The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-05-08
THE oRAcutAR MULE.


WellsbOfo correspondent OF the N. Y.
San, The hnnds OF the lnw have
closed upon him, and woe sits by the
hearth Of Uncle Morg Binders. In the
Pine creek region.
Buster is mule-za little mouse-
colored mule-that has been In the
Binder family so many yenrs that his
age is forgotten. lie was the autocrat
OF the Binder premises. His chief
duty was 10 haul Unale Morg aud Aunt
Peggy when they wanted TO go visit
Ing or to town to trade. That Is.
Buster hauled them II he hadn't made
up his mind to IA different course They
never knew whether or not the mule
was going TO take them or not until
they got into the wagon. Then
Uncle Morg would take up the lines
and say:
Now, then. Busteri What % We
think about itp,
II Buster pricked up his ears and
started on that was MS much rs to say
that he thought II WIS all right and he
would take Uncle Morg and Aunt
Peggy wherever they were going and
fetch them back home slick as a
greaser But If Buster replied TO
Uncle Morg's inquiry by laying his
ears back on his shorlders and scowl-
ing they knew that the mule thought II
wasn't all right and without another
word Uncle Morg aud Aunt Peggy
would dfsmount. unhitch the mule and
turn him out and go eontentetly into
the house TO wait until some day when
Buster was willing.
Make him 20 agin his willi' Uncle
Morg always exclaimed when asked
why he didn't force the mule TO go.
'W'y, man. sunlpin' ID happen surer
N 'tater rot If we sh'd go agin Buster 8
idee o. the natteri Buster knowsr'
II was the same way with persons.
Busters opinion of an individual de-
cided Uncle Mlorg and Aunt Peggy.
When lie folded his liberal ears back
aud threatened rush upon any per-
son under his scrutiny that person
could do no business with the Binder
family. Buster knowsti was alwnvs
the emphatic remark of his two loyal
subjects after the mule had given ilis
opinion, and that in spite of several
queer judgments the arbitrary Buster
had put on record. There WAS the
ease of the man who drove mp to the
Binder place once when the railroad
was building. He started for the
house but Buster blocked the way.
He not only laid baek his enrs and
threatened the man with his front. but
turned about aud let his heels fly so
viciously aud so rapidly in the direc-
tion of the mans head That the stranger
backed away aud shouted to Uncle
Morg. who stood on the stoop, 10 call
his mule off.
I've got some business with your
shouted the man.
mo v han't!" replied Uncle Morg.
.'Ye han't got no business with me. fer
Busters agin ye. m Buster knowsr
n n
come to lind out, he was the agent oi
the railroad. and wanted 10 contrac,
with Uncle Morg for big lot OF ties.
The consequence was that otlisr part
les got the contract, which proved to
be one with big money In II.
Don't carer said Uncle Morg.
The chances is th't If I'd ha' took the
contract I'd ha' put the money in "A
bank. N the bank d bustedi Buster
knows"
Then there was the new preacher
In the district. the Rev. Absalonl
Dubbs. the meekest. mildest. and most
harmless of men. When Brother
Dubbs went to make his first PASTORAL
call on Sister Binder. he was bounced
of of the premises by Buster so quick
that he never knew how he got ont in
the road. 1t saddened the hearts ol
Uncle Morg aud Aunt Peggy to know
that Brother Dubbs had been weighed
in Busters balance and found Sc
lnmentably wanting. But there wa:
no getting around it. Brother Dubbi
was under suspicion. and Uncle Morg
and Aunt Peggy stayed home from
meeting all that year. Their faith in
Busters wisdom was not shaken bit
by the fact that the dominic quit the
itsf riot with a GnOtlazs record
The world hasn't come TO an end
yitl' said Uncle Morg. Preachers is
doin' some tur'ble queer things these
days wen we hanl s'pectin' of it,
Buster knowsr'
But the oraeular little mule is suffer
ing greatly in prestige now. Uncle
Morgs and Aunt Peggy's heretofore
unwnvering trust in Buster has been
rudely shaken. and their calm philos-
ophy does not serve to sustain them
in their painful awakening. Two or
three months ago one of the incest
appearing young men who had ever
been seen in that part of the Pine
creek county stopped his horse at the
Binder farm and got out of the wagon.
Buster took TO him on sight. He put
his nose on the strangers sleeve and
walked him right up to Uncle Morg' S
door. Buster even seemed to want to
follow the man into the house, he had
taken such a fancy to him. That was
all the recommendation Uncle Morg
and Aunt Peggy wanted for the
stranger, and he didn't dilly-dally in
in presenting the business he had in
hand. In less than fifteen minutes he
had Uncle Morg's signature to con-
tract to act as agent in that district for
the grab quick stump-puller and light
ming chuck-hole filler. hast week the
contract turned up in the shape of a
cut-throat Judgment for $3.50, and
Uncle Morg was called upon to settle.
He kicked, and they levied on property
of his. including the oracular mule.
If hef to pay the swindlin' note /
WILL says Uncle Morg. '"Tain't the
money l mind. but to think th't arter
we've let Buster hev the run o. the
place fer twenty year m better he'd
turn to N stear us agin a bunko game
is watts breakin' us all upw
What to Do When Starving.