The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1885-03-11
---F a-T1
THE FLORIDA AGRICULTURIST

and her former behavior. The happy
days of spiced wine were come again,
and with the good humor, the long sietas
and the dancing step when she passed
over the bridge. Nevertheless, after her
adventure, there was always little cold
ness toward her. 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 conf
dence in his friend, and, if he allowed
himself to take little nap on her back
on Sunday when returning from the vine
yard, he had always hidden fancy
Suppose l should wake up above there,
on the platforml" The mule saw this,
and suffered from it without saying any
thing; only when Tistet Vedene's name
was pronounced before her her ears
trembled, and with little laugh she
sharpened the iron of her hoofs on the
pavement.
Seven years passed thus then Tistet
Vedene returned from Naples. His time
there was not yet expired, but he had
learned that the first mustard bearer of
the Pope had died he had come in
haste to place himself among the COM
petitors.
When this intriguer entered the hall
| the Holy Father scarcely recognized him
he had grown so much taller and larger.
1t must also be confessed that the good
Pope had grown old and could not see
well without spectacles.
| How! Holy Father, you do not rec
ognize me? 1t is /, Tistet Vedene, the
one who carried French wine to your
mule"
"Ah yes, yes, ] remember. A good
little boy, that Tistet Vedene! And now,
what is it he wants OF us?"
cob triffe, Holy Father. | have
come to ask YOU But, while l think
of it, have you got her still-your mule :?
And she is well and happy? Ali so
much NAe betterl / have come to ask
you for the position OF first mustard bear
er, who has Just died"
First mustard bearer! But you are
too young. What is your age ?"
Twenty years and two months, illus
trious 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 pinned for
her in Italy! VIII you not allow me to
see her."
eyes, my child, you shall see her."
said the good Pope, much touched; "and
since you love her so truly / no longer
wish that you should live so far from
her. From this day attach you to my
person in the qualify of first mustard
bearer. My Cardinals will grumble, but
| am used to that. Tomorrow, after
vespers, we will bestow upon you the in
sigma of your rank and then / will take
you see the mule, hnd you shall come
out to the vineyardlwith us both"
- lt-is- nqt pseAsss tq tell you with
the ceremony of the next day. Never
theless, there was one in the palace still
more happy and more impatient than he ;
this was the mule. From the return of
Vedene up to the vespers the following
day the terrible animal never ceased de-
vouring oats and striking against the
wall with her hind feet.
The next day, when vespers were
said, Tistet Vedene made his entrance
into the court. All the dignitaries were
there-the Cardinals in red robes, the
advocate of the devil black velvet, the
abbots with their little mitres, the violet
capes of the household, the soldiers of
the Pope in full uniform, the hermits of
Mount Ventoux with their ferocious
mein, and the little clerk who goes be-
hind carrying the bell; the flagellent
brothers naked to the waist, the gray
headed saeristans in judges robes. All!
that was a beautiful spectacle! Bells,
crackers, sunshine, music, and through
it all the furious tambourines which led
the dance below on the bridge of Avig-
non.
When Nedene appeared his fine pres
ence and dignified bearing caused MUIR
muir of admiration to run through the
crowd. He was magnificent, blonde,
with thick locks curled to the end, and
soft little beard, which seemed made
from shavings of fine gold. The story
ran that in this blonde beard the fingers
of Queen Joan had sometimes played,
and he had in truth the naughty
air and the absent glance of men whom
Queens have loved. This day, to honor
his own people, he had replace his Nea-
politan garments by a jacket bound with
pink, in Provencal fashion, and on his
hood waved large feather of the ibis of
Camargues.
Immediately on entering, the first mus
tard bearer saluted and turned toward
the high steps, where the Pope awaited
him to deliver him the insignia of his
rank, yellow wooden spoon and a saff-
ron cloak The mule was at the foot of
stairs, all harnessed and ready to start
for the vineyard. AS he passed behind
her Tistet Vedene smiled gently, and
stopped to give her two or three friendly
taps on the back, looking out of one cor
ner of his eye to see if the Pope noticed
it. The mule made sudden movement.
"Take that, wretch Seven years have
kept it for you'll And she launched at
him kick so terrible that the dust of it
could be seen from Pampeluna-a whirl-
wind of blonde dust, through which tiut-
tered an ibis feather, all that remained
of the unfortunate Tistet Vedene.
A blow from mules heel is not gen
orally so terrible, but this was a Papal
mule; and then she had kept it for seven