The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1880-04-08
rnE Conquest OF rnE MULE.

!
Tue western pack mule is small, sin
ewy, and, like old joey Bsgstock, tough,
sir tough but de.e-vlish sly. Most oil
them are bred from Indian ponies and
are born on the open plains. Having
previously been lassoed and branded
when three years old they are driven Cor
inveigled) into corral and exhibited for
sale as br0nehos. An untamed horse is o
model Of gentIeness beside them. Some.
times they are accustomed at once to the
saddle by one OF those wonderful riders
who can stick on the back of anything
that runs, and more rarely they are brok.
en to the harness; but ordinarily their
backs are trained to bear the pack, which
is generally the only practical method OF
transporting freight through these noun.
tains.
The frat time the pack saddles are put
on, the excitement may be imagined.
The green mule, strong in bis youth. hav.
ing been adroitly toped or lassoed, Is led
ont into an open spsce, stepping limidly,
but, not seeing any cause for alarm,
quietly; before he understands what II
all meaus, he finds lbat uoose OF the raw
bide lariat aboutbis neck bas been slipped
over bis nose, and discovers that bis tor
mentors have an advantage. He pulls,
shakes bis head, stAuds uprighi on oppo.
site ends, bat all 10 on svsll. The harder
be pulls, The tighter The Uoose pinches his
nostrils, 10 al last be comes down aud
keeps Gill.Ifhen mau approaches slowly
aud circumspectly, holding behind him q
leather biiuder which be seeks 10 slip
over the mules eyes. But two long ears
stand in the way, aud the first touch Of
the leather is signal for two jumps Que
by the beast and one by The man, for
packers are wise enough Ia their day and
generation 10 fight shy OF the business
end.of mule The next sttemp Is essa
matter sof caution and more Of
strength, aud here the animal hasso much
advantage that often times II must be
lsssoed again and thrown to the ground.
IL is "a fine sighl 10 witness the indigna.
lion Of such a fellow He falls heavily,
yet holds bis bead high aud essays to rise.
Bot bis f0rsfeet are manseled by ropes
and bis head 10 fast. Yet be will shake
almost free, get upon biz hind feet, stand
strsight up and dash down with all bis
weigh, 10 futile sffofls for liberty. Sc
cured with more ropes, allowed but three
legs to stand upon and curEd frigbtfnlly,
be must submit, though be never does /,
With good gracs. II IL not always, how
ever, that this extremity 10 iesorted TO.
Some animals mske little resistance while
the strange thing ia being spnt on their
backs and the fastenIngs are adjusted -sIl
but .one; bat when "a Effort il made 70
pat that Institution called crnpper on.
der young mules tail, language fails to
express the ehArscter Of the kicking
The light heels describe IA arc from The
ground 10 ten feet above 1t and then
strike out Al tangent. They cot through
The air like whip lasbes and would psne-
trste An inpediment Ike bullets. But
even mule nesh tires Strategy twins.
The eruppef is gained and the drst hard
pail made upon The fineh (ss the girih il
termlned), which holds afmly every btir
breadth, and will fually crease The con.
tour Of The mules belly iolo the semblanee