Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1884-05-09
Twisting a Mules Tail.


and clouds of unfurled canvas, gave
an air of early summer to the Pierre
pont Docks, in Brooklyn, one morn
ing last week, six idle men gathered
on the warm side of warehouse and
discussed the enervating influences
of spring. To them the distant ships
seemed asleep upon the horizon the
water Tapped against the pierheads
with drowsy murmur, and the
fiendish shrek of passing tugboat
died away like lullaby. One man
felt sure that nature expected peo-
pie to rest in springtime, and the
others that it was sin to work any
creature except mule. The un-
fortunate animal received mention
because long-legged, file backed
specimen of the species chewed n
piece of an old carpet on the pier,
and at uncertain and spasmodic in
tervals tried to kick hogshead and
two barrels into the river.
Gradually the talk turned upon
the vicionsnees, the vindictiveness
and the untamable nature of mules.
The mule on the dock was thought
to be an unusually vicious animal.
Wickedness and q miscellaneous de-
sire to smash things could be seen in
his eye, and his feet seemed just the
kind for effective kicking.
"Bet ne one dares't fool around
that mule" said a man with beard
like an unnatural growth of oakum.
''Wouldn't fool round him long,"
said erosseyed man. ''He'd kick
the daylights out of a mans grand
father"
'sIf that mule struck you once
your whole family 'ud die," ex-
claimed third man in confidence.
''I'll bet good cigar It mo man in
this crowd dares't go up and tickle
him.
"I'n make it SIS if any man'I
twist his tall" challenged a ship
chandler's agent, as the mule beat
tattoo against post on the pier.
eyes, I'll make it ten.''
"Stuff, - sneered a lazy looking
vagrant little apart from the crowd.
"Who says stuff" demanded the
agent in a voice like prize fighters.
''Maybe you'd like to twist that
mules tail?
II think I could do it,
"Here's ten dollars that says you
can't"
"I'H go yet.
The money was put into the hands
of a ship supply contractor, and the
details were properly arranged. The
lazy man was to twist the mules
tail-if he could get near enough
with all his strength, and was 10 es-
cape unhurt. The crowd was 70
stand at a respectful distance nd
see fair play. The lazy man swung
his coat over his arm, borrowed a
a chew of navy plug, and walked
down the pier. The crowd followed
slowly. The mule showed a strong
desire to eat, not only the approach
ing man, but the pier itself. But
vicicusness was restrained by a
strong rope halter. The lazy man
tossed his coat upon a barrel and
grasped the mules tail with both
hands. The crowd held its breath.
The twister wound the tail in hard
knot and pulled the mule from side
to side, as far as the halter would
permit. The mule made no effort to
resent the indignity. The lazy man
again threw his coat over his arm,
and, taking the money from the con-
tractor, sauntered up Montague
street The crowd was speeehless.
''Did you see that?" at length
asked one of the men of a stevedore
who leaned over barrel.
"Yes, 1 saw it,
"Mule hadn't any spunk, had
he?"
Hadn't he? Why, man, that's
the crossest mule in Brooklyn, and
the biggest kickr."
''Then why in thunder didn't he
lift that man across Governor Is
land!"
"Well, it's like this: If you own
ed that mule, and had him trained
to do that same trick once a week, he
wouldn't kick, would he? Not
muchi That mule knows his owner,
now, make no mistake"