I'll say that for ye." 



And the horse is transferred to his keeping. 



" S'pose you throw in the halter and blanket, 

 Squire, don't ye ? " 



" Give 'him the halter and blanket, Patrick." 



" And, Patrick, you 'ant nary old curry-comb you 

 don't use, you could let me have ? " 



" Give him a curry-comb, Pat." 



" Squire, you're a clever man. Got most through 

 y'r hayin' ? " 



" Nearly." 



" Well, I'm gla'd on't. Had kinder ketchin' 

 weather up our way." 



And with this return to general and polite con- 

 versation, the bargaining is over. It may be amus- 

 ing, but it is not inspiriting or elevating. Yet very 

 much of the country-trade is full of this miserable 

 chaffering. If I have a few acres of Avoodland to 

 sell, the purchaser spends an hour in impressing upon 

 12 



