The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-06-10
A MULE RIDE IN FLORIDA,

"A gentleman writing from Fernan-
dina, Florida, to the Buffalo CONNER
cial Advertiser, gives the following
amusing account of his adventure
wfthss gehtIe mule. He says:
The boys Insisted that 1 needed re-
taxation. My health required it. I
had a pretty fair article of health,
thought; enough to last me as long as
1 lived. But I 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, and SO l thought
l would take ride. L applied to the
livery man for horse. He had one.
He looked sorrowfully at me, as tho
he pitied me. Did ever ride mule
Inever had. He had as good riding
horses as were ever saddled, but if 1
wanted a Rock Me to Sleep, Moth
err" style of ride, would take mule.
1 don't consider myself first-class
judge. of mules. I had some vague
notions in regard to them; supposed
they would do a large amount of work,
with a very little feed, and were i'm
mortal, 1 had read of one being driv-
en- over the same route, by the same
boy, for 81 years, and he was young
mule yet. 1 'alt.-si. .s1'+s.
Bring forth the mule. The mule
was brought. He was meek looking
cuss-a perfect "Uriah IIeep" of
mule, SO far as "Umbleness I" was
concerned. At least that was the view
L took of him. He was saddled, and
L mounted. For a mile or two he
paced beautifully. thought those old
monks l had read about knew what
they were doing when they travelled
on mules. l had a high respect for
their Judgment. just then my mule
began to show symptoms-symptoms
of what did not know. I found out.
Dropping his head between his legs,
his heels described a parabolic curve,
or q diabolic curve, or some other in
fernal curve, in the air, and l got off
and sat on the ground. l got off over
his head, and ! did it quick. I'm not
so old, but can get off an animal of
that kind as quick as boy. Then 1
looked at the mule, to see if he was
hurt. He didn't appear to be. Then
1 inquired around, to see how it was.
Iireported an abrasion on the left hip,
and a confusion on the lower end of
my back. Then l thought l would
pronounce a left-handed blessing on
that mule, and on his forefathers and
foremothers before him, and on his
children after him. But l didn't. l
wondered if he would stand fire. i'll
had had II pistol, would have put the
muzzle to his ear, and tried him. Not
that was hostile toward him, but
was afraid somebody might take ride
on him some day and get hurt. But
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
trowsers, as a testimony against that
place. Then 1 led the mule carefully
home, and stated my case to the live
ny man. But when looked that he
should offer to send for doctor, or a
Samaritan, to do Inc up in rag, and
pour olive oil and champagne on my
| #aT II -,
bruises, he only laughed. Aud his
man that he had to help him laid down
on a bench and laughcd-and 1 stood
holding the mule-then ! laughed
Itwas ridiculous. But I've learned a
little wisdom. Next time l ride on
horseback it will be q different kind
| of beasts from bogus jaekass. "