Nebraska advertiser., 1864-02-25

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Lord a mercy = exclaimed Jack.
But what's the matter with him r ask
ed Blife, looking at the animal hal
frightened.
That ere mule replied Jack, .ha.
kicked down. in his time, every panel ot
fence on old Bailey's place You found
him in a pen Of big logs, didn't youa'
! Yes; why 2 inquired Blife.
! And them ere logs are fastened b,
big iron bolts. Its the only thing tha
would ever hold him. He has killed al
the rest of old Bailey's stock, and III,
old rascal has kept him on purpose t.
swindle some fellow with
4 heard said BIife, that he used tc
have more stock
That's what become Of il, said Jack
Didn't the children cry. and didn't oic
Bailey whine and carry on about losing
his three hundred dollar mule q
Yes, they did, at a great rate
i knOwed it,, said Jack. The ole
woman spanked them children, and sent
them out at the nick Of time to help the
old rascal in bis swindle. And to chear
our glorious Confederacy in that manner
He ought to be hung p and Jack winked
his off eye.
But if he's so Vicious said Blife hope.
fully, how did they get the halter and
cirsingle on him =
'ChlOroform, sir, chlorOfOrm. I've actu-
ally seen that mule kick his collar off,
And did they give him chlOrOfOrm to
get the collar on him 3 asked Blife.
MOI replied Jack. They put some
oats in the bottom of 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 of: Ever since that, he
kicks every barrel to slaves that he gels
eyes on
But he has seemed quiet enough since
l have been leading him. interposed
Blife.
.Hev you any liquor about you g asked
Jack.
Yes, little in my coat pocket Why
do you askl'
That's what he follers you for, and its
a wonder he hain't eat you up body and
breeches afOre this, to get the liquor. l
knowe9 that mule to kick the lock off Of
old Bailey's cellar door. and go down thar
and git as drunk as a beast. Facts sir,
That mule can kick your hat of. and you
on his back
That can't be So said the Quarter
master, incredulously.
Try him. said Jack. I've jist got
cool hundred dollars to give you if you'll
ride him a rod
By this time the Quartermaster's atten-
dants had got out of sight, and his ava
ricious soul prompted him to make an
effort to get Jacks gold, thinking he
couldn't be. more than thrown off, any
how.
The night before this meeting, Jack
had quietly stolen into the mules stable,
and carefully placed leather dOg-collar,
driven full of pointed sparrawbills, under
the mules cirsirgIe, putting piece OF
light leather between the points of the
nails and the mules back, so that mode
rate pressure would force them through
into the ANIMALS hide.
Ignorant of this, the greedy Quarter
master moved the mule to the bank, and
sprang on him just where the dog.collar
was placed. Just as he lit on the mule,
a boulder lit on his head, and he lit
sprawIing in the mud. The mule, fran
tic with the pain of the nails still stick
ing in his back, sprang off the side of the
road, knocked down a dozen panels of
fence, and ran furiously across the feld,
rearing, kicking, laying dewn and rolling
over, Jumping up, about at terrible rate.
4 tcId you so,' said Jack cOOlly, as the
Quartermaster scrambled up, rubbing his
bruised head. and brushing at the mud on
his besmeared clothes.
He's worse than seven deVels, amt
he g said the discomfted Quartermas:sr.
In course he is replied Jack.
iWhat'll you give me for the chance of
him! g asked the Quartermaster, as he.
saw another string of fence so down boz
fore the maddened mule.
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 shOrtstrings.'
But where's my horse g asked the
Quarterrnaster, locking around in aston
ishment.
Don't know replied Jack 'the mule