Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-06-24
THE MELODI0US MULE.
How He Interrupted an Affecting Tale OF
Affection

glorious but unsuccessful efforts to
ensnare his hayward steps and turn
him over to the pound-master.
A gray mule, well put together fol-
an animal OF the kind. The rotundity
of form which distinguished the well
fed mule was lacking. A bite of grass
here and there, an occasional thistle
head, nibble at a passing load Of
hay may blunt the edge of hunger,
but viii not produce plumpness nor
good nature. He had wandered from
home, this mule-started out with a
desire, perhaps, of visiting strange
towns, meeting with strange adven-
lures, 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 cor
ner--the gaslight playing for a mo
ment on his faded coat-and the mule
crowded close to the fence and peer
ed over with hungry eyes at the juicy
green grass Thus have we raised
the curtain Of fact and introduced to
orchestra, parquette, boxes and gal
Iery, the leading character, playing
not the role of the odd Man. but the
role Of the old mule.
In the parlor sat the lovers She
was beautiful-he was worth 500
| shares of the Lake Shore stock, and
was interested in a bridge contract
where there was chance for splen-
did grab. He loved, and he trusted
that she reciprocated He had come
prepared to announce his love, and
she bushed as she read the fact in
his eyes.
"My dear Isabella" he commenced,
as he tenderly pressed her soft fin
gers, 81 think you''-
"Gee-haw! Gee-haw !" roared the
hayward mule, rendered melancholy
by the sight of the bountiful supper
Just beyond his nose.
The fair Isabella sprang up in
alarm, and it was several minutes be ,
fore the young man with Lake Shore
stock conld quiet her.
at is nothing but a mule" he ex-
planned, as he looked from the open
window; and he scowled darkley at
the wanderer, and made threatening
gestures.
She sat down again, and the pain
fal silence was at length broken by
his grasping Of her hand and saying ;
II have to day been analyzing my
feelings toward you, and | find
that :"
cob. hoo haw. gee~haw-gee-
haw !" 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 lungered as mules hunger.
cts that beast again = whispered
Lake Shore stock, as the fair Isabella
uttered a little shrek of alarm.
lie went to the window and order
ed the gray-haired outcast to move
onto leave that locality without any
delay, and secure standing room on
the common.
They sat down again. He had
something 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
know, that l."
"O-h-h gee-gec-ah ha - came a
voice from beneath the window. 1t
was not the voice of a drifting sailor,
going down to a dark deep grave af-
ter a gallant struggle for life. 1t was
not the voice of lost child, crying
out as he stumbled through the dark
ness, longing for the strong arms Of
a father to enfold it. 1t was the
voice Of the old gray mule, quayering
strangely as hunger brought up recol-
| lections of corn cribs and timothy
hay.
A smile fitted across her face The
human soul is so constructed that one
may smile at a victorious, eyultant
champion, or at a downcast, discour-
aged mule.
Lake Shore stock approached the
window again, and as he brandished
his fist in the air, he warned the in
truder to dissolve in the dim distance,
under penalty of being found dead
with a severed jugular.
When a rubber ball is fattened it
will spring back to its original shape
as soon as the pressure is removed.
When a lovers declaration has been
thlice broken in upon, his thoughts
are slow in gathering. They sat
there and gazed at the opposite wall
as if waiting for railroad train, but
she finally glanced up coyly and low
ing whispered:
"You were about to say some
thing =
81 was" he whispered in return,
reaching out for her hand. "The pub
lie have acknowledged me as your
favored suitor for months past, and
this fact has emboldened me to"
clip hup haw gee-haw alb !" came
a voice on the night breeze-a voice
which halted and gasped and hesitat-
ed as if the owner had risen from be
side the grave of a loved, lost friend.
1t was not the voice of a troubadour
warbling words Of anguish set in
rhyme. 1t was not the voice of a lone
night bird calling for its lost mate.
1t was the voice of that same mule
calling to the lilac bushes to come a
| little nearer-to come and get bite
''Is that an odious GOVT" she softly
inquired.
"No; it's a blasted mulel" he ex-
claimed
"Such language, sir!'' she said, as
she rose up.
EEGu.b = ,,,,,lo -, = ! -, - T. raDTioI