The Lambertville record., 1925-10-22
SMILIN' THU
BY GORDON COOPER
Copyright 1925 by Gordon Cooper
"AIN'T HIT DE TRUF"


on the campus of Mercer University
spread their foliage in stiffness that
showed not a breeze stirring. But
it was a genial warmth, and the
cooling shade of the trees invited
the soul to repose-and sleep.
1t wasn't the kind of day that was
conducive to work, and as Doc
Bloom, preacher and gardner, trund-
led the lawn mower across the broad
expanse of lawn, there was drowsy
rebellion in his heart. Doc was
never known to hurry, but today his
feet seemed to be weighted with
lead, and the snail's pace in which
he pushed the mower made you Won
der if he was sleeping on his feet.
The deserted street that skirted
the campus was suddenly brought
to life by the appearance around the
corner of a large, lanky mule rid
den by an equally lanky negro who
was being bounced all over the
mules back. With Gathering hoofs
the mule bounded crafty across the
street and stopped with a sicken-
ing suddenness at the edge of the
campus.
The negro was heaved completely
out of the saddle, and only by main
strength and akwardness, was saved
from fall by clutching frantically
round the mules neck. AS he
scrambled back into the saddle he
yanked savagely at the reins. Where
upon the mule began to kick and
rear, and before the yelling negro
could get his feet back in the stir
rups, in some unaccountable way
the mule paved the air with one
of his rear hoofs and caught it in
the stirrup.
Doc Bloom had been a lively
spectator of these antics. His drow
sy listlessness had vanished, and his
keen old eyes were dancing as he
watched the show When the mules
hoof caught in the stirrup, which
caused him to prance clumsily
around on three legs, Doc couldn't
restrain himself any longer, and
roared with laughter.
"Whah, whah, whah" he below
ed, slapping his leg. "Say, Niger!
Hits bout time fereyo' ter git off;
cause dat mules done made up lis
mind dat he's gwine git on!'
Whether the rider heard him or
not he DID get off. For just then
the mule suddenly decided one leg
wasn't sufficient to hold him up on
the rear, and he sat down sudden
ly with his fore legs stitfened be-
fore him. The lanky negro slid back
ward to the ground with a sicken-
ing thud, where he sat in stunned
silence as if he wondered what it
was all about. The mule, with his
hoof now freed from the stirrup, be-
came as peaceful as a newborn
babe, and ambled over onto the
campus where he began contentedly
nibbling the grass.
Chuckling, Doc started for the
paralyzed darky who had so sud
denly become an e&-horseman.
"C'mawn! Git up! Yo' can't sit dere
in de middle oh de road! Fust thing
yo' knows somebody gwine take
yo' fer a htchin' post" He caught
the stupefed negro by the arm and
heaved him to his feet.
This seemed to awaken him from
his stupor, and as he gingerly rub
bed his abused seating capacity he
exclaimed in awed tones, "Gawd "a
mighty! OATS de dancin'est mule dat
All ever see! Dey 'cuses us niggers
fer startin de Charleston, but de
truf O de bizness is dat hit musta
been a mule!"
He limped over to the shade of a
campus tree and sank groaningly to
the grass. "Cawntrariness is de on'y
| thing dat mule amt got nothin' else
but! De Good Book say dat man is
ies' iii lower dan de angels, but
dat doan make no ditfunce wen hit
comes ter handlin' a mule. Cause
mule amt no respecter OBJ pussonsl"
Doc clucked in sympathy "Doan
yo' worry bout dat" he said "Dat's
de way de Lawd keeps us umble Yo
| amt de fust man whut's been made
a fool of by mule. An even eff
we is kinder like secondhand angels,
dat doan keep de dumb animals frum
maxim monkeys outta us.
Doc had seated himself beside the
fallen muleteer as if glad of the
excuse to leave the blistering lawn
mower. He began tanning himself
with his hat.
"Yassuhl De dumb animals is
allus maxim monkeys outta us! All
| HiehperS one tlne w en- IefleSSef
Cutter TUX me wild i'm down ter is
summer home at de seasho'. One
day All went in is boat wild i'm ter
go fshin' in de ocean. An All amt
had nah line in de water but n
mint wen All gifts awful bite!
"Lawdy! How dat fish did bitel
An widout thinkin' how big is de
fish, All gives awful pull, an de
fust thing All knows Abs done been
pulled outta de boat an Ah's "a
threshin' eroun' in de water. Eff
hit hadn't been fer Perfesser Cutter
Aid sho' been anudder Jonah.