Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-05-29


him kick that collar Oh. Ever since that
he kicks every barre to slaves that he
gets his eyes on"
"But he has seemed quiet enough since
I have been leading him." interposed
Blife.
"Have you any liquor about you?"
asked Jack.
Eyes, little in my coat pocket why
90 you askW
"That's what he iollcrs you for, and
it's a wonder no hain't cut you up body
and brcechcs aforo this, to get the liker
| know'd that mule 20 kick the lock off
Of old Baiey's cellar door, and 20 down
thar and get as drunk as a beast Fact,
sir. That mule can kick your hat Off,
and You on his back =
THAT can't be so, said the quarter
master, incredulousIy.
Try him." said Jael,. "I'ye list got
cool hundred dollors to give You if
you'll ride him rod.
BY this time the cumtermaster's at
tcndants had got ou' Of sight, and his
avalicious soul rrotr ted him to make
an effort to get Jacks gold, thinking he
couldn't be more thsn thrown Off any
how.
The night before tllj meeting Jack had
quietly stolen into tx mules stable and
carefully placed a leatg Der dog collar driy-
en- full Of pointed sHrow bills, under
the mules cir>ingle putting a piece of
light leather betweengthe points Of the
nails and the mules Back, so that mod
crate pressure would Gree them through
into the a.imal's hids
Ignorant Of this, tTe greedy quarter
master moved the mur to the bank and
sprang on him just " ere the dog collar
was placed. just as He lit on the mule,
boulder lit on hiss cad, and he lit in
the mud. The mule7 frantic with the
pain Of the nails ST. sticking in his
back, sprang off thc'-side of the road,
knocked down a dozsa panels of fence,
and ran ruriously acr,s, the field, rearing
kicking, lying down ind rolling over,
jumping up and llf,sing at a terrible
rate.
81 told you so," sd Jack, coolly, as
the qnartermastcr scranbod up, rubbing
his bruised head, and Gushing at the mud
on his 6csmeared clothes.
"He's worse than seven devils, ain't
hep said the discomf ed quartorm aster.
"!n course he is" piled Jack.
"W hat'll you give one for the chance
OF him?'' asked the artermaster, as he
saw another string of ence go down be-
| fore the uallanal ,u,,i,
Don't know" said Jack, "the halter
might be worth dollar or so, if | could
get close enough to shoot him before he
tears it all to short strings"
"But where's my horse?" asked th(
qnortermaster, looking around in aston
ishment.
Don't know rplied Jack, "thc
mule gave him hyste with his heels Just
as he started and | havn't seen the hoss
since"
81 wish the devil had old"
"Hello, Qnartermaster % shouted a
man in Secesh uniform, who was coming
up the road at the top of his speed
'heIIo, Mr.. Quartermaster, the enemy i.
coming right down on our camp and the
General wants you Immediately. Gu
army is running like all possessed, anC
the General wants you to hel p save til,
plundor Hurry back as hard as you car
run or the enemy will be betwixt you
and our lellers.'
Blife waited to hear no more, but
broke for his camp like quarter horse.
When he arrived, and found that the
story was all false, terrible was the ven
geance he vowed but before he had time
to execute his threats, Floyd's army was
in remote part OF the State.
1t is hardly necessary to add, that the
messenger who sent the quartermaster of
SO precipitately was an associate OF
Jacks, and that Jack had turned the
quartermaster's horse with his head up
the road, and by a sharp cut with whip
sent him off ont of sight before Blifc
recovered from his confusion.
Squire Bailey got his mule again, lit
tie the worse for Jacks tricks, and he is
as quiet and useful an animal as there i,
in all the country, The double eagles
Jack returned with the mule, taking the
quartermaster's horse as compensation
for his services.
Jack Phillips says he would like tc
have an opportunity of inquiring of the
seli-sacriicing patriot of the gloriou,
Conrederacy, whether it hurt much al
the time the mule kicked his hat off
! IIyIEee' CD,r1