Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-09-21

treacherous creatures: still, II the
man wished to sell the mule for two
pennies. and 1t was a good riding
animal, Mr.. Dolliver thought he would
try it.
The man looked extremely doubtful
about this. He was knitted man,
and the beads which made his eyes
had slipped little cross.eyed, and
gave him very doubsful expression
anyhow
THAT there mule is worth more
than any two pennies" he said. Hes
got three good legs. and the other
one isn't broke off very high up.
think he ought to be worth a penny
leg-call 1t three pennies and we'll
trade"
The Dollivers were all standing out
In front of the house. Mrs. Dolliver at
the head of the line-with the baby
sewed into her arm-Aunt Dinah
next. Tommy Dolliver next, and
Which and Tother jumping around
almost anywhere Dolly Dolliver was
gone.
When Mrs. Dolliver heard that re.
mark about the legs she screamed:
ooh. Mr.. Dolliver-pray. pray re.
member that you are a lame man!
Do not then buy lame mule also.
Who ever heard Of riding mule with
one leg broken off. anyhow"
The knitted man was very Indignant.
Riding him?" he shouted. you
don't ride mules-you keep candy in
EN-"
Mr.. Dolliver here attempted to get
up on the mules back. ITO try Its
gaits.' he said. But as he took hold
of Its name and jumped, the mules
head fell off and the mule fell over
the mule and Mr.. Deliver all in a
heap.
Mrs. Dolliver shrieked and ran to
her spouse-with the baby sewed into
her arm. Which and Tother yelled
and ran to look and see If the mule
was filled with candy as the knitted
man had said Tommy Dolliver help.
ed his father up. and the knitted
man picked up his mules head and
put it back on.
II don't care for an animal like
that. He fell to pieces" Mr.. Dolliver
said. Hes vicious. Did you see
him throw me?"
He amt vicious. neither" the
knitted man asserted. Just you fill
him up with candy and he's as sweet
tempered mule as anybody need
want. Him THROWN anybody! The
idee! He's got one leg broke off. and
if you push him around that way he
falls over. If his h I'D didn't come
off, how could you ever get the candy
in?"
Mr.. Dolliver was sitting on the
ground. feeling all over his arms and
legs. to see If any of his bones were
broken. Take 1t away" he command
ed, take the vicious brute away. |
nave qdftes enough ttffd1G6isu,Sss Ga nv
family filled with candy. without
buying mules to fill. What want is
a good horse to ride"
oh! to ride, is it?" the knitted
man said. What some people will
expect! You don't ride mules-every.
body knows that. Mules are made to
hold candy" And he led his mule
away, grumbling.
You are wondering where Dolly
Dolliver was all this time. Well. she
had gone over to talk to the btsque
man about the spotted horse. The
first thing she said to the bisque man
was: Dear me. how dusty 1t Is up,
here"
YES" answered the bisque man
sadly, "it's very dusty up here now.
My dear wife used to keep things as
clean as new pin; but now that she
is gone, there is dust everywhere. and
lead sad life"
Would you like to have somebody
come every morning and dust your
mantsl?" Dolly asked him.
The bisque man almost shed tears:
he said it was the ambition of his
life to have that mantel properly
busted, and things kept tidy for him
in his old age.
Then Dolly told him that she would
dust the mantel for a year. II he
would sell her father the spotted
horse for two pennies. She had the
pennies with her, and was soon
mounted on the horse, careering gatly
home and shouting to all the Dolli-
yers to come out and see.
They didn't need to come out, they
were all where the knitted man and
the mule had left them. and you may
be sure they welcomed Dolly very
| gladly.
Mr.. Dolliver got up on the spotted
horse and rode, using his cane for a
riding whip. He pranced back and
forth in front of the house, to the
Joy of the beholders. He called the
attention of all the family to the won
derful way in which he could control
his fiery steei-but as little Dolly had
just ridden the horse home. they
were not SO much surprised at that
as he expected they would be.-Grace
MACEDONIAN Cooke. In the indianapolis
Noue