The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-12-25
Natural History of the Mule.
BY A. NUT MEG, ESQ.

BY AZ NUT MEG, ESQ.
Was YOU ever on intimate terms enuff
with a mule, to study his little eXentrisi-
tvs? I was, and, / now consider myself
competent to write the natural history OF
the kritters, which l shall proceed briefly
to do.
The mule is very pretty, domcstick
animal; he makes very good substitute
for any animal except lap-dog, bit he's
rather ungainly for that.
Hc is the only animal known whose name
dident appear on Noahs passenger list at
the time of the great freshet. Mules has
been invented sense that date.
Thare habits is strictly domestic: I've
seen wun stand and kick hui our, before
he could be induscd to leave home even
for short time.
They are very good looking animal,
when you consider what humbly kuss
thare Father was, But most of EN- contract
habit in youth of wearing thare cars
longer than is strictly clasaic. They haint
got SO much tale, in proporshun, as hoss,
but they, are more particular about what
little they have; it aint a very safe amuse-
mcnt to play with mules tale.
Tharc vols aint considered so sweet as
the nichtingalcs, bnt it's more expressive,
and can be heard further on still day or
dark mite heard win once in the night,
when was goin home from a millerte
camp metin, and that's how cum to be
gray headed so early in life.
Mules have been called slow-motioned
+1,;. ,,;,fo1.o. 6icoo1-oroJ
the falsity OF this opinion wun day. Twas
standing about three feet from mule,
when snddinly thought l was a snare
drum, and sumbody was beatin the long
roll onto me. changed my base quickcr'n
district school teacher when ne discovers
a bent pin between him and his chair; but
when took them pants to be Reconstruct
ed thare was l3 distinct impressions of .
mules foot onto EN-. never accused
mules of being slow motioned sense that
event They are much given tomedltashun,
and have been frequently known to stop
in the middle of 4 days work, and get so
lost in meditashun, as to forget to pull a.
pound until recalled to realization of the
surrounding circumstances by the persua-
sive eloqucnce Of thare driver.
They arc also very absent minded, as
race, and have been known to forget thare
was man on tharc back, and lie down in
n mud puddle to cool taresclves of-an
absent minded mule is an unpleasant ''com-
-panion du uoyagc'--thc last is french, or
supposed to be.
Some mules has habit of kncclin down
suddin and absenting tharcsclvcs from
under a telcl, when he's ridin; but can't
see whether this habit arises from natu-
raj inclination to devoShunal habits, or
from playful desire on the mules part to
see how a fcller looks lyin on his stummlck
in the middle of the road. | can't answer
for the mule, but can take my oath that
the praktis aint noways konduSive to pletv
in the rider.
They is easy kept, and aint noways par.
ticular what they eat, so it's good; and it
hungry will chaw hay and even oats and
corn when they cant get thisses. They is
vcgctar,aus by natur and edtlycashun, but
they never let principle get the best OF
inclinashun, on this or any other; and I've
seen one spirit out Il mouthtll of oats, to
bite piece out of the feller that was
stoopin over to curry their legs; but |
don't know as they ever take eggs with
their ham on sch occashuns. They are
nattery of faceshus disposition, and Of
ten give fcller poke in the stummlck
or ribs, Jest to make him larf
might say much in the mules praise,
but | slant until take up lyin for livin.
There ant but one successful way mule
can be managed, and that is to make him
think You wart him to be mean and ugly
as Satan; then he'll be good mule, jest
to spite You.