The Grenada gazette., 1888-04-07
POOR JOE!
The Pathetic Story of Little Black
Mule.

Joe was little black mule, and his
home was in Chattanooga, Tenn. For
him life meant hard work and plenty
of it, many blows and scanty food;
for his master. Jack Reefe, was a
rough, coarse man, who drank great
deal of bad whisky. and was scarcely
responsible sometimes for what he
did He earned a living by hauling
wood, coal, stone, bricks and sand,
and as he was paid by the load. it
was to his interest to have as many
loads in a day as he could SO he had
no mercy on poor Joe.
The little mule was very strong
when Jack Rcefe bought him, but
hauling heavy loads up the steep
streets of Chattanooga from five
O clock in the morning until six at
night soon told on his strength and
elasticity. And if he paused mo-
ment for breath or to rest his weary
limbs, down came Jack heavy whip
on his back, and loudly was he shouted
at to Go on!' Get up therc!'
Joe had q friend, however, in little
Benny. Jack Recfc's nephew; but
Benny was cripple. and went round
on crutch. and as he was as much
afraid Of Jack Roefe as Joe was, he
seldom dared interfere in the poor
little mules behalf, no matter how
strongly inclined to do so.
Benny kept hLuse for his uncle;
cooked the bacon, made corn-b bread
and boiled the potatoes and hominy.
There was no variation to the hum BILE
fare, and Benny had never tasted 3
piece of white bread in his life, and
seldom saw fresh meat except in the
butcher shops. He had to manage
very carefully in order to make the
money his uncle gave him for house
keeping purposes last from one Satur-
day night 10 the nexS but there was
one thing he always contrived TO do,
and that was to save a potato for Joe.
That potato must be saved, even if
Benny had none himself and that was
the reason that at meal times Benny
never helped himself to potatoes until
his uncle was through eating. -Four
DO, atops were always boiled for sup
per, and it depended on jack appe-
tite whether there was more than one
left
Joe was put every night into arough
shed in the yard back of Jacks cabin,
the door of which was made OF two
pieces of board, nailed SO far apart
that Joe could put his head between
them; and Benny never went out with
the potato that he did not find Joe
~s>ching for him at this space.
Poor Joe! Benny would say. strok-
.ng the long ears Il wish ! had Il
whole basket of potatoes for you,
joe"
And Joe would rub his head on
Benny's shoulder, and appear very
appreciative Of the love bestowed on
him
Bul Joe's happicst time was on Sum
day. when there was no hauling to do,
and he was allowed to roam at his
will about the small yard, and roll in
the dust as often as the fancy seized
him. Jack always slept all day Sun
day, waking up only to eat his dinner,
and he left the care Of Jos entirely to
Benny. And the little cripple would
sit in the doorway of the small kitchen,
and watch Joe's antics with the keen
est delight. and would laugh heartily
whenever Joe kicked up his heels and
pranCed around.
1t does me lots of good to see you
enjoy yourself, Joe," he would say;
and he used to think the little mule
understood every word.
Late in the fall OF 1887 J ack engaged
10 haul sand for row of brick houses
IN process of construction, and as
there had been a great deal of rain
the streets were muddy, and the haul
ing was harder than ever for poor lit
tie Joe
Benny, hobbling up Eighth street
late one Saturday afternoon, heard a
familiar voice shouting: Get up
there!' and saw his uncle raining
blows on poor Joe, who was strainng
every sinew to pull the heavy wagon
out Of the rut in which it was stalled.
Uncle! UucIe Jnck' cried Benny,
appeaiingiy. hobbling into the street.
"Joe can't pull that Don't you soeP
He can't pull IT,"
He kin pull it if he's min ter !"
said Jack. roughly. "IN teach him
to bak," and down cam the heavy
whip again