The Mena weekly star., 1912-03-28

~~"eOuons IN the east, who ware
spending their vacaticm with Matt.
iand, shared in the general devotion.
10 say nothing of George the cook and
Fete' the packer and horse wranelar
Philips. who was an old acopa,n.-
ance OF Ends, had tried his luck with
ner back east and had sense enough
10 accept as final his failure. Brad
shaw was solemn young man with
out tnat keen sense OF humor which
was characteristic of the west Thu
others were suitably dressed for "a
venture. for Bradshaw's idea OF an an
propriate costume was distinguished
cnieny by long green felt puttees
which swathed his huge calves and
excited curious inquiry and ribald
comment from the surprised denizens
Oh each mountain hamlet through
which they had passed, to all of which
bradshaw remained serenely obliyious.
Inc young man, who does enter espe-
claily into this tale, was a vestryman
Oh the church in his home In the
suburbs of Philadelphia. His pietv
mad been put to a severe strain I'm the
mountains.
That day everybody had to work on
the trail-everybody wanted to for
that matter The hardest labor con-
sisted in the driving of the burros.
unfortunately there was no good and
trained leader among them through
an unavoidable mistake, and the Camp
ers had great difficulty in keeping the
Durros on the trail. To Arthur Brad
shaw had been allotted the most oh
stinate, cross-grained and determined
OF the unruiy band, and old Kfrkby
and George paid particular attention
to instructing him In the gentle art
OF manipulating him over the rocky
mountain trail.
Wall" said Kirkby with his some
what languid, drawing. nasal voice.
that there burro's like a shin witch
often seed 'em wen was a Kid down
east afore | come out to Gods coun-
try. Nature has pervided 'em with a
KIND OF hellum. remember IL you
wanted the boat to go to the right
you showed the hellum over to the
left. Sta'boad an port was the terms
as recollects 'em. It's Jest the same
with burros, you takes 'em by the
tiller, that's by the tail, git a good
tight twist on 1t an eff you want him
to head to the right. slew his stern
sheets around to the left, an you got
to be keerfuI you don't git no kick
back witch ef 1t lands on you is worse
n the ree-coil OF mule"
Arthur faithfully followed direc-
tons. narrowly escaping the outraged
brute's small but sharp pointed heels
on occasion. His efforts not being
productive of much success. finally In
his despair he resorted to brute
strength; he would pick the little ami
NAL up bodily. pack and all--he was
man of powerful physique-and swing
him around until his head pointed in
the right direction: then with a prayer
that the burro would keep 1t there for
A few rods anyway, he would set him
down and start him all over again.
The process oft repeated became mo-
notonous after awhile. Arthur was Q
slow thinking man. deliberate in &C.
ton: he stood It as long as he possibly
could. Kirkby. who rode one horse
and led two others, and therefore was
exempt from burro driving, observed
him with great interest. He and Brad
shaw had strayed way behind the rest
OF the party. f sftf
AT last Arthur's resistance, patience
and piety, strained to the breaking
point. gave way suddenly. Primitive
instincts rose to the surface and over
whelmed him like food. He de
liberately sat down on fallen tree
by the side of a trail. the burro halt
Ing obediently. turned and faced him
with hanging head. apparently con-
cious that he merited the disappro-
baton that was being heaped upon
lin, for from the desperate tender
cot there burst forth so amazing, so
uent. 80 comprehensive torrent OF
ssorted profanity. that even the old
asst master In objuration was aston
4 he'd and bewildered. Where did
BRADSHAW. mild and inoffensive, get
f? His proficiency would have APP
3alled his rector and amazed his fell
w vestfymen. Not the Jackdaw OF
helms himself was so cursed as that
tile burro. Kirkby sat on his horse
fits of silent laughter until the
ears ran down his cheek. the only
inward and visible expression OF his
irth
Arthur only stopped when he had
-oroughly emptied himself. possibly
I en- accumulation of years Of repres-
ION.
WALL" said Kirkby, you sure do
yermatch any one ever heard wen
comes to cursin': wy, you could
inme cards an spades an beat me,
a | was thought to have some gift
hathaway In the old days"
Il didn't begin to exhaust myself"
answered Bradshaw, shortly, land
what l did say didn't equal the situa-
lion. I'm going home"
Il wouldn't do that" urged the old
nan. Here. you take the horses an
III tackle the burro."
Gladly" said Arthur. Il would
rather ride an elephant and drive a
herd of them than waste another min
ate on this Internal little mule"
The story was too good to keep.
and around the camp fire that night
Kirkby drawied It forth. There was
freedom and easiness of intercourse in
the camp. which was natural enough.
Cook, teamster, driver. host. guest.
men. women. children. and had al
most said burros. stood on the same
level They all ate and lived together.