Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-08-11
III i STUDENTS
CUNNING TRICK.
How and Why He Turned Himself Into
a Donkey.

Donkey.
One day, long time ago, some stu
dents were standing on the corner OF
one Of the main streets in city OF
Spain.
You are a strange fellow, juan"
cried one.
Nay" Juan answered. Il mean
what say. You all knew me at col
lege. was ever good student and
good companion. Had | not many
friends? l supported my college, and
did all that a merry student should do.
Now you see my plight. My parents
are dead, and | am penniless. | can
not longer help my college $50 it has
no use for. me. My so-called friends
have deserted me- Yet l am not down
cast. Live I must, and whose shall
follow me, need henceforth fear moth
Ing, for food shall not be wanting"
Hear! hear!" cried all the voices,
and when the tumult had subsidized
Juan continued:
"Who will join me? l intend to live
we'll"
$50 that you lead us not to the gal
lows, we belong to thee. But such
rlaything we like not" one said, and
they all agreed with him.
"Come, then!" cried Juan, Il will find
a prize that belongs to him bold enough
to seize it; and that in the market Will
bring a price that will feed us all"
Agreed" cried his companions, and
as Juan moved away they followed him,
laughing and singing merrily in an
ticipation of joyous life.
The MONDAY sun beat down upon
road that led between two cities. 1t
was miles away from the place where
the young men had been in the early
morning, and they were very glad when
Juan called a halt, and babe them lie
behind the hedges, in the shadows OF
green trees and tall grasses.
Almost and hour passed by, and the
adventurers were we'll rested, when on
the heated air the sound of distant bells
was borne to them. Nearer and nearer
came the lazy tinkle, tinkle, and soon
a cloud of white dust floated up the
white road.
BE ready, now," Juan whispered.
A muleteer came riding cross-legged
on his donkey, and behind followed
half dozen other donkeys, fastened
one to the other by a rope. AS he had
sold all his wares in thu neighboring
city, the weary man was mapping on
his homeward way, feeling secure in
the quietness of the road.
Juan motioned to his companions to
be very still, and then, creeping eau
tiously from his hidingplace, he ap-
preached the last donkey and unfasten-
ed all it's trappings and its heavy sad
die, leaving the beast free in the road
side.
He then put all the trappings on him.
slf, and followed the sleeping muleteer
and his animals.
His companions, meanwhile, were de-
lighted at what Juan had done, and
were not slow to sieZe the donkey,
which they led to the market; nor were
they slow in di5posing of the beast, for
which thew obtained q neat sum
Juan plodded on for some time in the
wake of the sleeping muleteer, until,
thinking that his companions must be
out of sight, he began to back with all
his might. This startled the donkeys,
and made their bells jangle, which
awakened the muleteer, and he looked
back to see what was wrong. But as
he saw nothing he chided his good
beasts, and settling himself again in
his saddle, was soon sound asleep.
For some distance more Juan walk
ed quietly, but suddenly he began to
jump and prance and caper, backing
at the same time with all his strength.
This time the bells of the frightened
donkeys fully reused the mule;eer, and
jumping to the ground he ran back to
see what the trouble was. His sur
prise may be imagined as he saw, in
stead of his steady, jogging donkey,
fine-looking young man, dressed out
in, CT nd t,.ar ,i,,or Il,,t