, 1880-11-06
A Love Of = Donhey.

Our visiting pr"spector was not OF the
romantic class. He was low of stature,
rough in dress, smoked short aud very
black pipe, and spoke with a strong bro
cue. lie stood beside the neatcst little
jackass | ever saw-a perfect love of
iackass, to borrow a society phrase, with
coqnrttish ears. soft, dreamy eyes, and
faxn-eolored hair. The prnspector had
grievance. He Was verbally consignins
himself 10 the place Bob 1ngersoll pro-
nounces myth. And all because of tho
jaekass. He sw"re copiously, not at the
animal, but in its behalf. The animal lis
tened patiently, attenlively, and with ap-
parent appreciation. When the man
paused for want Of brea'h. the animal
waived an ear or two, and Dlinked. he
vas such mite of a jackass, and his ears
were SO long and pon6erous that the
movement of an ear To and fro was Com
pliment not to be lightly considered ii
transpired that the prospector and his
pack animal were Just returning from
trip which had been euItailed by the sud
den illness Of "Moriarity." "Moriasity"
Was the Jack "Moriarity" had Prsssa,-
ably eaten an assayer's outfit Nothing
weaker than acid could lave gwen ''Mor
iarity" such bad case Of collie. At all
events, "Moriarity" was very sick jack
Never WAS jack nursed more tenderly.
Delicate attentions were lavished upon
him. He was coddled, and fondled, and
4 dose of medicine was administered. He
voiced no protest He had no complaint
to make. But he could not conceal his
anguish. His broad. intelligent face was
wrinklcd, his eyes We're tireless, and he
was unsteady of limb. His sweet patti
ence was ine1haustible. As cazed upon
hm was impelled to the reflection that
-sthe shadow murmur, but the deep are
dumb" "'Moriarity" Was finally tucked
away in an unprovised bed There are
50 many ordi.ary jacks in the world that
a superior jack is not very soon forgotten
The warm attachment existing between
"Moriarity" and his owner aroused my
curiosity | had witnessed the noble
fortitude of the jack under trying clrcum
stances Hence desire to learn some
thing Of his history. | asked the pros
pector few questions, judieiousiy pre-
facing my inquiries with few compli-
mentary remarks about jackasses in gen
eraI, and his own in particular He
agreed with me that people could grow
very fond Of these animals. do not give
his exa.t words His ideas serve the
purpose He proceeded IL say that one
could not learn to love a jackass unless q
close intimacy existed between the two.
No man entertained the same feeling for
all Jacks that ne did for one or two, OF a
select few. Every jack who was not ugly
or i'll bred was liable To have friends and
admirers Some jacks, Ike some indivi-
duals, never were appreciated. good
deal, of Course depended upon the society
In which the jack was thrown. That sick
lack, that dimlmutive creature, c.imed up
the face If precipice with pack, weigh
ing two hundred and fifty pounds, ON his
back. He was both handsome and good
He never strayed from camp, and left
his owner in the lurch. On the contrary
he always kept close watch on his mas
ter's movements. livery noight, con-
tinued the prospector, now thoroughly
enthused, 'he comes to me siverl tonnes,
when I'm shaping, and shifts me blan-
kets to see il lin gone or no. He's the
incest baste IL the wourld. and me frind-
The prospector left us, and other subjects
came up for discussion. Still 1t WAS .
long time before could DISMISS the Jack
from my mind Icould not help think
ing of the place he occupied in his mas
ter's affections Iwonder if the feeling
was reciprocated between master and jack
And then mused upon The multitude Of
iackassess who do not know when they
are well of " II. Bunter in Californian