Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-01
THE PROv|DENT|AL MULE

eyes twinkling.
The children by common consent
turned their faces toward the open
kitchen window. through which a doe
lie looking mule had poked his head,
watching the breakfast table expect
antly.
ITS stray" her brother Jonas an
swered gloomily, land b'longs to some
of the neighbors. Well have to feed
him several days and be out that
much
"Well, he don't b'long to any of EN-"
Aunt Rachel disputed emphatically.
Don't we know the stock for miles
around? There's Smiths blaze face
mare. Davis speckled OK and old man
Potts government mule, besides Nor
riS' colt
well. you just wait till you see in
the county paper in the Stray no.
tees: 'Lost-Medium sized dark bay
mule, with black ears and name and
brand on his left side'"-
There" his sister interrupted tri-
umphantly. who's brand is it,"
This being a fash of almost mascu-
line sagacity, her brother was silenced
for the time.
If the mule was not a clear favor of
Providence, at least he seemed such to
this humble family. 1t was just at
cotton planting time that their only OK
died, that standby of the poor farmer
of the south-gentle, patient, long en-
during, poorly fed and tended yet re-
luctantly laying down the yoke worn
so long. This was very serious mat
ter to them. for on their cotton crop
depended their livelihood.
In the darkest hour, which is said to
Aunt Rachel saw him for the first time
at the kitchen window, blandly looking
in, and, as the yard gate was shut and
the palings were high, it seemed to her
simple soul that he had been dropped
from the clouds.
Aunt Rachel and the children stood
around while the mule was being put
into the shabby harness. He seemed to
take it all as joke, and he started of
toward the field at gay, mincing gait
that kept the farmer saving at the
lines, and when he reached the end Of
the first row he shook off the frail har
ness and vaulted neatly over the fence.
Then, with wise grin at the farmer.
he knelt down slowly, rested his head
on the ground and turned a complete
somersault.
Suddenly the mule vaulted back into
the field and, rising later on his hind
feet, advanced on the farmer. and
when he defensively raised his whip;
with bright look of relief the mule
retreated, Still upright, and began cir
cling around in excellent waltz time.
He seemed to become excited with the
motion and INDUCED in polkas and
two steps of all kinds and wound up
with spirited gallop twice around the
field, then came cantering up to the
dumfounded farmer and looked trust
ingly into his face. But, finding he
was only wanted as blowing imple-
ment, he turned about and loped to
the house. Arriving at the closed gate,
he stretched his neck and, nOsing up
the latch, sauntered in. So when Aunt
Rachel, washing dishes, looked up she
amicably at the window.
Though her brother Jonas had COM
pletely soured on him that first day.
with a wOman's persistence Aunt Ra
chel still looked on the mule as gift
On succeeding days matters were no
better. The mule did everything i'm
aginable that was useless and very lit
tie that was useful. The children.
with the pathetic inconsequence OF
childhood, were delighted at his tricks.
He was constant source Of amuse-
ment to the poor little chaps. Living
as they always had lived in a small,
dull neighborhOod. never having seen
circus and deprived by poverty of
the usual childish playthings, they soon
learned to love the good natured, clev-
er animal. Even Baby Joe toddled
fearlessly at his heels. though the mule
had nearly frightened him out of his
senses the first day by picking him up
by his dress and seating him on his
broad back. But this was now under
stood to be a mark Of special favor,
limited only to the baby, and with the
little fellow on his back the mule
would trot around the yard while Joe
with delight.
Their father, with the rancOr of pow
erty, endured impatiently the added
expense. Certainly the mule, consid-
cred materially, was no profit. He
would not work. This had been proved
beyond doubt His favorite trick
when harnessed to the pillow was to
pick the harness to pieces at the knots
then shake it off playfully. looking
around for the approval which never
zane.
He was eating up the fodder provid
I'd for his predecessor. the OK, and
here would be no cotton crop for want
If proper attention. The mule had
,een week with the family when the
county paper came. The farmer looked
for the "Stray" notices, but
found instead this astonishing inser-