Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-11-23
SIMPSONS Ride.

l met Simpson rev evenings ago,
and he asked me to join him in a little
fun. He was dressed to death. Had on
boiled piccadilly and rose in his but
tonhole.
Said l, "What's up?"
He twirled his cane gracefully and re.
piled;
Circus want to go along?"
OF course | did, and told him so.
He went and secured good seats. He
paid the admission fee. He raised the
money by selling his fathers shotgun to
junk man for old iron.
The performance was decidedly clas-
sical, but we managed to stick it out.
1t may not be out of place to remark
here that Simpson, like most young men
of to-day, has weak spot. 1t is his
knowledge of equestrianism. He boasts
of having ridden Mexican plugs and all
sorts of ill-natured animals.
So when the ringmaster announced in
stentorian tones that a premium of five
dollars would be awarded to the person
who could ride the mule around the ring
three times, Simpson merely turned to me
and murmured:
Would you like to go on picnic to-
morrow"
eyes," said I.
"All rightp he responded; then I'll
just scoop in that five dollars; and we'll
GO"
thought he was over confident, but |
determined not to tell him so, as my
bones were not to be involved.
The ring was by this time pretty well
crowded by ambitious gamins, several
of whom tackled the mule to their sor-
row.
Then the ripgmaster spotted Simpson
in his new clothes, and felt proud of
having such a noble-lOoking young man
step down to tackle the fiery and un-
tanned"
Simpson looked complacently, and the
fellows who hoped out of the ring
wounded smiled maliciously; but his
courage didn't forsake him.
The ringmaster looked pleased as the
mule was led up.
Simpson spat on his hands and mounted
the animal, with his legs around his neck,
and his hands clasped tightly into his
equator.
$50 in, Simpson, shouted the audi
ence loudly.
Then the ringmaster snapped his whip
and the mule started otS So did Simp
son-off the mule, head first He rose
covered with dirt, his immaculate shirt
front smeared with mud, his new clothes
almost ruined. But he was spunky.
"Dont give it up!" screamed every
body.
And he didn't. He mounted the limo
cent looking quadruped once more. The
mule ran in every direction and tried al
sorts of ways to relieve himself of his
burden, but in vain. He smiled just as
if the five dollars were in his hand
Then the mule stood on his hind legs
and the blood commenced to rush tC
! Simpsons head, but he held on firmly
until the animal, satisfied of its inability
resorted to the never failing trick OF
rolling.
After Simpson had been rolled or
four or five times, he suddenly remem
bered that Old Probs had announced tha
it would rain the following day, anC
there would be no use of getting tha
| five dollars, as he couldn't go on racke
in the rain. So he gave it up.
He was sight to behold as he walked
out of the tent.
When he got to his house, his father
saw the condition of his clothes. AnC
he waxed wroth. And murmured:
"Come hither, my gay and festive off
spring"
And he went.
The old man shook hands with his ear
And took him into the barn.
On the way down he broke picket of
the fence in very suggestive way.
1t seemed to me that there was al
Indian massacre going on in the barn.
When met Simpson the next time hC
looked as if he felt like clubbing himself
He looked as melancholy as superan
uated army overcoat.
81 thought you could ride mule"
said, playfully.
$50 Ican," he replied sullenly, "bu
not circus mule"
l believed him.