A fool who was willing to pay nine hundred dollars for
such a third-rate negro as that - been wanting to get
rid of the creature for years, but didn't like to THROW him away.
"Eighteen months later - that is to say, on the 15th
of February, 1837 - he sold the sulky and bought
a saddle - said horseback-riding was what the doctor
had always recommended HIM to take, and dog'd if he
wanted to risk HIS neck going over those mountain roads
on wheels in the dead of winter, not if he knew himself.
"On the 9th of April he sold the saddle - said he wasn't
going to risk HIS life with any perishable saddle-girth
that ever was made, over a rainy, miry April road,
while he could ride bareback and know and feel he was
safe - always HAD despised to ride on a saddle, anyway.
"On the 24th of April he sold his horse - said 'I'm just
fifty-seven today, hale and hearty - it would be a PRETTY
howdy-do for me to be wasting such a trip as that and such
weather as this, on a horse, when there ain't anything
in the world so splendid as a tramp on foot through
the fresh spring woods and over the cheery mountains,
to a man that IS a man - and I can make my dog carry my
claim in a little bundle, anyway, when it's collected.
So tomorrow I'll be up bright and early, make my little
old collection, and mosey off to Tennessee, on my own
hind legs, with a rousing good-by to Gadsby's.'
"On the 22d of June he sold his dog - said 'Dern a dog,
anyway, where you're just starting off on a rattling bully
pleasure tramp through the summer woods and hills - perfect
nuisance - chases the squirrels, barks at everything,
goes a-capering and splattering around in the fords
- man can't get any chance to reflect and enjoy nature
- and I'd a blamed sight ruther carry the claim myself,
it's a mighty sight safer; a dog's mighty uncertain
in a financial way - always noticed it - well, GOOD-by,
boys - last call - I'm off for Tennessee with a good
leg and a gay heart, early in the morning.'"
