The Baltimore County union., 1884-08-30

OuI W ildlhC 4ultS SOihiOi l1OiS-ih
and snug. They were going into
the town of Rattleroot. They took
along with them two dozen chickens
and six dozen eggs.
sleighing in Indiana, especially around
the town of Rattleroot.
Glitch Ebenezer to the sleigh this
Sproggins," said Lizy Ann.
Sproggins, blessed the signs in the
almanac for sending such good wheat
growing winter weather, and obeyed.
Ebenezer was not a horse; he was a
mule. He was white, with fair long
ears, and a tail of remarkable intelli-
gence. Over a good feed of hay Ebe-
nezer whisked his tail softly, to show
his gratitude and peace. When Sprog-
gins gave the caudal member brisk
twist Ebenezer knew as well as his
master that meant "Git up u
When a boy came fooling around,
there was sudden upheaving of the
storm signal, as it were,
to indicate that hereabouts was the
earthquake end of Ebenezer.
Farmer Sproggins was wont to say:
"That there mules got more sense
in his one tail than the town council
of Rattleroot have in their heads"
The farmer and his wife had raised
their Ebenezer from gawky, quavery-
legged colt. He was born the same
year their oldest son was, and Simon is
old enough to vote for the next presi-
dent. This family mule was crowned
with years, dignity, and faithfulness.
Giles the stiddiest creetur, Ebenezer
is," said Lily Ann. "You couldn't
starkle him no more'n you could
Gran ther Sproggins's family Bible"
That market morning they sledded
on over the snow in happiness and
peace. Ebenezer, Sproggins, Lily Ann,
the chickens and the eggs. At the
top of Pigeon Hill there was rough
place. The sleigh jolted slightly. 1t
struck the rheumatism in the old white
hens heels, and she gave a squawk.
An egg or two cracked.
"Huddup, Ebenezer, "said Sproggins.
Ebenezer looked around and winked.
Then he looked ahead.
Pigeon Hill was half a mile long and
very steep. Before the snow came
there had been heavy rain. The
ground froze stiff and icy Then the
snow fell.
"Splendid bottom for sleighin', -
Sproggins said.
The wind had blown the snow off the
hill, and left not much else than icy
coating. There wasn't much of any.
thing to sleigh ride on except the
splended bottom. Ebenezer slid slight
ly.
"Slow it up, Ebenezer," said the
farmer.
The mule shook his tail vigorously.
He planted his fore hoofs bravely into
the ice. They began to go.
"Back, Ebenezer, ba-a-ack !" shout
ed oprogglns.
By that time the sleigh itself was like
the old lady's tongue in the meeting.
1t had "got going and couldn'tstop.
1t shot forward and touched the mule
hind legs.
Ebenezer was surprised. He,
dignifed gray haired family mule, who
had never in his life kicked over the
traces, had been hurt and insulted in
his tenderest spot. 1t was too much.
He lifted his hind legs to kick.
Then he was still more surprised.
In point of fact, if gallon of iodized
horse radish had been poured up hi:
nose he couldn't have been more as
tonished. Before he raised his respec
table heels he had been thing with
legs at each corner. But after that
fatal moment he was a thing with legs
only at his two front corners.
The instant his hind heels were lifted
off the ground the sleigh shot still further
forward. The shafts snapped of
quicker than the cords of gratitude
Sleigh, Sproggins, Lily Ann and the
chickens went under the mule. Ebene
zer was on top.
Then the strangest thing of all hap
pened.
The sleigh struck the mules from
legs. After that he hadn't legs at al
any more, but only just corners. Th
sleigh knocked him off his balance ant
scooped him in bodily
Ebenezer sat down with the folks t.
take sleigh ride.
He was big mule. Part of him sa
in Lily AIMS lap. Some more of hin
spread itself upon the basket of si1
dozen eggs. There followed destruc
ton that was pitiful to see. Beautiful
lost possibilities of Christmas cake ant
omelet lay scattered along that icy hill
in way to draw tears from your eyes
Ebenezer's tail, Sproggins' feet ant
Lily AIMS spare-room coverlet were al
blended together in that dazzling tru
sulphur-orange tint which fashionabl
milliners would give at least half of on
eye to catch.
Still there wasn't enough room t
hold all of Ebenezer. He laid the res
of himself upon the chicken-coop. H
didn't look around very long about il
either. Next followed acrash and spin
tering and sound like the sudde
wreck of senatorial hopes in Ohio.
The old white hen, in spite of he
rheumatic knees, escaped to the roac
side, and lay moment futtering upo
her back. Then she gave one flop an
all was over. She died of heart di
ease.
With a wild screech the Shanghi
rooster darted out from the other side
Sproggins' Shanghai had been beaut
in his day. In the year 1880 ne ha
| haan calected RI head the triumDh: