“I had often thought of Nancy, the blaze-faced mare, that I had got from Governor Reed and traded to Mr. Paulding.  I was again reminded of her by meeting a man who had just come from Tarrytown.  Being near that place I rode on to Paulding’s farm and spent a night in his house.  I found Nancy in good flesh and spirits.  She seemed to know and like the touch of my hand and, standing by her side, the notion came to me that I ought to own her.  Paulding was reduced in circumstances.  Having been a patriot and a money-lender, the war had impoverished him.  My own horse was worn by overwork and so I proposed a trade and offered a sum to boot which he promptly accepted.  I came back up the north road with the handsome, high-headed mare under my saddle.  The next night I stopped with one Reuben Smith near the northern limit of the neutral territory below Stony Point.  Smith had prospered by selling supplies to the patriot army.  I had heard that he was a Tory and so I wished to know him.  I found him a rugged, jovial, long-haired man of middle age, with a ready ringing laugh.  His jokes were spoken in a low tone and followed by quick, stertorous breathing and roars and gestures of appreciation.  His cheerful spirit had no doubt been a help to him in our camp.

“‘I’ve got the habit o’ laughin’ at my own jokes,’ said he.  ’Ye see it’s a lonely country here an’ if I didn’t give ’em a little encouragement they wouldn’t come eround,’ the man explained.

“He lifted a foot and swung it in the air while he bent the knee of the leg on which he was standing and opened his mouth widely and blew the air out of his lungs and clapped his hands together.

“‘It also gives you exercise,’ I remarked.

“‘A joke is like a hoss; it has to be fed or it won’t work,’ he remarked, as he continued his cheerful gymnastics.  I have never known a man to whom a joke was so much of an undertaking.  He sobered down and added: 

“‘This mare is no stranger to oats an’ the curry comb.”

“He looked her over carefully before he led her to the stable.

“Next morning as he stood by her noble head, Smith said to me: 

“‘She’s a knowin’ beast.  She’d be smart enough to laugh at my jokes an’ I wouldn’t wonder.’

“He was immensely pleased with this idea of his.  Then, turning serious, he asked if I would sell her.

“‘You couldn’t afford to own that mare,’ I said.

“I had touched his vanity.  In fact I did not realize how much he had made by his overcharging.  He was better able to own her than I and that he proposed to show me.

“He offered for her another horse and a sum which caused me to take account of my situation.  The money would be a help to me.  However, I shook my head.  He increased his offer.

“’What do you want of her?” I asked.

“‘I’ve always wanted to own a hoss like that,’ he answered.

“‘I intended to keep the mare,’ said I.  ’But if you will treat her well and give her a good home I shall let you have her.’