Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-05
DREAMLAND
ADVENTURES
The Mule Ciorcn
By DADDY
The Kicking Match"

wv
w rather have kicking match with
an elephant or a mulc?" asked Judge
Owl, settling down to tell his evening
story to Peggy and Billy.
I'D rather not have kicking match
with either" said Peggy very promptly.
An elephants feet ore too big and a
mules heels are too nimble."
That is what Major. the elephant,
found when he had his kicking match
with Balky sam" declared Judge Owl.
! I'll tell you about It.
After Balky Sam won his job as u
circus clown he became the star of the
whole show. The crowds laughed more
at Balky Sam than they laughed at any
other clown, and they clapped so much
when he did his tricks that the other
animals grew jealous.
-, One of the most jealous was Major,
| the elephant. Major was big favorite
| with the boys and girls, who liked to
reed him peanuts, and watch him swing
ms big trunk. but he wasn't SO much Of
1aVorlte as Balky Sam, after Balky
| sam became q clown,
''Balky Sam Is n very fine chan. as
every one knows, but he couldn't hclp
! being little boastfui when he found
what n hit, he was making with the
| circus crowds.
Hee-haw, l m the funniest animal
IN this whole show he brayed, one
! evening after supper in the menagere
tent.
Huh! You are indeed funny
sight, grunted Major, the elephant,
blowing cloud Of dust over Balky Sam,
NO" there is lot of difference between
being funny and being n funny sight.
and Halky Sam didn't like Majors
remark.
" 'Hec-haw! No other animal can
KICK as hard as I can.' he brayed. And
me other animals, remembering how
i'alky Sam kicked his trainer and the
pass drum player, admitted he was
great kicker. That il, all the other ami
mals except Major. the elephant.
Huh You don't know what real
kicking is grunted Major. Those
little heels of yours cant hurt much.
while when my big feet kick it is like
being hit by a train engine
" 'Hee -haw! I'll challenge YOU to
! kicking match ! brayed Balky Sam.
The other animals were eager for
excitement, and so the match was
quickly arranged. Zcb, the camel, was
referee.
" Co grunted Zeb. Quick as
flash, Ralky Sam whirled around, and
Wham Both Of his nimble heels kicked
Majors fat stomach.
Who -uff = grunted Major, and he
kicked out with one big hind foot. But
Balky Sam danced away, and the ele-
plants foot hit only the empty air.
Again Ialky Sans heels lashed out and
Wham. he kicked Major second time
in the stomach. 'Who-uff,' said the
elephant again, the breath being
knocked out of him.
I'm and out danced Balky Sam, his
heclb beating n regular tune on the cle-
plants stomach and ribs. Try as he
would, Major couldn't land single kick
on the mule. One kick from the ele-
plants big feet would have been enough
to finish Balky Sam, but that one kick
never landed.
" Hee -haw. I told you ] was q
better kicker than you are boasted
. Balky Sam, and he flourished his heels
in Majors face. Major was vcxed and
| that last taunt was too much for him.
He forgot this was a kicking match and
he gave Balky Sam sound whack with
his trunk. Balky Sam was astonished
by that whack. His heels flew up and
= then Balky Sam got astonished still
: more, for the elephant trunk caugh'
him by his stubby tail and stood hin
on his head.
> "Balky sam kicked and kicked. but
it was hard to kick while standing or
o his head, and his kicks didn't do any
e harm to Majors tough trunk. My, thai
! was a funny sight, and all the animals
!, roared with glec.
And to make matters worse fol
Balky Sam, oil the other elephants be
' gan to spank him with their trunks
d Wham! Smack. Swish! SLAM. Ncve,
q had a mule received such spanking
q In n jiffy all the boastfulness and al
= the smartness was spanked out of Balk!
n Sam. 1t did him n lot of good an,
e brought back his own good humorcC
r self When Major let go Balky San
n joined in the laugh. He boasted N
(, more, and he soon found he was a
y popular among the animals as amoni
4 the humans.
r And tomorrow will tell you nbou
It Balky Sam and Jinks, the monkey.
!.