Lanterna Rally

Author: John Regan

Publisher: Rarebooksclub.com

Published: 2013-09

Total Pages: 156

ISBN-13: 9781230011851

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1852 edition. Excerpt: ... my affairs now in hand. The land of oracular wisdom on the subject of "corbies an' pyets," and perhaps turkies too, was, however, beyond the flood; and I only wished I had had a rifle to bid the pair good morning. But I had nobler game in prospect, and I pushed on, in eager pursuit. Arrived at Spoon river, I found the Squire superintending some repairs on his mill-dam, which was constructed of logs, with piles to keep them steady. "Well, Squire, how do you flourish?" "Oh, pretty smart; how's all the folks? You're early out this mornin'; what's to pay?" "Squire, I must have a horse: have you got any on hand?" "Wal, I ougld to hev some. What kind of a thing do you want? Hitch your beast, an' we'll go and take a look round." Proceeding about a quarter of a mile along the bank of the river, in a forty-acre field, we found a whole herd of horses. "Cope-Dolly! Cope-Dickey! Cope-Dickey! CopeDolly!" shouted the Squire, and immediately such a stampedo ensued, as made the plain resound again with the eager hoofs of the promiscuous throng. On came the hurry-scurry of half-wild horses, with flowing tails and dishevelled manes, leaping and plunging, in the direction of the fence where we stood. Their owner now threw them a few handfuls of salt, which they licked up off the ground with great gusto. While this was going on, the Squire asked me if there was any among them I could fancy. "Well, Squire, you are a better judge than I am, and I'll leave it to yourself to say what one would suit me best, I don't want a fancy animal so much as a sound, steady, serviceable thing, of, say five years old, or so." "There's a beast 'ill suit you exactly," said he, pointing to a stoutly...