Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1884-11-26
u copNrl,
~ !. .Ah! what a good
|Raletsa gallant Pope!"

Nex1 kineyard, at Chateauueuf,
that VII Pope loved most in the
world mule. Tho good man
was p&l ~ fond of his benst.
Every before ehe retired he
went e - sfAhla WAS securely
fastenec anything was wanting
IN her and w neve rose from
the tapl ut having DiS oowl OF
WINE ~ - under mas own eyes IN
tine fseA aaenion, with quantity OF
sugar 49, tces, which ne carried TO
Ter hin q spite OF she remarks OF
cardin4 u must be acknowledged
that th9 e sfure was worth the trouble
Che 4 wa@a Aeeutiirl black mule, spotted
with re 1th sure foot. shining coat,
cruppe& and fat--carrying
prcg1 u ~ sharp little head, al har.
messed N11se lponss like silver bells
ane ears M aa
tempered than m angel, with quick
eye, and two long ears always IN motion,
which gave her good-natured air.
All Vignon respected her, and when
she went out ON the streets there we're
no courtesies which she did mot receive,
for every one kenew that this was the
surest way to stand well at court, and
that with her innocent air the ropes
mule had led more than one person to
fortune-Tistet Vedene and his won
deful adventure for example.
This T.stet Vedene was, in the be-
ginning. saucy boy, whom his father
Guy yedene, the gold chaser, had been
forced to turn out Of his house because
he would not work and led astray the
apprentices. For six months he was
to be seen dragging his jacket through
all the gstters Of Avignon, but chiefly
in the neighborhood of the papal pal
ace, for the sly fellow had for long
time had his designs on the Pope's
mule, and you shall see how cunning
they were. One day when his holiness
was riding alone with his beast under
the ramparts, behold my Tistet, who
draws near, and says to him. clasping
his hands with look OF admiration:
"Ah, heavens! Most Holy Father, what
a fine mule YOU have therel Allow me
to look at her a moment. All! nv Pope.
what A beautiful mule, The Emperor
of Germany has not her equal" And
he caressed her. and he spoke gently to
her as to a Young lady: aCome here.
INV level. INV treasure. INV fine pearl
And the good Pope. greatly pleased.
said to himself: "What a good little
fellow, How nice he ia with INV mule"
And then do YOU know wha happened
the next day? Tistet vedene ex-
changed his old yellow jacket for
beautiful surplice OF lace, q cape of vio-
let silk, and buckled shoes, and he en-
tered the household OF the Pope, into
which no one had been received before
but the sons of the noblemen and the
nephews of cardinals. There you see
what intrigue can do. But Tistet did
not stop hare.
Once in the service Of the Pope, the
scamp continued the game which had
succeeded so we'll. lnsolent to every
one else, he had attention and services
for the mule alone, and he was always
to be met in the court, rd of the
palaae sisla q handfnlof oats ar~A- bun
die OF clover, wh.se pirA cis'ss.s ho
shook gently as ne looked up AZ the
balcony OF the Holy Father as much as
to say: "Hal who Is that forr 80
that at last the good Pope, who ielt
himself growing old, ended Dy lntrust-
Ing to h,m the duty OF watching over
the stable, and carrying to the mule
her bowl OF WINE prepared IN french
fashion, which did not make the cardi-
nal laugh at all.
Nor the mule neither-this did not
make her laugh. For, when the time
for her wine came, she always saw five
or six little clerks OF the household as
semble, who crowded among the straw
with their capes and laces; then, after
q moment, nice warm smell Of burned
sugar and spices filled the stable, and
Tistet Vedone appeared, carefully car
rying the howl Of spiced wine. Then
the torture of the poor beast began.
This perfumed wine which she so
loved, which warmed her, which gave
her wings. they had the cruelty to bring
it to her thcre in the manger, to make
her smell 1t; then, when her nostrils
were full OF it-presto! the beautiful
liquor, with ITS pink flame, all went
down the throats OF these rogues. Ii
only they had done nothing worse than
steal her wine! But they were like
u0sAAS, 80 SAAooo .AssAo A>'p ".o. s..SJ
had taken drink. One pulled her
ears, another her tail Qniquet climbed
on her back, Beluquet tried bis cap on
her, and not one OF these rsscals thought
that with q jerk OF her back or . fling
OF her heels, the brave beast could
have sent them all TO the North Star,
or even further. But no! One is not
the Pope.s mule for nothing-the mule
OF benedictions and indulgences. The
children must amdse Themselves abe
did not trouble herself about them. II
was only against Tistet Vedene that
she bore grudge. When she felt him
behind her. for instance, her hoof
itched, and truly there was good reason
for II, that good. r-nothlng Iistet
played her such wicked tricks. After
drinking he was full OF such cruel IN.
ventions.
Did he not think one day Of making her
mount with him into the belfry Of the
palace, mp and up. to the topmost point
'of the building? And what am tell
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