The Russellville Democrat., 1877-09-20

CduuOt UC uCtJSuVcN Ous 1AC 10 iiH- l ble to strike, and when mule strikes l human calculation fails to find out any rule by which to reckon when he will go to work again. It is use less to pound him, for he will stand more pounding than sitting room carpet. He has been known to stand eleven days in the same place, apparently thinking of something, and then start off again as though nothing had happened.
 To fully appreciate the mule you should listen to his voice. You new CT can really know whether you like a mule or not till you have heard him sing. I attended mule concert at Fort Smelling. The programme opened with soprano solo, then swung into duett, and then pranc- ed of into trio, followed up by a quartette, and ending up with full chorus of 150 mules. I didn't hear the whole thing, for when 1 came to, the regimental surgeon was standing over me giving me powerful restora- I tives, and l heard him say l might possibly get out again, though l would never be well man. l have been through the New York Stock Exchange, and spent part of day in boiler factory, and have been on two Sunday school excursions for the children, but never knew what noise was till I heard lot of army mules bray.
 One of the dead certainties about mule is that he is sure-footed, es- pecially with his hlnd feet. He never misplsces them. If he adver tises that his feet will be at certain time, with a sample of mule shoes to which he would call your attention, you will always find them there at the appointed time. He is as rella- ble as the day of judgment, and he never cancels an engagement. Ev- cry man now living who drove a mule team during the war draws a persion.
 I never owned a mule. 1 came near buying one once. He was a fine looking animal: his ears stood up like the side spires of an Episco- pal church. His tail was trimmed down so that it looked like Q tar brush leaning up against him. He was striped off like an American flag, and Raphael's cherubs never looked more angelic than did that mule. He looked all innocence, though he was in no sense. The owner sat Tn the wagon, with chin resting on his knee. In the other hand he held stick with a brad in the end of it. I examined the mule, asked the man few questions, and out of mere form inquired if the mule was kind, or if he kicked. ''Kind? KlckT' said the man, and those were the last words he ever uttered. He reached his stick over the front of the wagon, and stuck the brad into the mule. It was aw- ful to see the man snuffed out as he was. It almost took my breath he went so suddenly. He didn't have time to leave message for his fam fly. That mule simply ducked his head, and then pair of heels flew out behind; there was crash, fly ing of splnters, and that was all. The next moment that mule and l stood alone, my face covered with astonishment two feet deep and his covered with part of an old bridle. The next day 1 read an account ill the telegraphic news of . shower of flesh in Kentucky. I was the only man who could explain that phenom- enon, but did not dare to, lest l should be implicated in the affair with the other mule.
 1 have seen death in many forms, but don't recollect of ever seeing a funeral gotten up with with less pomp and display than on that occa- sion. If I had my choice to either work in a nitro glycerine factory or take care of mule, I should go for the factory. as in case of an explo- slon there would be more possibility of my friends finding some little mementoes of me with which to as- suage their grief. A very small piece of me would tighten very big sorrow.--St. Peter (Minn. Tribune.
 Massachusetts Grecnbackers.