The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-01
NUMBER EIGHTEEN.
Couldn't Be Blamed.

1t was down near that city eyesore and
awful example known in local parlance as
Cogswell's founl lain. There are number
of itnerant veuders who cOngregate there
abouts. and passing that way quite fire.
quently had become pretty familiar with
the appearance of them all.
But this was new conner. He was a
venerable darby. of enormous size, even
though his broad shoulders were bent with
the weight of years. He wore battered
and shapeless top hat. j" a hickory shirt,
blue overaIs and long faded yellow over
coat, fastened at the throat with safety
pin. He had hands like shoves and feet
like life-preseryers. He was Justify singing
out:
"Bee-nannvs, bee-nannYs, nice ripe bee
nannys, 10 cents Dozen"
| stopped to look at them. lie mad his
wares in democrat wagon, drawn by a
weary-looking. sad eyed yellow mule. The
animal was hl;ched to the vehicle by gear
ing that bOasted more bale-rOpe than
leather. He stood upon two legs, ''pOlnt-
ing" the other two. His eyes were half
closed, but there was glitter through the
white Iashes that showed the creature was
not asleep-at least not entirely. One ear
dropped sadly 20 starboard OF his great
ehuckle head, the other was pointed due
forward.
"Bee-nannys, nice ripe bee-nannys, 10
cents dozen" murmured the darby, DEEM
ing he saw speculation in the eye where
with | regarded his tropic luxuries.
There were two boys standing near the
banana vendor. street merchants, both Of
them. and they were dealing in some sort
Of peripatetic toy that attached to u string,
jerked its mechanical way across the side
walk in close proximity 10 the mules fore
feet. The animal caught glimpse of the
brlght.colored little object, opened his eyes
wide, braced his fOrefeet and uttered
snort OF astOnishment.
"Sho, now. John, dOan yer min dat ar,
Use done s'plaued ter 20 afor now dat II
cayent hurt 20. Now, now, Johu, as the
animal SHE'D violently when the perambu-
latng figure came his way again, why
dosn yO be reasonable. Use boun it cayent
hurt yo-ain | tole 80 so afor?"
Tie mules ears were both erect now. bis
wicked eyes wide open. and he looked
thoroughly scared, whether he really was or
not. He made Il sudden half-turn thai
threatened to bring the wagon into collision
with one Of DIR. COgswelPs crazy gaslamps.
The old man sprang TO catch the reins.
'Sho, now, John, you fool muel, who-a-l
| saw"
He was reaching across the bru.e's
| launches to grass the reins when there was
a sudden flash. The air seemed full of yell
| low hind legs, with irOnshod feet, nice ripe
Ddhdhds Hhu Vtl Coioieu hldb- lie Idttei
| executed double SOmersau.t and struck
! the pavement, his head coming down with a
| fearful crash on the cObblestones. The two
| boys seized their toy aud ran. The old man
lay still for an instant aud l feared he was
| dead.
People came running up and gazed at him
| as he raised himself TO a sitting posture.
| The yellow mule stood upon two legs
pointing" the other two. One ear dropped
sadly to starboard, the other pointed due
| forward. His eyes were nalf-closed, but a
| glitter showed through the white lashes.
| Bits Of baerOpe dangled in every direction
! from the harness. Bananas strewed the
| walk.
| The Old man slowly arose to his feet,
| picked up his battered hat and surveyed his
| outfit. Then he turned to me.
"Yo' couldn't blame me, could yo', now.
missy. If jes' felt a natchul contempt fer
| dat muel?" MISS RUSSELL.