Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-03-01
q Lord a marnr v, exclaimed jack

But what's the matte, with him ?" asked
Billie, looking at the animal half frightened.
"That ere mule, replied Jack, "has Kicked
down, in his time, every panel Of fence on old
Bsiley's place! You found him in pen Of big
logs, didn't you?"
HYes; why?" inquired Blife. +.
"And them ere logs are fastened by big iron
bolts. Its the only thing that would ever hold
him. He has killed all the rest Of old Bailey's
stock, and the old rascal has kept hin on pur-
pose TO swindle some fellow with"
al heard" said Blife, "that he used to
have more stock "
"That's what become Of it," said Jack
Didn't the children cry, and didn't old Bal
ley whine and carry on about losing his three
hundred-dollar mule? 2"
eyes, they did, at great rate"
Il knowed it," said Jack. "The old wo-
man spanked them children, and sent them
out at the nick of time to help the cid rascal
Confederacy In that manner! He ought to be
hung n and Jack winked his of eye.
"But il he's 80 vicious" said Blife hope
fully, chow did they get the halter and cir
single on him!'
Chloroform, sir, chloroform. I've actual
ly seen that mule kick his collar off,"
=" And did they give him chloroform to get
the collar on him ?" asked Blife.
"No!" replied Jack. "They put some oats
in the bottom of a barrel, and laid the collar
across the top; the mule run his head through
the collar to get at the OATS
" The devil !" calculated the Quarter
master.
yes" continued Jack, "and seed him
kick that collar off. Ever since that, he kicks
every barrel to slaves that he gets eyes on"
"But he has seemed quiet enough since
have been leading him, !" interposed Billie.
"Hev you any liquor about your" asked
Jack.
"Yes. little in my coat pocket; why do
you ask?"
=" That's what he follers you for, and its
wonder he hain't eat you up body and breeches
afore this, to get the liquor. knowed that
mule to kick the lock off of old Bailey's cellar
door, and 90 down thar and git as drunk as
beast. Fact, sir. That mule can kick your
hat on and you on his back
"That can't be So" said the Quartermaster,
incredulously.
"Try him" said Jack "I've list got cool
hundred dollars to give you if you'll ride him
rod"
By this time the Quarternaster's attendants
had got out of sight, and his avaricious soul
prompted him to make an effort to get Jacks
gold, thinking he couldn't be more than thrown
of, anyhow.
The night before this meeting, Jack had
quietly stolen into the mules stable, and care
fully placed leather dog-collar, driven full of
pointed sparrovbills, under the mules cirsin-
gle, putting piece Of light leather between
the points Of the nails and the mules back, 80
so that moderate pressure would force them
through into the animals hide
Ignorant Of this, the greedy Quartermsster
moved the mule to the bank, and sprang on him
just where the dog-collar was placed Just as
he lit on the mule, boulder lit on his head,
and he lit sprawling in the mud. The mule,
frantic with the pain of the nails still sticking
in his back, spraDg off the side of the road,
knocked down q dozen panels of fence, and
ran furiously across the field, rearing, kick
ing, laying down and rolling over, Jumping
up, and plunging about at a terrible rate.
" 1 told you So, said Jack coolIy, as the
Quartermaster scrambled up, rubbing his
bruised head, and brushing at the mud on his
besmeared clothes
He's worse than seven devils, amt he 7 4"
said the discounted Quartermaster.
4" In course he is, F" replied Jack.
"What'u you give me for the chance of
him." asked the Quartermaster, as he saw
another string of fence go down before the
msddened mule.
"Don't know" said Jack; "the halter
might be worth a dollar or so, if 1 could get
close enough to shoot him before he tears 1t
all to shorstrings."
"But where's my horse ," asked the Quar-.
terraaster, looking around in astonishment
"Don't know" replied jack "the mule
gave ulu nyeto Win MS neels, 1let as he
started. and haven't seed the hoss since"
81 wish the devil had old -"
"Helloi Quartermaster :" shouted man in
secesh uniform, who was coming up the road
at the top Of his speed "hello Mr.. Quarter.
master, the enemy Is coming right down on
our camp, and the General wants YOU i'm.
mediately. Our army is running like all
possest, and the General wants you to help
| save the plunder. Hurry back as hard as You
can run, or the enemy viii be betwixed you
and our fellers."
Blife waited to hear no more, but broke for
his camp like quarter horse. When he ar
rived, and found that the story was all false,
terrible was the vengeance he vowed but before
he had time to execute his threats, Floyd army
was in a remote part Of the State.
1t is hardly necessary to add that the mes
senger who sent the Quartermaster of 90 pre-
cipitately, was an associate of Jacks and that
Jack had turned the Qaarterm aster's horse
with his head up the road, and by a sharp cut
with a whip sent him out of sight before Billie
recovered from his confusion.
Squire Bailey got his mule again, little the
worse for jacks tricks, and he Is as quiet and
useful an animal as there is in all the country
The double eagles Jack returned with the
l mule, taking the Quartermaster's horse as
compensation for his services
jack Phillips says he would like to have an
opportunity Of inquiring Of the ef-sacriHcing
patriot Of the glorious Confederacy whether II
| hurt much whom the mule kicked his hat off
WilEes' Spirit of fhs Tiznss