Year: 1878

Love, Collie and Mule.


Did you ever ride q mulei don't
mean q civilized creature accustomed Ia
good society, but wild steed Of the
plains, brought up ON grass and rattle.
snakes, and accustomed to cavort re-
gardless Of the constitution a.
amended, or the rights Of man.
Mules are pretty much alike the world
over, only the Texan mule Is little
more so.


lrode one the other day, and Pm
going to try to till you about it. 1t
won't be very we'll written, because
my right arm has been in sling, and |
have more bruises than bones. You See
tell in love with girl-deep as a
forty foot WE'LL mean my love not
the girl--sbe isn't deep bit-and as
my luck would have 1t, another fellow
fell about the same distance At the same
time. .s....-


He's not a bad looking chap, and
wears store. clothes on week days. He
parts his hair in the middle, and oils
1t up with bergamot and cinnamon. He
has his name printed on pieces Of
pastsboard, and drops them around
promiscuously for fear people might for
get that A. Browne Swivel was about.
| had to acknowledge the fact that be-
tween this fellow and myself, in the
affections Of the divine Araminta, It was
nip and tuck, with the dog a little
ahead. ....-


Iput on my best clothes one day and
walked over to the gals house, intend
ing to move on her works, and have
the little thing settled without further
debate. My rival was there and seemed
to have on his best clothes. That
didn't amount to much, for | knew
that at ten o'clock, six hours after my
arrival, he'd have to wend his winding
way home, for the old lady he boarded
with didn't allow irregular hours.


If he got to his frugal couch, or rath-
er the house containing it, he might
skin his knucklss and kick his boots
of, but he wouldn't get in after that
hour, and the hay NOW Is not . very
plea. ant bed room in hea time. But
was soon relieved Of all anxiety. We
had a diversion that broke up the sit
ting.


Araminta is possessed Of q little
brother-I hate a girls brother. II
they are little they play tricks on you,
and II they are big they borrow your
money, get drunk, and insult you with
impunity, knowing very we'll that you
are in love with their sister and will
not resent an insult.


While We were talking in small way,
and locking volumes Of love at the girl
and wrath at each other, We heard
fearful yell In the garden patch, and
running out, found little brother on the
ground in active convulsions. He had
been trying to eat his way through the
melon patch. 1t was disgusting fail
ure, for he could not have bursted
open and gone into the contents gilmore
than ten or twelve.


As 1t was, it looked as If there was
going to be- death in the family, and
Araminta screamed scream and yelled
at us to run for doctor.


We both took in the situation at a
glance, the man that got the doctor
first would get Araminta for life. My
rival went over the fence like deer,
and seized the old horse in the sta
BILE. He bridled and saddled the ami
mai in double-quick time, while found
nothing left me but mule. seized
blind bride, and, rushing at the ami
NAL, felt something whiz over my head
that | am sure was pair of heels.
They narrowly escaped my skull, but
carried off my hat. Nothing daunted,
| seized the creature by the ear, put on
the bride, unfastened the chain by
which he was haltered, and led him
from the stable. He went out willing
ly, so much SO, indeed, that had some
difficulty in keeping up, and had not
the creature stopped on the outside to
give vent to his feelings in prolonged
bray, could not have mounted. As
it was, before he could could get
through with his musical entertain
ment, was upon his back.


This beast seemed somewhat astonish-
ed at this performance, and stood turn
ing it over in his mind for a minute,
while dug my heels vigorously in his
sides. He seemed suddenly to come to
the conclusion that a change Of admin
istraton would be an excellent thing,
and to this end began to 90 up and
down like saw-gate. really thought
I'd been split in two, and would proba-
bly, have been pitched over but that in
the midst of this pleasant exercise,
Muley caught sight of the horse disap-
pearing at a hard gallop in the distance,
He seemed animated by the laudable
ambition OF overtaking that horse, and
started so suddenly he came very near
leaving me behind. worked my way
forward until could get hold of the
halter chain, and pulling this rigging
tight, got pretty secure hold.


How that beast did run. He not on
ly gained on the horse to such an ex-
tent that Araminta might have offered
two to one and no takers, but exhibited
his superabundance of bottom by throw
ing in, at intervals, the liveliest kicks
that ever emanated from mule. About
mile out we closed in on the cob, and
as we passed Muley favored him with
salute that was almost diabolically foul,
for, planting his two heels upon the
quarter of the honest Bucephalus. |
heard yell, end glancing around saw
my rival and horse go down in most
promiscuous manner. My steed of the
desert kept straight on. We had ride