The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-11-01
FOR OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
Some Anecdotes About the Little Mexican
Bnrr0.
A STRANGE FREAK OF NATURE.
A Story From the Far-on Island OF NADIA
gsscar-How n saGscious DOE D'o
Important Outpost Duiy.

Two long ears. a diminutive body and the
oldest mixture of patience and mischief
that's the Mexican burro or donkey. a child
can lead him nine yards and the tenth no man
living can prevail on him 70 traverse UNTIL ne
makes up his mind to do so. when he VIII 90
forward with the most composed and matter
of-fact air as II such a thing as baking had
never entered his head. But his eye betrays
him. This is s-glesm with mischief and iun'
fairly twinkling while his irate master tugs.
and coaxes. and perspires, and e1ecrstes tii
be proceeds. when the expression OF ms
dr0oping lid is q shade nay many SHADES loo
demure TO be believed ia.
But for all this tho burro ~ his masters
faithful. hard working servant ana Irie1d,
and often all bis worldly possessions. lie
and the little brown-skinned, half-naked
Mexicans grow up together close compan-
ions end sharing often one bed ana eating
from the same platter. This association WITH
man makes him very intelligent. so much so
that no dog ever came under my observation
that possessed greater reasoning powers tnan
the .burro: AS a usual thing ne IS 700
much imbued with the Indifferent. In
dolent character of his master. to
exhibit this. but let occasion arise and my
shaggy friend will astonish you by the clever
ness and quickness with which no takes IN
the situation and acts upon 1t.
Afriend of mine, wno owns g large ranch
near PasO del NOrte, related 20 me the story
OF a burro's fidelity and intelligence ior
which he could youch, md which was not
considered as anything extraordinary by those
best acquainted with these animals. A Mexi-
can named AscenciOn had gone with a mock
OF sheep 10 q ranch nearly twenty miles dis
tant from his home, and had taken his burro
with him to carry his provisions. gun. &C.
A few days after Ascencion's departure the
donkey returned home, his pack missing;
ANYBODY but q Mexican Of that class would
have been made uneasy by this circumstance
but it seems almost impossible 20 arouse
much energy in this people. even emotion
appearing too great a strain on their capacity.
S., though the purro hung about Tor two
DAYS. no one took much notice OF MN. III
spite Of his prolonged and anxious haw-haws.
Finding himself unheeded. the donkey de
parted once more. 10 return several days after
with his master-who had a broken leg
clinging 10 him ns he dragged himself along.
Ascension. crossing the dry led of a stream.
had 50 injured himself that he was unable 10
travel. but he managed 10 remove the Durros
pack and turn his head IN the direction OF
home. lie hoped that the animals appear
ance there would arouse fears for his safety
and bring some one out to look for him. NO
one coming except the poor lurro, and fear
ing 10 wait longer. AscenciOn dragged himself
home by c~linging TO his faithful friend.
Butt for all his gentleness and patience Master
Burro can hold his own when danger threat
ems. An old hunter described 20 nue. an CO.
counter he once witnessed between a burro
a big gray wolf Of the kind known among
the Mexicans a. "Lobos." Tie donkey wes
quietly grazing in a narrow. rock-walled pass
between two hills. when the wolf approached
him and endeayored 80 spring on HIM.
BurrO appeared unconscious OF his enemy
until tie latter WAS within q few feet OF him.
when suddenly wheeling about, he let fly
with his heels. He struck the wolf with such
force as to ting him against one OF the rocky
walls and 10 stun him for q moment.
On r~eyiging the wolf seemed hardly TO know
what had happened. and, a. tho hurco wes
still quietly grazing. he returned 20 the attack.
only to be again sent flying against the rock.
This was repeated several times. the lob0s'
rage increasing with each defeat, while his
antagonist preserved his cool aspect.
Again and again the wolf endeavored 10 at
tack the burro IN front. but tho donkey wheel
ing rapidly. brought his terrible heels into
play each time. AT last. the wolf received
such a kick rs TO stretch 1t on the ground for
several minutes. when the burro. its patience
evidently exhausted fell on II with teeth and
feet. The wolf made one or two attempts to
rise. but was soon mangled almost beyond re-
cognitiOn.
This done, Master Burro resumed his graz
ing. -Phladelphia Times.