Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-04-18
Weter and
| NCLE PETER knew 'Rasmu>'

/ H NCLE PETER knew 'Rasmu~'
/ W as well rs Rasmus knew him.
That j. saying a good deal, for Peter
had worn out more whipstaif. over
Rasmus's head than he could count.
Indeed, this gives very inadequate idea
of the number of whipstatis he had 50
broken, because, as he himself said
he want no gre't hand nj countin, :
and when he was intrusted with
money for the firm, which not inire
quently happened, he used to say, on
his return, as he spread it out on the
table: IL reckon, Marse Henry, YOU
had better count dat over. Tspec' it
is all dyah, cause | hold my hand out
to him right study after he done count
once. and looked mighty wise until he
counted it over agin and said Oats
right, and den come long; but
reckon you better count it oven The
fact was that Uncle Peter had been
trying Rasmus, and Easmus had
been trying Uncle Peter. ever since
the day when "the old mule" the
mule that the firm had when Uncle
Peter 6rst came down from the coun-
try and demanded work Of his "voung
master" his Marse Henry dropped
dead in the shafts trying to back the
dray up 20 the sidewalk. 1t was,
perhaps, simply coincidence that
Uncle Peter had broken whipst aft
over that mules head Just before he
fell for he had truly mourned for his
mule. He allowed no one else to bury
him. and he always talked of him
with reminiscent affection, as it he had
been a beloved member of his family !;
and when the firm took him down
next day to look at a young mule in
the pens near the stock wards, he would
not consent to the purchase of one
until he had tried" it, This was at
least six years before the time herein
referred to but though the mule had
been paid for within forty.eight hours,
Uncle Peter never would admit tha,
he was doing anything hut "tryin' "
her. This he told Rasmus herself at
least dozen times a day, in every
conceivable tone between that Of the
most inviolable confidence and that of
the dire>t menace. Occasionally he
even tCld the firm So when his threats
and blows iloated in at the door of
the warehouse and brought some one
out to see what the trouble was, and
TO expostulate with him on his treat
ment OF Rasmus. One dav he actually
marched solemnly into the office, and.
hat in his hand, lodged a formal com
plaint against Rasmus, declaring that
he had done try her" and found she
would not do.
"Why, what's the matter, Uncle
Peter p asked his employer and form
er master. Doesn't she pull well =
"Oh yes, sub, she pull enough. |
ain got no quoil wild Rasmus bout
dat. She pull well as any mule |
ever see, 'cep' de ole MULE never
see mule pull like him-but she is
de meanes' mule in de wull. She
always pull de wrong way, and she
won't back step 10 save yo' life, jes
like CONAN Fl you want her to 90
one way. ,he want to go turr torectly.
Ef YOU want her To back, she want 10
90 forrard. Ef you want her TO 90
forrarl, she won't move till she dome
back over de house is done broke
more whipstatis over her head den |
could cut on de ole place"
The old man was Modified with the
statement that he had better 90 back
and TRY her little longer; ! and he
went, mutterng that he would TRY
her Jest little longer and then if
she didn't suit he would send her back
"whar she come from
Uncle Peter" called his employer
as he went out, why do YOU call her
Rasmus -
He turned back II calls her
Rasmus. Marse Henry, cause Rasmus
is Il mule name, and | gwine to knock
her head oil too et she don't mind. !"
lie went out.
Nothing more was hear0 ct the
matter beyond Uncle Peters custo-
mary threats coming in from the street.
lie aud Rasmus got along in the same
old friendly way. he running whip
stafis over Rasmuss head, and Rasmus
running his temper, until one day i
new member OF the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty TO Animals
happened to come along Just as tncle
Peter banged his whipstatl over Ras-
mus in the same old aiiectionate way
The next morning the old man was
| fined ten dollars in the police court,
which his employers paid and deduc-
ted from his wages \ short time
after that his employer. coming down
the street, observed the dray standing
ut right angles to the sidewalk nj
some little distance from the curb
Highest of all in Leavenlng Po
\ a -