The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-05-02

When the bright sunshine, streaming
down through mazes Of rigging and
clouds o unfurled canvas, gave an air
Of early Summer to the Pierrepont
Docks. in Brooklyn, saturday morning.
six die men q hered on the warm side
Of warehouse and discussed the ener-
waiting Influences of Spring. To them
the distant ships 9 emed asleep upon the
boriz n: the water Tapped against the
pierheads with q drowsy murmur, and
the q, ndish shrieko q passing tug-i oat
died away like q lullaby. One man felt
sure that nature expected people to rest
in Spring tim ;, and the others agreed
that it was q sin to work any CT, q.
ture exec q mule. This unfortunate
animal re e;ved mention becau 9 along
legged, tle-backed pecirnen o the
species chewed q piece of old carpet on
the pier and at uncertain and spasmodi
intervals tri"d to ki X hogshead and
two ba reis into the river.
Gradually the talk turned upon the
viciousness the Wind ctiyeness and the
untamaJle nature of mules. The mule
on the dock was thought to be an I'M
usually vicious ANIMAL. Nickedness
and a misce aneous desire to Smash
things coull be seen in his eyes, and
his feet seemed Just the kind TOR eifec-
tive kicking.
'.Bet no one dares't fool around that
mule y said a man with a beard Ike an
unnatu al growth of cakum
"Wouldn't fool round him long. ="
said a cross-eyed man. He'd kick the
daylg gifts out of man s grandfather"
IF that male struck you once your
whole family nd de-" exclaimed third
man in coni dence. s.I'il ct q q cd
gar at no man in this crowd dares' I
go up and exile i'm"
"l'li make 1t five dollars if any man'll
twist his tall" challenged ship car
pen er agent, as the mule beat tattoo
against post on the pier. "ies, I'll
make it ten"
- tuff!'' sneered a Ia y looking va
grant little apart from the crowd.
.Who says 'stuff?'" d manded the
agent, in a voice like a prize-fghter 8.
"Maybe you'd like to twist that mules
tail?"
81 think / could do it."
''Here ten dollars that says you
can't"
"I'll go ye."
The money was put into the hands Of
q ships supply contra tor. and the de-
tails were properly arranged. Tn. lazy
man was to TWIST the mules ia lii he
could get near enough-with all his
strength, and was to escape unhurt.
The crowd was to stand at q respectful
di lance and see fair play. The lazy
man swung his coat over his arm, Dor
rowed chew Of navy p ug, and walk d
down the pier. The crowd followed
slowly. The mule showed a strong de-
sire to eat not only the approach ng
men, but the pier itself. But his vicious
ness was rest a'ned by s'long rope
halter. The la v man tossed his coat
upon barrel and gra,ped the mule 8
tail with both hands. The crowd held
its breath. The twister wound the tail
into hard knot and pulled the mule
from size to side, as far as the halter
would pc NIT. II mule n ade no eff.
fort to resent the indignity. The lazy
man again threw his coat over his arm
and, taking the money from the con.
tractor. sauntered u Montague street.
The crowd was e"chless.
"Did You see that?" at length asked
one of the men of stevedo. e who leaned
over bar ell.
"Yes, l saw it."
'.Mule hadn't any spunk, had hep''
hadn't he. Why, man. tba's the
eros est mule in Brooklyn n the biggest
kickerr'
Then why in thunder didn't he lift
that man across Go ernor's Island"
"S ell. it s like this: If you owned
that mule n had him trained to do that
same trick once a week, he wouldn't
kick, would he? Not much! That mule
knows his owner, now; make no mis-.
take. IN. Y. Times.