The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-11
f. l. B u r r ] I O
By Agnes Morley Cleaveland

IN line," said Uncle Pat, and
can't say just what would be the best
thing to do in case like that out yonder. ;
The lease out yonder was a
small, long-haired. big-eared. solemn
looking burro no larger than New
foundland dog. He stood at the water
ing-trough alternately poking his nost
into the icy water and shaking hi:
scraggy head distastefully Then ht
raised his small nuzzle, and the place
rung with a shrill, discordant, see
saving sort of wall that, in its high notes
sounded like a squeaky slate-pencil
This performance brought both OF the
ranch dogs to the front, and in another
moment the long-eared intruder wa:
speeding off down the canon with Rins
and Bally at his heels. But when Uncle
Pat" had succeeded in calling off the
dogs El Burrito-hc was "El Burrito
at oncc-stopped and turned back
trotting behind the crestfallen but ODE
dent dogs. He came up close to the
house and stood surveying, with comica
solemnity, the assembled family in the
doorway.
You're rather young to be abroad
without your mother, aren't you?
one asked.
In reply FL Burrito twitched one o.
his great ears pertly.
He will make it though. | think, ,
said Uncle Pat. ewing the little stranger
with practIced eye. He has manner
about him which makes me believe
that he can rustic.
And as if to live up to his reputation
FL Burrito deliberately ambled around
to the kitchen door, beside which stood
the garbage can. The woolly little head
disappeared for an instant, and when
it emerged long potato-paring was
just disappearing down an unparticular,
small throat.
Thereafter El Burrito gave the ranch
such an exhibition of ability to rustic "
as had never been seen before. The
proverbial goat would have blushed
before the superior prowess of this young
donkey. He purloined the chickens
feed, nibbling it up from the ground
unaccountable way of breaking into the
grain-room. and was even discovered
IN the pantry; his small mead was often
seen disappearing through an open
windcw with some catablc which had
been within his reach; he soon learned
to pull the morals, or nose-bags, from
the horses which were being fed, and the
COW could never eat her bran in peace
if FL Burrito was in the vicinity In
deed, he became pest to man and beast,
and was not amenable to discipline in
any form. The COW would horn him
viciuuslv. the cxasperatcd horses would
land sousing whacks with their heels
upon his small ribs. and it was said that
every stone around the ranch had
changed positions a dozen times by
having been SHE'D at FL Burrito all
without effect.
That burro is OF no earthly use p"
complained Uncle Pat. " and think
it would save the temper and morals
of the ranch if we got rid of him"
For five seconds FL Burritos fate
hung in the balance. Then some one
voiced the general sentiment:
Yes, he is aggravating, but some
lloN just Cdl / lISll' HhlilS lLlli-
So El Burrito STAYED.
As he grew older he developed GER
tain redeeming traits and cndeared
himself to the young ranchers beyond
all other pets. He would permit any
sort of experiment to be made upon
himself. He was ridden; he was most
wonderfully harnesscd and driven: he
wore a sunbonnet with much amiability
and gravity In fact there was only
one thing at which he rcbellcd. He would
not permit the big brahma rooster.