The San Francisco call., 1909-09-18
EPHRAIN1 THE DONKEY

with few gentle pats and strokes he
so Gained Eph's bad temper that he
stood quite still until the other boys
were mounted
Taking the lines they dug into his
great fat sides with their heels but
Eph stood as still as though he had
been carved out OF putty or wood. No
amount of persuasion or sugar would
induce him TO move even an inch.
Though they slapped his neck, coaxed,
petted. urged him to move. he was deaf
and dumb and stubborn, as he truly
knew how TO be
"Ah, / have another plan,' exclaimed
Jack. "Tll get a keen switch and just
use a bit of that kind of persuasion on
these unruly back legs. Now. hold on
fast, boys and with this admonition
he applied the hickory quite briskly
TO Ephraims hind legs.
Then the donkey's head went down,
the ears lay back close to his neck and
the legs few up with such rapidity that
the boys were landed in the dust at his
fore feet, Eph looking on with much
complacency as though nothing had
ever happened.
Boys love such adventures, and.
nothing daunted, were soon on their
feet. brushing the dirt from their
clothing and getting it out of their
eyes as best they could, in order to try
Just once more"
So Eph was petted. sugared and
coaxed again. and this time he thought
he would lfumor the boys and give
them a treat. Once more they were in
the saddle. Jack pulled at the reins-
the boys used their heels and hands.
and they started slowly-yery slowly.
The burden on Epll's. back was seem
ingly great. Jack gave the lines to
Frank. picked up his hickory stick and
gave the donkey one sharp lick on his
legs, and loi both ears dropped back
upon his neck-his nose fell in a per-
pendicular line-his tail Strengthened
and, starting off at full speed, he was
soon alongside barbed wire fence,
and the boys were so cruelty scratched
that they We're glad to jump off and
escape, and thus ended the much an
ticipated ride.
When Jack himself, however, wanted
a ride Ephraim was a very different
donkey, docile and obedient, without
any donkey pranks.
Recognizing him in the yard, he
would raise his set gray nose and
whinney beseechingIy for sugar or q
bunch of clover, and then. perhaps. the
Whitney would end in a long, melo-
dious bray. A favorite amusement was
10 nibbIe at old brooms and rags when
ever he could find them
The fourth of July was a gala day
Ao1 E1pDs as lie always inquired cOnSplc-
uously in the celebration. The day be-
fore he WAS tied to tree in the clover
patch. the garden hose was brought
forth and the water turned on him.
Then with soap and brush he was
scrubbed until he was as beautiful as
any donkey could be. He particularly
liked to have his ears scrubbed-much
more than boys usually do.
Early on the morning of the fourth.
after his breakfast of barley and hay,
he was gayly adorned with the red,
white and blue. and drawing a beauti-
fully decorated buggy cart he formed
one of the principal features of the pa
rade. thus helping in his way to cele-
brate the day of independence.
When Jacks legs grew too long for a
comfortable seat on dear old Epl. it
was decided to send him to the
City park, where he could end his days
at the children's Fairgrounds, and
where he would be well cared for and
have little TO worry him in his old age
He is still there-his fur is longer and
more shaggy. and ! think a little
grayer- His steps are slow and care
fuI-not brisk as they were, and he is
not SO anxious to, run from the chill
dren as he was when he lived on that
beautiful farm in the foothills, but his
eyes are Just as expressive, his whin-
ney Just as musical, and he takes as
much delight with his city friends as
he did with the country children in
his palmy days.