The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1904-12-08
of less than 10000 is additional food
for thought in what remains OF the
solid south.--Globe Democrat.
An Opossum Mule--A Crittenden
Wonder.

We have often heard farmers In
this section proudly boast OF their
unexcelled opossum ours, in fact,
they are very common things. but an
opossum mule-one that can actual
ly scent an opossum, and. by Its
acute sense OF smell. distinguish the
Stimulated specie from the other YER
min of the woods something new
under the sun. The story Of this tai
ented quadruped is told by Mr.. Lar
kin Hard, OF near this city, the truth
of which he vouches for. his father
having raised His Muleship, whose
genealQgy and characteristics are
matters OF personal knowledge to
our informant.
He is very ordinary, unpreten-
tious sort of mule, with ears OF
average length. His name is Beck.
There is nothing in name, how
ever. for no less than 500 mules In
the county bear the same title. But
this Beck enjoys an instinct that the
common herd of Becks can't boast
OF.
Beck was purchased of the elder
Mr.. Hard by q. W. Parish. OF
Frances. at which time nothing was
known OF his canine qualities, and
they were not discovered until one
night when Mr.. Parish rode Beck to
services at Caldwell Spring church.
Nothing unusual occurred until they
we're on their return trip, when at
certain point on the road Beck began
paving the earth. prancing and
snorting. and conducting himself In
a manner that was greatly alien to
his wonted disposition. Being some
what surprised at the usually docile
Beck's disorderly conduct. Mr.. Par
lsh at once began looking about to
ascertain. II possible. the cause OF
the disturbance. when he espied on
fence nearby large. fat opossum'
which he captured much to the
pleasure OF our hero OF the trail. he
proudly prancing around and ex-
pressing his Joy in his own mulish
fashion.
The next exhibition OF this won
derful instinct was made when the
Parish family. on hearing q commo
ton in a field near the house. wen
out and found our distinguished do
nestle triumphantly tramping undel
foot an object Of his muiish malevo
lence. Members Of the family there
upon rescued the captive and start
ed from the field. the captor bring
ing up the rear laughing as best
mule can laugh.
Again Beck's enmity for Bre
'Possum was displayed three or fou
weeks later. when the brays ofth
former announced the fact to the
Parish household that again Their
was something doing In the pasture
and surmising the trouble they hur
rled TO the scene OF action to nm
that Beck had another of his unfor
tunate victims at bay In persim
mon tree.
These are the only instances
where the varmint has been caught
but a number of times when per
sons have been riding Beck he ha
been known to attempt leaving tn
road and taking to the wood. tn
cause OF which is supposed 20 b
that he scented a trail crossing tn
road and his inexplainable charac
teristic gave him an inclination t.
follow IL.
Mr.. Parish contemplates puttint
his opossum mule on the trail L
compete for honors with the bes
dogs in the county, and is confiden
that Beck will wear the blue ribbon
Beck is only eight years old AM
doubtless has great future.
.,-.r <,..u.cr.xs a. DDuGENT