Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-08-20


deer, and seized the only horse in the
stable. He bridled and saddled the an
imal in double,quick time, while 1
found nothing left me but mule.
seized blind bride, and rushing at the
animal, felt something whizz over my
head that am sure was pair of heels
They narrowly escaped my skull but
carried off my hat
Nothing daunted, I seized the crea-
ture by the ear, put on the bride, un-
fastened the chain by which he was
haltered and led him from the stable.
He went out willingly, SO much so, in
deed, that had some difficulty in keep
ing up, and had not the creature
stopped outside to give vent in a pro-
longed bray, I could not have mounted.
AS it was, before he got through with
his musical entertainment was on his
back.
The beast seemed somewhat aston
ished at this performance, and stood
turning it over in his mind for min
ute, while 1, dug my heels vigorously
into his sides. He seemed suddenly to
come to the conclusion that change
of administration would be an excellent
thing, and to this end began going up
and down like saw gate. I really
thought I'd be split in two, and would
probably have been pitched over but
that, in the midst of this pleasing exer-
else Muley caught sight of the horse dis.
appearing at hard galIop in the dis
tance. He seemed animated by the
laudable ambition of overtaking the
horse, and started SO suddenly that he
came very near leaving me behind. I
worked my way forward until I could
get hold of the halter chain, and
pulling this rigging tight, got pretty
secure hold.
How that beast did run! He not
only gained on the horse to such an ex-
tent that Araminta might have offered
two to one and no takers, bat exhibited
his superabundance of bottom by
throwing in, at intervals, the liveliest
kicks that ever emanated from a mule.
About mile out we closed in on the
cob, and as we passed Muley favored
him with salute that was most diabol.
ically foul for planting his two heels
upon the quarter of the honest Buceph-
alus, L heard yell, and glancing
around, saw my rival and horse go
down in most promiscuous manner.
My steed of the desert kept straight on.
We had a ride of eight miles before us
and felt satisfied that in that distance,
at the rate we were travelling, Muley
would have good deal of demon taken
out of him. l became aware of another
fact, and that was that my best pants
were giving way.
About five miles out we struck a
watermelon patch and went straight
through. ! could hear the melons
bursting under me like bombs. and
when we emerged from the farther side
specimens of this fruit were strung on
the mules legs like beads.
A mile beyond this saw our excel
lent minister of the gospel vending his
solemn way across the prairies with a
wagon full OF infant Jacobs, and / saw
that unless he whipped his horse into a
most extraordinary run, we would be
into him almost instanter. 1 pulled
hard on the near rein with one hand,
while steadied myself with the chain
with the other, but with no more effect
than if had taken pull on Pixies
Peak. We struck the parsons family
about amidships, and went through. I
never saw infant Christianity so scat
tered as on that occasion.
left the parson gathering up his
family, and continued until struck the
doctors fence, and went flying into his
front door with the bull dog close at
my tattered rear. I knocked over the
cradle and upset the supper table. The
doctor came to my rescue with kick in
the ribs of his dog that sent him with q
howl and mouthful of pantaloons into
the yard. Ithen told the doctor in one
breath-all had left that Araminta's s
little devil of brother was dying of
too much watermelon patch, and wanted
doctor with squills.
We returned in about the same style.
The doctor having younger horse than
my rival had been favored with, kept
the lead, his pill bags Tapping in the
air, while his coat tails made straight
line behind.
If his horse tagged, the mule started
him up again with a vigorous bite on
the rump that seemed to infuse new
vigor into that medicated animal. We