The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-06-21
Vol. IL.

porch, and his mule made several efforts
to crop the shrubbery that grew by the
door, which Sam very promptly oppo-
sed.
"How far are you going, Mr.. sikesw
| inquired, endeavoring to shake off
the lazy fit which inclined me to keep
my seat.
"Only jest up the branch little bit
mot beyant mile from your fence,
at the outside. Look at him." he ex-
claimed in louder tone, as he gave
the reins jerk. "Thar's deer a plen-
ty up at the forks, and We'll have raj
sport. Come. you'd betterg and
Why, look at him." giving The reins an
other jerk at the same time that he sent
a kick to his mules ribs that might
have been heard hundred yards Stand
l'Il show you how to shine the eyes Of
a buck"
As he sat in his saddle persuading me
to 90, his mule kept flisking and turn
ing in such manner as to annoy him
exceedingly. Upon his left shoulder
he bore his blazing pan; and upon his
right he held his musket, ho'ding his
reins also in his right hand; so that any
efforts on his part to RESTRAIN the re-
fraclory movements of his animal was
attended with much difficulty. ] had
about made up my mind to 90, when
the mule evinced a more resoute de-
termination to get at the shrubbery.
"Whoa! villa, w!--blast your heart
now look at him!-then might be
heard a few good iusty licks. Come,
major, git your gun, and let's -(wil you
hold up your head, you 'bominabIe tooD
and let's take little round--lt'Il do
you good"
Gas | only go to satisfy my curiosi-
ty, I'll not take gun. You will be
able to shoot all the deer we meet"
swell, any way you mind, major"
We were about to start, when sud-
denly the mule gave loud bray, and
when turned to look, his heels were
high in the air, and Sam clinging to his
neck, while the fire flew in every d.
ection. The mule wheeled, reared
and kicked, and still Sam hung to his
neck, shouting-"i.oo at him! whoa!
- will you mind whoa! whoa,
nowm--but all to no purpose. until at
length the infurated animal backed to
the low paIing fence which enclosed
small flower garden, over which he
tumbled-Sam, pan, gun and all ,togeth-
er.
When Sam had disengaged himself,
he discovered that the saddle blanket
was on fire, which had been the cause
of the disaster.
"Cus the luck," said he, 81 thought
smelt something burnin'." Then ad-
dressing himself to the mule in louder
tone, he continued--"Thats what
comes o'jerkin' yel drafted head about
hathaway. Blast your Internal heart,
you've split all my fxins--and here's
my pan, jest as crooked as fish-hookm
then there was kick or two, and
blow with the frying-pan--take that,
you huwdacious fool, and hold your
head still next time, UOnl you? And
you've skinned my leg all 10 flinders,
dadfetch your everlastn picterto ding
nation!--take that under your short
ribs, will you--whoa! I've a great
mind to blow your internal brains out
this very night! And you've broke
the majors palms down, you unnatural
Gus. Whoa! step over now, if your
satisfied"
By this time Sam had got the mule
out of the enclosures, and had gathered
up most Of his .fxens. The whole
scene, after the upsetting of the pan,
had transpircd in The dark, but from the
moment saw the mules heels hying,
and Sam c'inging to his neck, it was
with the utmost difficulty restrained
my laughter. During his solo in the
enclosure was absolutely compelled
to stuff my handkerchief in my mouth
to prevent his hearing me.
"Did you ever see the likes o'that,
major?" exclaimed Sam, as Iapproach-
ed the spot where he was engaged in
Ie-adjusting his saddle and putting 9TH
er matters to rights that had been de-
ranged by the struggles of the mule to
free himself from the burning blanket.
~ am very sorry il happened" / re-
piled, "as it will prevent us from taking
our hunt"
"No, I'll be dadfetched if it does,
thought aint to be backed out that-a-
way, major, not by no means. You
know'a bad beginnin' makes good
en- 1in', as the old woman said. He
isn't done such monstrous sight Of
harm, no how.-ony bent the handle of
my pan little, and some skin off one
of my shins-but that's neither here