Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-05-29

drinking Didn't he one day make her clint
up with him into the belfry Of the chapel
up, away up, as high as the top of the pal
ace Aud am telling you no fable--two
thousand Provencals saw il. You can imag
inc the terror OF that unfortunate animal
when, after having turned around for an
hour, cropping on the stairs like a snail, and
climbed / know not bow many steps, she
suddenly found herself on platform daz.
cling with light, and saw, as il a thousand
feet below her, whole fantastic Avignon,
the sheds of the market place no larger than
nuts, the papal soldiers before their barracks
like red ants, and down there over thread
of silver little microscopic bridge, where
thore was dancing dancing. All, poor
beast What panic All the windows of
the palace trembled with the cry she gave.
What is il What have they done TO
her p cried the good Pope hurrying out on
his balcony.
Tistet Vedene was already in the courtyard
pretending to weep and tear his hair.
"Ah great Holy Father, it's-it's your
mule. My heavens what will become OF
us2 It's your mule she has climbed into
the berry"
"All alone ?"
''Yes, great Holy Father, all alone. Look !
see her up there. Do you see the tips of her
ears passing to and fro ? They look like two
swallows"
Mercy" !" cried the poor Pope, raising his
eyes. But she must have gone crazy She
will kill herself Will you come down, un-
happy wretch ?"
Pecaire She would have asked nothing
better than to come down, but how? The
staircase was not to be thought of. One
could 60 up those things, but in the descent
she would break her legs q hundred times.
And the poor mule mourned and mourned,
and roaming up and down the platform with
her great eyes growing dizzy she thought of
Tistet Yedene.
'Ah the bandit If escape-vhat kick
Tomorrow moTning!"
That idea of the kick put little strength
in her legs again without that she could not
have kept up. Finally they succeeded in get
ting her down. but that was quite job. She
had TO come down with derrick, cords, and
litter. And you can imagine what humilia.
tion 1t was for a Pope's mule to fnd herself
suspended at that height, padding with her
feet in the empty air like beetle at the end
of a string Aud all AvignoR was looking at
her. The unfortunate beast did not sleep
that night. 1t seemed to her all the time
that she was turning on that detestable plat
form with the laughter of the city beneath.
Then she thought of that Infamous Tistet
Vedene and of the jolly kick. The dust
would be seen in Pampelune.
But while she was preparing this delight
full reception at the stable do you know what
Tistet Vedene was doing? He went singing
down the Rhone on a Papal galley, and he
was bound for the court of Naples with the
troop Of young mobiles that the city sent eV-
cry year to the Queen Jeanne to practice
diplomacy and acquire polite manners. Tistet
was not noble, but the Pope wanted to re-
ward him for the pains he had taken with his
animal, and principally for the activity with
which he had busted himself about the res.
cue during the day.
The mule was disappointed on the morrow.
"Ah, the bandit He suspects something. -
So she thought, shaking her bells with fury.
But it makes no difference You find it on
your return-your kick. I'll keep it for you -
And she kept it for him.
After the departure of Tistet Vedene the
Pope's mule pursued her tranquil train of life
aud her old occupations again. No more
Quignet, no more Belugnet at the stable.
The beautiful days of wine Ia Franc aise
came again, and with them the good humor,
the long siestas, and the little dancing step
when she passed over the bridge of AVignon.
However, since her adventure she always
met with little GOODNESS in the city there
were whisperings ON the road the old peo-
pie shook their heads the children laughed,
pointing to the belfry. The good Pope him
self had not so much confidence in his friend
and when he allowed himself to fall into a
doze upon her back while returning from the
vineyard of Sunday he always had this
mental reservation, 'If were to waken up
there on the belfry platform /" The mule
saw all this and suffered from it, making no
sign-only when the name of Tistet Vedeue
was spoken before her, her long ears trem-
bled, and with a little laugh she sharpened
the iron of her shoes on the pavement
Seven years thus passed then at the end
of these years Tistet Vedene returned from
the court of Naples. His time down there
had not run out, but he had learned that the
Pope's first mustard maker had died sudden
ly in Avignon, and as the place seemed to
him good he came in great haste to present
himself as u candidate.
When the intriguer Vedene entered the
palace hall the Holy Father hardly recognized
I him, he had grown so tall aud large. II
must be said also, that the good Pope had
grown old on his side, and did not see well
without glasses. Tistet was not intimidated.
What great Holy Father, you no Longer
recognize me? 1t is I-Tistet Vedenel !"
"Vedene ?"
"Why, you must knoW-he who carried
the French wine to your mule"
'Ah, yes, yes 1 recollect. A good little
fellow, that Tistet Vedene. And now, whai
| does he wish Of us ?"
"Oh, nothing much, great Holy Father.
came to ask you ApropOs. have you your
mule still And is she well ? All, so good
l came to ask of you the position of the first
mustard maker who just died"
you first mustard maker But you are
young. How old can you bep"
Twenty years two months, illustrious
Pontiff; just FIVE years older than your
mule. All, heavens, the good beast If you
knew how l loved that mule How Ian
guished for her in Italy1 viii you not let
me see herr"
eyes, my son, you shall see her" said the
good Pope quite moved 'and since you
love the good animal 80 we'll you shall nc
longer live 80 far from her. From this day
will attach you to my person in the capaci-
ty of first mustard maker. My cardinals will
protest, but 80 much the worse for them
am used to it. Come to us tomorrow after
vespers we will deliver to you the insignial
of your rank in the presence of our chapter,
and then will take you to see the mule and
you will come 10 the vineyard with the two
of US"
How happy was Tistet Vedene as he came
from the great hall With what impatienct
he awaited the ceremony of the morrow
need not tell you. However, there was in the
palace some one still happier and more i'm
patient than he-it was the mule. From the
time of Vedene's return up to vespers the
following day the terrible beast did not cease
stuffing herself with oats and grinding the
shoes of her hind feet against the wall. She
was also preparing for the ceremony.
And then, on the morrow, after vsspers
Tistet Yedene made his entry into the court
yard of the papal palace. All the clergy
were there. The cardinals in red robes, the
Devils Advocate" in black velvet, the abbotl
of the convent with their little mitres, thi
church wardens of st. Agrieol, the violet Ca
mails of the choir, the lower clergy also, the
papaI soldiers in full uniform. the thre'
brotherhoods of penitents, the hermits o
Monnt Ventoux, with their fierce faces, and
the little clerk who comes behind carrying
the hand bell the Aagellant frars bare Il
the waist, the saorstans blooming il
judges robes-all, all, down TO those who
serve the holy water, lie who lights the Ia
! rara and ha uvho avtinuuiahaa tham-fhari