The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-15
NIX. HOGAN'S CHEERFUL MULE,
Aud the Mistake that Cost thr Cheerful Mule
his Life.

his Life.
Mr.. Hogan of Hogaus villo had the most
Chez fu mule that ever ground corn from the
cob. lie hasn't the animal now The mule IL
dead. His disposition was mild and serene. his
m miners, for mule, were perfect his hind
heels were held down to earth In sturdy, good
natured way, and no amount VI abb SO could IN
duce him to send them flying out In search OF
an enemy. lie had no hair on his tail and no
vices. The only nom thing he ever did WIS TO
eat NJ II lgan's new straw hat one day, but then
he did 1t IN such cheerful way that II ogin for
gave him at once, and has worn cloth caps ever
since. Hogan Is very positive, stubborn man.
but he loved MS mule. and the mule loved
Hogan as onlya mute can love 1t was ques-
ton among the naighbors which was tho more
aGeotlonatc OF the two.
MIR. Hogan had u brand new wag On built, aud,
following New York style. he called II To
Fyaway, and had the name painted on the
dashboard. r. aul - the general effect, he
also had large lily painted Just under the
name. Little did he think when he hitch cd his
mule to this new wagon that he was strokinx
his glossy sides for the last time, and that be-
fore night the cheerfulness of that gentle ami
nal would vanish in death. II was lovely
morning IN June. aud Hogans mule. harnessed
for the first time before the new CONVEYANCE,
proud but sin perfectly c1ntenteI, aud GER
| tninly more cheerful than ever.
MIR. Hogan pulled up At the grocery store ana
! alighted, and the cheerful mule was left alone.
his look WAS mild AMI bland, hippness sat
serenity W IS in every twitch OF his irles4 tail
! IT, eaz ID ~ the street, and he WAS calm he
turned his lreat conhdlng eye toward the store
! and looked happy In an evil moment rms
| cncerful mule looked behind, and he was lost.
lie got his mild eye ON the big painted ny on
the dashboard, and lie stood trinshxed A
! look of horror came into his face, his eyes
| opened wider and wider, and he trcmbled M
every limb. lie had switched the piraticil blue
! bottle from his sides. ne had wrestled WITH the
/ lively and ali-devouring potato bug. and he had
| knocked the life out OF the savage grass
| h0pper. but never In all his experience had he
ever encountered a foe Ike the monster ne saw
behind MIN.
gnppe1 his teeth hard anu gathered himself
together. "a u were and then suddenly ne
shot out, for the nrst time In his life, his mind
legs at an enemy: lie nut a grett oeal 81 Ni<pi
into tins FIRST effort, aud after he hal nnished
he smoOthed his wrinklcd front. his cheerful
ness returned, and with something VerY IKE 9
smile on his cOuntenance he looked back I,
gaze upon the mlnsled remains OF his foe.
pointed mule that ever drew the breath OF NE
The ly SAT there. looking bigger and ueIier thar
ever. Mr. Hog Is cheerful mule gaLed at II on,
moment In a dazed. staggered sort Of way. and
then looked as II be had made 40 his mind
never TO be happy again. once more he grippec
his teeth hare. md then he kicked at the a. fOl
ten minutes right straight ahead and when h'
looked back there the insect sat looking quite
peaceful and contented. Then ii ogan' mule los
faitn In himself lie danced a sort Of wld wal
dance for Ave minutes straight ahead, then h'
let out SORES Of terrible kicks. glanced quiclkr,
behind to notice the effect. aud. seeiug that aw
ful ly sui there. Doited ~ the street T. lie MAD
Alas, the eduable mind Of HDgans mule
was gone forever. In nj, mad G .rcer n'
jammed the Flyaway into trees and fence, anc
gate posts and stump. until all that he CARR,
behind him was a dismal skeleton Of shafts an,
dashboard. II was rignt on the railroad tract
that he finally got rid Of these, aud then he halt
ed IN hi- wild flight and turned about, and IN
first thing his flashing eye ~ on was the fly Dl
the dashboard lie was. just then, tue maddes
mule In the United States.
Hark Pun. pun. puf \ whistle blows IL
shrill. hoarse shrek Of warning; bell rings
us the express train approaching.
Hogan's mule heeded II not He danced
around that dashboard and he kicked A. tina
ny. lie kicked at II sideways ana backward
he kicked at 1t with one foot. then with tw
feet. and then with all hi4 feet together
4 shrill whistle. sudden dash around tn
curve, last despairing kick, and Hogan
cheerful mule went fifteen feet straight uy int
the air. and came down In twenty Ave dineren
place..
All that Mr.. Hogan ever found Of the wrocl
was the d ashOoard with the fly on IL.