The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-02-28
Cousin Porte's Mule Adventure

'Virginia Illustrated" published in Harp
er's Magazine. Porte Crayon, accompa.
MED by three cousins and Mice the sable
driver. is travelling through Virginia,
sketching and describing the notable
places, and occasionally giving incidents
oil travel: 51g
Having disposed Of the lions Of Staun.
ton. our tr ravelers resumed their journey.
and leaving the general direction of their
route, took the road to the northwest; to-
ward tho Chmneys, some sixteen miles
distant. Several miles on their way they
passed man engaged in controversy
with mule. As the presence Of witnes.
ses generally serves to aggravate quar-
rel, so upon the approach Of the carriage
both mule and man became more violent
in their Demonstrations. As well as could
be ascer,ained from their actions, the man
wanted 10 GO 10 Staunton, and the mule
seemed willing to go any where else, even
preferring the alternative of going back.
ward over bank ten feet high, rather
than yield his point. The quarrel grow
ling out of this diversity OF opinion or Of
interest seemed likely to last some time.
as the mule was stout healthy animal
and the rider sinewy, longlegged. sun
burnt farmer. with choleric and deter.
mined expression Of face. The ladies
united in desiring Porte @Crayon to stop
the carriage. that they might see the re-
suit Of the dispute. This, however, he
peremptorily refused to do, alleging as a
reason that there was no calculating the
time they might lose in waiting; and. be-
sides, that politeness forbade them to be
impairment witnesses of the mistoriunes
OF their neighbors. "Moreover." said he.
Judging from the condition OF things
when we passed, you would most proba-
bly, overhear, before long. number OF
indelicate and profane expressions. i'm.
proper for female ears"
But Minnie was unwilling to give up
the point, and insisted that the poor man
might get hurt, and that it would at least
he civil TO stop and send Mice TO his as
sistance.
by no means, cousin. I can nppre-
ciate your kind. motive. but the man in
question probably would not-certainly
not in his present state Of mind. Sym
pathy in case like this. only serves to
increase the evil. know something OF
these things by personal experience" said
Crayon, with wise wag OF his head.
Anon he leaned out from his seat, and
looked back with great interest. 4
Whats the matter? can you see him
yetl'' exclaimed the girls. looking through
the peepholes in the back OF the carriage.
There. indeed, they caught the last
| glimpse of the unhappy couple, in the
same spot where they had first seen them;
the mule seated in the middle of the road
on his ullimatum. and the rider, burning
with rage and grief, standing astride ol
him, holding on by one ear, and pnmmell-
ing him Justify with his disengaged fist
Well, Cousin Porte-as politeness for
bids US 10 laugh at the unlucky country
man n-suppose you amuse Us by the re-
cital OF some Of your adventures--,he
experiences in ,nule-riding. for example
| which you limited at just now" y
| Nv elladay, girls! Ii has been fifteen
years or more since | rode one of them;
and, to tell the truth. have never cared
TO repeat the-experiment. On that well
remembered occasion | was one of a ri
ding party, consisting OF some eight OF
ten young people of both sexes, bound
for a picnic on top Of the North Noun
tain. When the party assembled at the
rendszvousI appeared mounted on mule
The girls giggled. as matter Of course
and the men criticised my perverse eccen
ricity. as they called it. /, however, de-
Tended my moniure with great vehemence
The ancient kings OF Israel rode mules
knights and ladies in the chiyalrous ages
ambled on mule back; the great Mcham
med rode one; and why should not Porte
Crayon bestride the likeness of Alborsc
As the little animal trotted along with
great sprightliness. | began to get credi
for some judgment in my selection; ane
one youngster, who was mounted on
Ibonesetter. begged me to exchange will
him. This offer in the pride OF heart
refused disdsinfhlly. On iording the Tus
carora, at. the Old Church. we reined "
to water our beasts. Alborac junior dranl
deep of the ,limpid wave, and, when hi
had finished, suddenly reached his back
and pitched me plump over his head init
The midst OF flock Of geese. rsmem
ber perfectly how felt when rose out o
the water. There was the cursed beas
slipping away with the most cheerful ant
unconcerned expression of counter ance
and making no attempt whatever to rul
away. ! hastily swallowed large gull
OF fury and water, and mounted the AMI
NAL again, endeavoring at the same Tim
to appear as little incommoded as wa
possible upder the circumstances. 'Ha
; hs, hal said |, forcing hearty laugh, :
i got q little ducking! There was no re
sponse, butsuch faces as ! could catch
glimpse Of appeared all purple with con
s,raint. He! he! he'll snickered again
Il got a funny fall No one replied
what the prevents you from laugh
ing?' cried l, in a fury. .Nobody s killed
A chorus Of shouts and shrieks followed d
long. loud, and unres,rained. wouldn
have minded il. but Cousin Julia wa
/. there, and that Internal fellow Frank Wi
Iliams. Cousin Julia could scarcely kee
her saddle for laughing; in fact, she laugh
ed all the way to the Mountain. Ever
silly, poin,less speech furnished occaso
. r. l.