Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-06-16
ESTRAY.


No one could say who owned that
mule. Some boys had pelted him with
liberal hand, and the police had made
glorious but unsuccessful efforts to en-
snare his hayward steps and turn him
over to the poundmaster.
A gray mule, we'll put together for an
animal of the kind. The rotundity of
form which distinguishes the well-fed
mule was lacking. A bite of grass here
and there, an occasional thistle head, a
nibble at passing load of hay, may
blunt the edge of hunger, but will not
produce plumpness nor good nature.
He had wandered from bone, this mule
started out with desire, perhaps, of
visiting strange towns, meeting with
strange adventures, and of seeing the
world. His owner had been left one
mule less, and mayhap he had searched
long and diligently, and been patient
and hopeful, trusting that the wheel
of time would turn and return the
mourned estray.
Down the street-around the corner
the gaslight playing for moment on
his faded coat-and the mule crowded
close to the fence and peered over with
hungry eyes at the juicy green grass.
Thus have we raised the curtain of fact
and introduced to orchestra, parquette,
boxes, and gallery the leading character,
playing not the role of the old man, but
The role of the old mule.
In the parlor sat the lovers. She was
beautiful he was worth 500 shares of
Lake Shore stock, and was interested
in bridge contract where there was a
chance for splendid grab. He loved,
and he trusted that she reciprocated.
He had come prepared to announce his
love, and she blushed as she read the
fact In his eyes.
'sMy dear Isabella" he commenced,
as he tenderly pressed her soft fingers,
''I think you -
"Gee-haw! Gee-haw p roared the
hayward mule, rendered melancholy
by the sight of the bountiful supply
just beyond his nose.
The fair Isabella sprang up in ala m,
and it was several minutes before the
young man with Lake Shore sto ok could
quiet her.
cit is nothing but mule" he ex-
planned, as he looked from the open
window; and he scowled darkly at the
wanderer, and made threatening ges-
lures.
She sat down again, and the painful
silence was at length broken by his
grasping her hand and saying:
ST have to-day been analyzing my
feelings toward you, and find that
ooh hoo-haw, gee-haw-gee haw 7"
announced the homeless, houseless
mule, as he caught the scent of roses
and tulips from the lawn. He saw
things as mule sees them-he hun
gered as mules hunger.
cts that beast again - whispered
Lake Shore stock, as the fair Isabella
uttered little shrek of alarm.
He went to the window and ordered
the gray haired outcast to move onto
leave that locality without any unneces-
sary delay, and secure standing room
On the common.
They sat down again. He had some
thing of interest to communicate, and
she had a curiosity to know what it was.
: Minutes licked away before he looked
= into her lustrous eyes again. He
thought he saw the light of love shining
brightly, and he stole his arm along
the sofa and said:
''You must have seen-you must
s'O-h-h gee-gee-ah-ha p came a
voice from beneath the window. It was
not the voice of drifting sailor, going
down to a dark, deep grave after a
gallant struggle for life. It was not
the voice of lost child crying out as
it stumbled through the darkness, long
ing for the strong arms of father to
enfold it. It was the voice of the old
gray mule, quavering. strangely as
hunger brought up recollections Of
corn cribs and timothy hay.
A smile fitted across her face. The
human soul is SO constructed that one
may smile at victorious, exultant
champion, or at a downcast, discouraged
mule.
Lake Shore stock approached the
window again, and as he brandished his
fist In the air, he warned the intruder to
dissolve In the dim distance, under pen
atty of being found dead with severed
iugular.
When rubber ball is fattened it will
bpring back to its original shape as soon
as the pressure is removed. When a
lovers declaration has been thrice
broken in upon, his thoughts are slow
in gathering. They sat there and gazed
at the opposite wall as if waiting for a
railroad train, but she finally glanced
up coyly and lovingly and whispered:
You were about to say something
Ct was" he whispered in return,
reaching out for her hand. "The pub
lie have acknowledged me as your
your favored sutton for months past.
and this fact has emboldened me to
"Hip-hup-haw- HAWAII -
came voice on the night breeze-a
voice which halted and gasped and hest
tated, as If the owner had risen from
beside the grave of loved, lost friend.
Tt was not the voice of troubador
warbling words of anguish set inrhyme
It was not the voice of lone night bird
calling for its lost mate. It was the
voice of that same mule calling to the
lilac bushes to come little nearer-to
come and get bite.
tIs that an odious cow" she softly