The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1878-06-18
ELI PERKINS WISE MULE.
A Sermon which Contains n Healthy
Suggestion to Farmers.

A Sermon which Contains n Healthy
Suggestion to Farmers.
"That mule kicked sense into Inc
onct," said Uncle William Banks, as he
pulled the mules long ears from under
the halter. "That mule say" he con-
tinued raising his voice" that mule
has got more sense into him-knows
more about political economy, and I'M
derstands the law Of demand and supply
better than any congressman who ever
sat"
"What! q mule understand political
economy, Mr.. Banks" I interrupted.
eyes sir, that mule does! Why I was
poor man onct and that there mule
made me rich. Lord bless we, Mr.. Per-
kins, he kicked a fortune right into my
pocket"
Chow was it Mr.. Banks?" l asked
elbow could mule kick sense and a
fortune into an old farmer like your
"Well SIR" commenced the rich old
farmer, 81 used to own farm near lie
City, Pennsylvania. | had the only
meader land near the town and made the
only hay that came to lie City during
the first year Of the excitement. Hay
paid splendidly then; l got twenty-five
and thirty-fve dollars ton for it, but |
wouldn't have got over ten dollars for it
if it hadn't been for this here mule"
"What did the mule dow / asked.
Chow could a mule raise the price of
hayw
"Why, he kicked sense into me, say,
and kicked up the price of hay at the
same kick. You see l used to draw a
load of hay into lie city every day. The
first loads sold quick for $40. One day |
thought I'd make money faster, so l
hired two more mules and drew in two
loads of hay l sold one quick, but the
other stood around all day and I sold it
for $l6 rather than draw it home. The
next day was on hand with two loads
again. Both loads stood around until
noon, when [ sold the first for SIG and
the other l could not sell. The market
was overstocked. So l drew it around
to Deacon Stones and pitched it off into
his yard at $l2."
"The next day." continued Mr.. Banks,
~ was on hand with my usual two loads
of hay. They stood around till o'clock,
without an offer. Finally man came
up and offered me ten dollars for one
load. Said he, Deacon Stone bought
hay for twelve dollars yesterday Well,
I took the ten dollars and drew the sec
ond load into Deacon's Stones barn for
eight dollars. The next day I drew in
two loads more, but the news had all got
around that l had sold hay to Deacon
Stone at eight dollars and l couldn't sell
it for dollar more. Said every man l
talked 20, Hay is down, Mr.. Banks, the
market is glutted.' In fact, nobody
wanted any hay at all But l finally
sold one load at seven dollars and drew
the other back home"
"What then," | asked, "where does
the mule come in?"
"Why, as was unhitching this here
mule, Mr.. Perkins, he kicked my left
leg and broke it short off. ! was car
ried into the house and l thought was a
ruined man, but tell you, that mules
kick made me rich man."
"How? / inquired. Chow did a
mules kick and a broken leg made you
richW
"Well, the next day we couldn't draw
any hay, and the next day after it was
the same thing. Finally week rolled
round and no hay went to town, when
up drove Deacon Stone with a span of
mules from lie city"
~ KUN up" seq the Deacon, "to get
some more of that hay of yourn, Squire,
Pm all out"
deacon" said I, thinking he wanted
me to draw it, "you can't have any
now. 1t will be three weeks before you
get any more hay from me-"
"Three weeks !" said the deacon, rails
ing his hands in establishment, "Why
my horses will starve. I must have hay
Fl! take two tons at fifteen dollars ton
and draw it myself"
"All right l said, "pitch it on
The next day up came another vii
lager. He said he must have hay too
that there wasn't spear to be had In the
city.
"I'll give you twenty dollars for {
ton" he said.
"And draw it yourself?'' l asked.
! yes, draw 1t myself.
And away he went with ton of hay
at $40.
"Two days after" continued farmer
Banks, three villagers came UP anc
offered me $25 per ton for all the hay
had. The sense the mule had kickel
into me, began to show itself and I told
them l guessed I hadn't any more hay tt
spare.
But hang it, Mr.. Banks, we must
have hay" they said.
"But hay is hay, gentlemen" said I
"In fact, gentlemen" l SAID, "Pve beer
looking over this hay matter, and l fine
the hay market is firm with an upward
tendency. In fact, 1 find the demand i,
greater than the supply. The home con
sumption of hay"
"But dang it., Banks, we must have
hay. You don't want all the horses il
the city to starye, do you?" they inter
rupted.
No, I don't want your horses tt
starve, but ! tell you l havn't got any
hay to sell. However, if it will accom-
modate you and keep your horses from
starving, l can spare you a few tons al
$50. But mind you must draw it your
self"
Agreed" they said, winkin' at each
other, and we'll take all you have at thai
price"
"And they took it?' I asked.
eyes sir they took it, drew it to tn,
city and said it at $40-and l sold every
spear of hay l had at that price. Ane
for three years" continued farmer Banks
~ supplied the city with hay at $50 ,
ton, when if that there mule hadn't /:
; kicked the law of demand and supply
into me-hadn't kicked financial econ
omy into my thick skull, why I'd beer
| roll;n1 la.r a. d,llara