Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 October 1879 — Cause for Alarm. [ARTICLE]

Cause for Alarm.

A boy, apparently very much agitated, rushed into a house yesterday and said to the lady. B ‘‘l don’t ter alarm yer, but I’ve got big news. The man sent me up from the livery stable to tell yer.” ‘‘Good heavens, what is it?” “Why, you know your little boy Aleck, what the man can’t keep outen the livery stable ’round the corner?” “Yes well?’’ ‘‘l told Aleck just now not to go inter the stable among the horses, but he wouldn’t mind me—” “Oh, dear! What has happened.’’ “He said he wanted ter see what a mule ’ud do when yer tickled its heels with a straw.” “Oh, heavens!” asped the lady .clung to the mantel for support. “Well, sir, yer boy Alec got a straw, snuck np behin’ a sorrel mulo, tickelcd him on the heels an’ ” • The lady started for the door. “An the blamed critter never lifted a hoof,” called the boy. “Never as much as switched its tail. It’s a mighty good thing for Alec that he didn’t, too; an’ I thought I’d come up and tell yer.” And he dodged out at the side entrance. —[Cincinnati Enquirer.