The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-06-04
II Nude Ride ia Florida.

A gentleman writing from Fernandina,
| Florida, to the Buffalo Commercial Adoer-
tiser, gives the following amusing account
OF his adventures with gentle mule. He
says:
The boys insisted that I needed relaxa-
ton. My health required it. had a
pretty fair article of health, I thought !;
enough to last me as long as lived
But l must accumulate stock for future
use. The South was the place to get it,
And riding was healthy. The sand is too
deep to ride, except on horseback, so +
thought would take a ride I applied to
the livery man for horse. He had one.
He looked sorrowfuf at me as though he
p.tied' me. Did I ever ride mule l
never, had. He had as good riding horses
ae' ever were 'saddled, but if l wanted a
Rock Me to Sleep Mother" style of ride
would take mule. l don't consider my
self g, first class judge of mules. I had
some vague notions in regard to them !;
supposed they would do large amount
of work with very little feed, and were i'm
mortal. !. had read of one being driven
over the same route by the same bon for 81
J yesrs and he was yousts mule yet
Bring forth the mule. Tke mule was
brought. He was a meek looking cuss-
a perfect "Uriah Heep" of mule, so far as
'\Umbieness'' was concerned. At least that
was the'View took of him. He was sad
died, and mounted. For mile or two
he paced beautifully. thought those old.
monks had read about knew what they
were doing when they travelled on mules
l had high respect for their Judgment
Just then my mule began to show symp-
symptoms ofwhat 1 did not know.
| found out. Dropping his head between
his legs, his heels described parabolic
curve, or a diabolic curve, or some other
internal curve, in, the air, and got off
, sat ON the ground. Fgot offover his head,
and l did it quick. I'm, not so old but
can get off an animal of that kind as quick
as boy. Then, I looked at the mule to
sse if, hewas hurt. He didn't appear to be.
Then inquired around to see how L was.
reported an abrasion on the left hip, and
confusion on the lower end of my back.
Then l thought would pronounce a left
handed blessing on that mule, and, on his
forefathcrs and foremothers, before him,
and his children after him. But didn't.
I wondered if he would stand fire. If I
had had pistol, l would have put the
muzzle to his ear, and tried him. Not that
IsWas hostile towards him, but was afraid
somebody might take ride on him some
day end get hurt. But 1 had no pistol, SO
that benevolent and sanguinary idea was
frustrated. Then 1 got up and shook the
dust off my feet, and brushed the sand off
my trousers as testimony against the
place. Then l led the mule carefully home.
and.stated my case to the livery man. But
when looked that he should offer to send
for doctor, or samaritan to do me up
in rag, and pour olive oil and champagne
on my bruise, he only laughed. And his
man that he had to help him laid down on a
bench and'laughed---then he rolled off the
bench and laughed and I, stood holding
the mule-then laughed. 1t was ridicu-
lous. But I've learned little wisdom.
Next time ride on horseback it will be
different kind of beast. from bogus jack
ass. -