The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-01-18
ShOeing a Mule.

ent, Win Andrew johnson and Otner
Congressional candidates in Tennessee,
writes
If there had been any sanguinary
ill-feeling among those who came to at
tend the meeting, scene that took
place before its assembling must have
routed it completely. That scene will
last IN the memory of those who saw
it as long as life remains. 1t occurred
on the verge of the town, and came
near spelling all interest in our own cir
Gus. Six negroes, on the common road,
opposite a blacksmith's shop, for over
an hour were trying to persuade a
young, tall, robust country mule to
allow himself to be shod. They put a
rope collar round his neck, and to that
attached line which, thrown out be-
tween his hind legs, was intended to
trip up each in turn, and hold it in po
sition while the blacksmith by
name-operated on the hoof. For over
an hour this extraordinary mule fought
the six men, kicking away the trap laid
for his enslavement as easily as he
might a cobweb, and describing,
high up in the air, forked-lightning di-
agrams with his heels-a sight fearful
to behold. Painting, yet patient, their
hats kicked off their heads, their shins
bruised, and their pants torn, the six
gallant darkeys stuck to that supernatu-
raj mule until finally they secured his
right hind-leg, and had his hoof laid on
Sam the blacksmith's lap, ready for the
sacrifice. By this time all the sur
rounding points of vantage were occu-
pied by spectators, wrought up to the
most intense pitch of excitement-John-
son men cheering on the mule, May
nard men cheering on the darkeys. Sam
the blacksmith was tall, well-built
fellow. He had his back to the mules
head, and was in stopping position
over the hoof In front of him, about
six feet from the mules tail Ia perilous
distance), was circle of about twenty
darkeys, awaiting the operation of put
ting the shoe on, with the most solemn
interest. Never did mule draw such
pious reverence from like audience.
cd ha' let him be- said one dar's
no use a-fussin' with such good-for-
muffin meule as dat
"' BY Cad = exclaimed another, in q
low and cautious tone, l do b'lieve in
my so de ole debbel hisself is in dat dar
meule.'
'Wot you speaks alike dat fo' p said
a third, turning on the previous speak
er. Dat meule hears every tin you
say, and thinks it insultin' Don t know
wedder de debbel is in him, but do
consequentially b'lieve, dar's heap O.
kick in his hind-legs still. Guess who
ever gets him will tink so too. wants
my head insured when Use axed to
nurse him.
In the mean time, Sam had his i'm
plements ready, and an assistant farrier
approached and laid the shoe tenderly
upon the virgin hoof A nail was in
serted, while Sam elevated his hammer
to deliver the pregnant blow that was to
drive it safely home. 1t was a moment
of breathless and agonizing suspense
with whites and blacks alike. The lat
ter anticipated triumph for their race !;
the former prepared to keep their sides
from splitting asunder. Sans legs
shook, but he brought down his ham,
mer with all his might and at the same
moment an explosion occurred that
fairly battles description. A trip-ham-
mer falling on ton-weight of nitro
glycerine, immured in a tin box, could
hardly have produced any more sudden
and bewildering results. Quicker than
thought the mule drew his hind leg
forward, and, springing it back with in
credible force, struck the still stopping
Sam square in the bulbous centre of his
hind-section, projecting him forward in
the air like cannon-ball from cata-
pult. As Sam disappeared in space, he
knocked all the darkeys down in front
of him like ninepins, scattering them
over the road in all directions, and land
ing himself on top of a snake-fence,
twenty feet away. The roar that went
up from the assembled multitude might
have been heard in the next county.
The mule grew alarmed, took to his
heels, and, amid the cheers of the John
son party, crossed the country for home
and freedom. Poor Sam had no shape
to him when he came to, and it will be
many long day before the terminus of
his spinal column forgets that visitation
of mule-power."
The MIsER PUNIsHED.-Under the
reign of the first caliphs, there was a
merchant at Bagdad, equally rich and
avaricious. One day he bargained with
porter to carry home for him large
basket of porcelain vases for ten paras.
AS they went along, he said to the man !:
My friend, you are young, and am
old-you can still earn plenty-strike
off, 1 entreat you, para from your
hire"
Willingly" replied the porter.
This request was repeated again and