The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-02-20
HERE'S YOUR MULEl
Old Mad Wells as a stock Raiser.
the Ingenious Process by which He Made
Mules Increase ana Multiply.

Some twenty years ago j. Madison
Wells was, as he is. now. q cotton
planter In Rapides parish, He, In COM
mon with all we'll to do Louisiana plant
ers OF that time, employed an oyerseer,
who, In this instance. was a connection
by marriage Of Mad Wells and named
Harry CT, who, for all we know to
the contrary, may yet be alive. In those
days, when agricultural implements
were still In condition OF comparative
rudeness, when no ono had even dreamt
ments In that direction of the Averys,
the Halls, the CARROTS, the Cottmans,
and host of others, the labors on O
cotton plantation OF even o moderate
acreage were tenfold more arduous than
now, and demanded the employment Of
tenfold more animal power. The thrifty
planters greatest care and concern were
therefore conferred In the thorough
| tending OF his work stock, and
the best studied and most profitable
department OF domestic economy was
the steady improvement and increase
OF his mules, horses and oxen. There
fore did the stock minaer In those days
stand high In the hierarchy Of the
plantation labor system. He was often
the oldest slave on the place and his
| masters contidant and favorite. Old
Robin, an aged negro. was just such O
character on Wells plantation, and
stood In just such relations to his mas
ter.
In those years old MAIDS avera go
crop was no less than $50 bales Of cot
ton. He even then was man OF inf
mite thrift, and together with Harry
CT, his overseer. and Old Robin, his
faithful stock-minder, his cattle In gen
aTai fn rnI nvnntinntIu wall hI1t
particularly his mules.
Mr.. C., q near neighbor OF Wells,
one day purchased OF certain nomadic
| mule trader fine pair Of mules. Before
the owner had had time to know his
new mules, SO us to distinguish them
from any other mules, they strayed away
| from his plantation.
Mr.. c. instituted diligent search
he rode over In person to Wells planta-
ton and inquired OF Harry c., the
overseer, whether two strange mules
had not been seen among those on his
place. To which Harry c. readily
answered In the negative.
Finally Mr.. c. gave up the search
and held his mules as lost.
A fortnight or 30 after this old Mad,
after q quarrel with his overseer, dis
charged him. The overseer, while yet
| full OF resentment at his employers ILL
| treatment, meeting Mr.. G., informed
him that the mules he had given up as
lost were on Wells plantation, and had
been there from the very first day Of
| their disappearance. But, refusing to
go himself to Wells place to point out
the animals, through fear of old Mad,
| who was even then q dangerous man
and a fighter, he counseled Mr.. c. to
bride Old Robin, the stoek-minder.
''For five dollars" said he, "Old Rob-
| bin will point out your two mules, for,
of course, he knows them"
Mr.. c., who had never been with
| out serious doubts as to MAIDS integ-
| rity, and who valued the satisfaction OF
exposing his raseality more even than
| the recovery OF his mules, sought Old
Robin and offered him fifty dollars in
new. and glittering gold coins ii he
would point out his two missing mules.
| "Bies your soul, honeyl" said old
Robin ca n d do dat dat tx knows Tvs
neighbors, but you see, Massa Wells Ia
real gemman to old Robin. / can't
pint out dem two mules for fifty dol
lars; no, not for fifty times dat. Fore
God! IL / pint out every mule on dis
here place what don't belong to Massa
Wells, dere wont be three mules left on
dis ere place.
And SO Mr.. O., unable to recognize
his two mules himself, gave up in de-
spair; and the mules, after contributing
| for years to the cultivation Of old
MAIDS yearly crops of ESQ bales Of cot
ton, died on his place.
1t is well to add that faithful old Rob
bin remained true to "Massa Wells
until death overlook him. But the
good old man, who would not "pint out
Gem TIVE mules" left quite progeny
of young Robbins, who. to this day, are
old Mad Wells staunchest supporters
and potent is the political influence the
old villain exerts in Rapides parish,
| through his devoted colored adherents
| and political agents, the young Rob-