Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-04-25

| at times, consequently Une mule was
sometimes horribly beaten and
kicked. One day the fellow resolved
to get rid OF the animal forever. and
mixed q lot OF broken glass with the
corn. There, he said. as he COM
pleted the operation, ''That'll fix
YOU" and no aimed terrific kick at
Jerry. The heavy nailed boot cut
open the flesh. Jerry's hoofs few
out with lightning speed and struck
the man. In tho excitement which
followed Jerry did not eat the corn.
and his next driver discovered the
glass and threw it away.
| Thus IL was that Jerry sustained
his bad reputation and added to 1t at
various times, to the terror Of the
driver boys and stable bosses.
The baby was the only child of
young John Williams, clerk in the
mine Office.
She caught heavy cold during the
winter, and the doctor was called in
and prescribed medicine which the
baby swallowed with greater or less
avidity, according to its sweetness or
nastiness. But medicine did the baby
no good, and she was growing so weak
and thin that Mrs. Williams found
tears starting to her eyes "a she
looked at her, and Mr.. Williams went
to the Office with very grave face
and worked nervously over his books.
Then Grandma Williams came to the
rescue. Take that child down to
the mine" she said, land let it
breathe the air there for half an hour
each day for a week, that will cure
her."
Down the miner" exclaimed Mrs.
Williams, Mortified.
"Yes, down the mine. and she
shall go this very day and l will go
with her."
But" demonstrated Mr.. and
Mrs. Williams in unison.
mo butts about it, said Grandma
Williams. "John, put on your coat;
Mary Ellen, wrap the baby up warm
ly and stop crying"
Grandma Williams had her wa1
The baby went down the deep s.snft
and in the low, black gangway,
breathing the gaseous mine air day
after day, and grew strong and lusty
again. 1t was on one of these visits
that the baby and Jerry made each
others acquaintance. On the day
they first met Jerry stood near the
bottom of the shaft. The baby's
father had put the baby, who was
growing heavy, down on the track
and was talking to some miners. The
baby seeing light IA few yards away
Git was on Jerry's head) went toward
it and found Jerry. He was half
doing when rudely awakened by
something grasping one of his fore
legs. A vicious CLEAN shone from
his eyes and his ears were laid
back fiat along his head as he pre-
pared to repulse the daring person
who was taking such liberty with him.
Then he looked down and saw little.
laughing rosy face gazing up into
his, and pair of tiny arms grasped
tightly round his muscular leg. The
next minute, when the miners and
baby's father turned and, with cry
of horror, saw the light of the vicious
mules lamp shining on the baby's
head, jerry ears were pointed down.
ward and he was whinnying softly
The men sprang forward, one snatched
the baby away, another drove the
mule back, but the baby began to cry
and stretch out her tiny hands to-
ward Jerry, while he, still whinnying,
gazed at her with such look of in
telligent curiosity that his driver
said, II don't believe the brute 'ud
hurt her." and a moment later, the
baby, in her fathers arms, was strok-
ing Jerry's SCARED and rough head,
while row of miners stood at the
animals side, ready to drive him
back with blows and kicks il he
attempted to bite. But Jerry was as
quite and gentle as the baby herself.
Ever after that day they were firm
friends. Every time the baby came
down the mine, visit she insisted
on making every week or two, she
would see Jerry and stroke and play
with him, and give him sugar and
apples to eat, until it was said among
the miners that she came down ex-
pressly to see Jerry and so, before
long. she became known as Jerry's
baby.
Jerry's driver had henceforth an
easy task. The mule which was for
merly so vicious and stubborn, was
now the most gentle and docile in
the mine, and he was always pointed
out to the visitors as 1.-The mule
that was tanned by John Williams
baby"
The baby had been away for three
weeks on visit. On the day of her
return home she said: Papa, take
baby down mine, baby wants to see
jerry" and Mr.. Williams obeyed.
AS the inside foreman told the
footman, the visit was to be made
when the shifts changed, consequent
ly when the baby and her father
reached the foot Of the shaft the day
men had finished their work and the
mules were in their stables, but the
stable boss considered it no trouble |
to bring Jerry out to where the baby
was sitting in the middle of the
track upon an armful OF straw,
brought for her by one of the drivers
boys. After the three weeks separa-
ton the greeting between Jerry and
the baby was most affectionate; and
baby clapped her hands and rubbed
her soft white cheek against Jerry's
rough nose, while he whinnyed to
express his delight. Jerry had be-
come so gentle that Mr.. Williams
and the stable boss had complete