The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1877-09-07

tenance to fit out Sunday-school class
It looks as guileless as an angle worm.
A mule never grows old or dies. Once
brought into existence, he continues or
forever. The original mule is now alive
somewhere in the South, and is named
+ Robert Toombs, because he is 50 stubborn
Mules arc chiefly found in the South
and West. They have been more abused
than Judas Iseariot. A boy who would
not throw stone at mule when he got
a chance, would be considered by his
parents as too mean to raise.
The mule is a good worker, but he can
not be depended on. He is liable to strike,
and when mule strikes, human calcula-
/ ton fails to find out any rule by which to
reckon when he will 90 to work again 1t
IS useless to pound him, for be will stand
more beating than q sitting room carpet.
He has been known to stand eleven days
10 one spot, apparently thinking of some
thing, and then start off again as though
nothing had happened.
Down South, when they have a surplus
Of small darkeys on the plantation, they
send them out into the barnyard to play
where there is loose mule. They always
bid them good-by when they start out, for
they are sure the parting will be final. This
is the most economical style of funeral
now in the market.
Tofnlly appreciate the mule, one should
listen to his voice. You never can really
know whether yon will like music or not
until you have heard him sing. I attend
ed mule concert at Fort Smelling. The
programme opened with soprano solo,
and then swung into duet, and then
pranced of into trio, followed up by a
quartet, and ending with full chorus of
one hundred and fifty mules. ] didn't
hear the whole thing, for when I came to,
the regimental surgeon was standing over
me, giving me powerful restoratives, and I
heard him say that | might possibly get
out again, though [ would never be we'll
man again. ] have been through the New
York Stock Exchange, and spent part Of
a day in boiler factory, and have been
on one or two Sunday-school excursions
for children, but never knew what noise
was till heard lot of army mules bray.
One Of the dead certaintios about mule
Is that be is sure-footed, especially with his
hind feet. He never misplaces them. If
he adyertises that his feet will be at GER
tain spot at certain time, with sample
Of mule shoes, you will always find them
there at the appointed time. He is as reli-
able as the day Of Judgment, and he never
cancels an engagement. Every man now
living who drove mule-team during the
war now draws pension. | never owned
a mule came near buying one once.
He was fine looking animal; his ears
stood up like the side spires Of an Epis-
copal church. His tail was trimmed down
SO that it looked like tar-brush leaning
up against him. He was striped off like
the American flag, and Raphael's eherubs
never looked more angelic than did that
mule. He looked all innocence, though
he was in no sense. The owner sati the
wagon, with his chin resting on his hand
and his elbow resting or his knee. In the
other hand he held a stick with 8 brad in
the end of it. examined the mule, and
asked the man few questions, and, out
of mere form, inquired if the mule was
kind, or if he kicked. sKind Kicked 7"
said the man and these we're the last
words he ever uttered. lie reached his
stick over the front of the wagon, and I
stuck the brad into that mule. It was
awful to see man snuffed out IS quickly
as he was. It almost took away my breath,
he went SO suddenly. / never saw the
thread oflife snap 50 abruptly as it did on
that occasion. He didn't have time to
leave a message for his family. The mule
simply ducked his head, and then pair
Of heels few out behind there was crash,
a flying Of splinters, and that was all; and
The next moment that mule and stood
alone, my face covered with astonishment
two feet deep, and his covered with part Of
N old bride. The next day I read an ac-
count in the telegraphic news Of 8 shower
of flesh in Kentucky. ! was the only man
who could explain that phenomenon, and
did not dare to, lest I should be i'm
the affair with the other mule.
7 have seen death il many forms, but |
lon't recollect Of eYerseeing funeral got
en- up with less pomp and display than on
hat occasion. If had my choice, toeither
work n q nitroglyeerine factory Or to take
care Of q mule, I should 20 for the factory,
Is in case of an explosion there would be
more possibility oi my friends 6ndiag
ome little mementos ofme with which to
4ssuage their grief. \ very small piece Of
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