The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-12


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 amuse themselves she did not
trouble herself about them. 1t was only against
Tistet Nedene that she bore a grudge When she
felt him behind her for instance her hoof itched
and truly there was good reason for it, that
good for nothing Tistet played her such wicked
tricks. After drinking he was full of such cruel
inventions.
Did he not think one day of making her mount
with him into the belfry of the palace, up and up
to the topmost point of the buildingl And what
l AM telling you is no invention; two hundred
thousand Provencals saw 1t. Imagine the terror
OF the unhappy mule, when, after having wound
about for an hour, cropping up a circular stair
case, and climbing / know not how many steps,
she found herself suddenly ON platform daz-
zling with light, and thousand feet below her
saw fantastic Avignon, the market sheds no
bigger than hazel nuts; the Popes soldiers in
front of their barracks like red ants, and further
down, over a thread of silver, microscopic
little bridge, where they were dancing, dancing
ali, poor creature! What a fright! All the
window panes in the palace shook with the
scream which she sent forth.
What is the matterl What are they doing to
herr cried the good Pope, rushing out on his
balcony.
Tistet Vedene was already in the court yard,
pretending to weep and tear his hair "Ah,
Most Holy Father, the matter is-it is that your
mule-great heavens what shall we dol Your
mule has climbed into the belfry."
''All alone!'
Yes, Most Holy Father, all alone. See. look
at her up there. Do you see the end of her ears
movel You might think they were two swal-
lows"
BLESS mel" said the poor Pope raising his
eyes She has gone crazy She will kill her
self VIII you come down, unhappy cPeatureF
Confusion! She would have asked nothing
better than to come down. but howl The stair
caseg 1t was not to be thought of. Such things
as that can be mounted but as for coming down!
You would have a chance to break your legs n
hundred times. The poor mule desperate,
and while her big eyes, full of vertigo were
rowing over the platform, she thought of Tistet
Vedene.
"Ah, vagabond, if escape what kick to-
morrow morning.
This idea of kick gave her little strength
in her legs, without that she would never have
been able to support herself At last they came
to take her down from her elevation, but it was
terrible piece of business. 1t was necessary to
lower her by great machine, with cords and
handbarFow. And think what humiliation for
the mule of Pope to see herself suspended at
this height, swimming with her feet in the
empty air. like beetle at the end of a thread!
And all Avignon looking at herI
The unhappy beast did not sleep all night
She seemed to be always turning round on that
accursed platform, with the laughter of the peo-
pie below. Then she thought of the wicked
Tistet Vedene and of the lovely blow with her
row. All! my friends, what blow of the heel!
They should see the dustfrom Pampaluna. Now,
while this beautiful reception was preparing for
him at the stable, do You know what Tistet Ven
dene was doingl He was descending the Rhone,
singing on papal galley, on his way to the
court of Naples with the troop of young mobiles
sent every year by the city to be under the in
fuence of Queen Joan for the sake of practice in
diplomacy and good manners. Ttset was not of
noble birth, but the Pope wished to reward him
for the care which he had bestowed upon his
mule, and especially for the activity which he
had exhibited on the day of her rescue
All, how disappointed the mule was the next
day 'Ah. the villain! He suspected some
thing" she thought, shaking her little bells with
fury. But tits all the same. Go, you knave!
You will find your kick when you come back. l
keep it for YOU" And she kept it.
After the departure of Tistet the Pope's mule
her former behavior There was no more
Ququet, no more Beluquet in the stable. The
happy days of spiced wine In French fashion
were come again, and with them the good
humor, the long siestas, and the little gavotto
dancing step when she passed over the bridge of
Avignon. Nevertheless, after her adventures
there was always little GOODNESS toward her in
the city. There were whispers as she passed on
her way; the old people shook their heads; the
children laughed and pointed to the belfry The
good Pope himself had no longer such confidence
in his friend, and if he allowed himself to take
a little nap on her back on Sunday when return
ing from the vineyard, he had always a hidden
fancy Suppose should wake up above there
on the PLATFORM The mule saw this and she
suffered from it without saying anything; only
when Tistet Vedene's name was pronounced be-
fore her, her long ears trembled and with a
little laugh she sharpened the iron of her hoofs
on the pavement.
Seven years passed thus then, at the end Of
these years, Tstet Vedene returned from the
court of Naples His time there was not yet ex-
pred, but he had learned that the first m astald
bearer of the Pope had suddenly died at Avig
non, and as the place seemed to him desirable.
he had come in great haste to place himself
among the competitors.
When this intriguer of Vedene entered the
hall of the palace the Holy Father scarcely reeog
nized him, he had grown so much taller and
larger. 1t must also be confessed that the Pope,
on his side, had grown old, and that hecould not
see web without spectaeles.
Tistet was not embarrassed
Howl great Holy Father, you do not Ieeog
nize met It is l, Tistet Vedene,"
'Vedene9"
why, yes, you know very well-the one who
carried French WINE to your mule"
"Ah! yes yes, remember. good little boy
that Tistet Vedene And now, what is it he
wants of usp
"Oh! trihe, great Holy Father. have come
to ask you-but, while l think of it. have you
got her still-your mulel And she is we'll and
happy2 All, so much the better. / have come
to ask you for the place of the first mustard
bearer, VINO mas just uled
First mustard bearer! You'll But you are too
young What is your age}'
Twenty years and two months, llustrous
Pontiff; just five years older than your mule.
All palm of heaven, the good creature If You
knew how loved her. that mule, how have
pined for her in Italyl Will you not allow me
to see herP
Yes my child you shall see her. said the
good Pope, much touched; ''and since you love
her so truly, the poor beast l no longer wish
hat 1chnt lixyac far fpoYa Ia
day attach you to my person in the quality of
first mustard bearer My cardinals will
grpmble but so much the worse. am used to
that Wait upon us to morrow after vespers;
we will bestow upon you the insignia Of your
rank ,, IN the presence Of our chapter, and then
come out to the vineyard with US both. Well
we'll! That is ailr7
If Tistet Vedene was pleased when he left the
grand hall it is not necessary to tell You with
I.