Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1507551
By Lance DuBois SIGNATURE MONTANA | 97 It seems them long-eared mountain canaries, known to most as mules, come in all kinds of dispositions and colors, depending on their mothers. Although that bein' true, I suppose, it's their attitude that lends them to be more dependable and trustworthy than others. Once ya owned a few, a fondness grows fer them all, from speckled appys and sorrels to dark bays, regardless of their gender, from tall Johns to slender Jennys. em mules remember the hands-on, gentle and kind is the makins' of the pack animal that will be one among the many. Some can be easier to ride and rope or pack, while a few may be apt to buck, bite or kick, with a streak of stubbornness to prevail. To be honest, they're a critter to be reckoned with when traversin' along a high and timbered slopey trail. Greenhorns soon learn some hard lessons in packin' and tyin' hitches on a heavy load after many mountain miles and a dozen or more crick crossins' to ford. Jist one little mishap could set off a crow hoppin' disaster like ya never seen, while yer grabbin' fer rope and rein and prayin' to the Lord. e Almighty created a cross between a mountain goat and wild Mustang, namin' him a mule --and that became our fate. A seasoned ol' pack horse in the lead is only as good as the sturdy breed bringin' up the gear with a slow and steady gait. If luck will have it, you'll make camp along some lake and make a load of memories to pack up before ridin' back out the long weary trail home. Cinched and tarped down tight, with a lot of faith in the big mare yer ridin', and them stallworth fellas, tethered together in a line, in this poem. With every turn in the trail and the air gettin' less thin, ya take a deep breath of relief and let out a heavy sigh. Seein' a light at the end of the steep lodgepole tunnel, ya whisper a small prayer of thanks and feel some weight has been lifted as a ponderous thought comes to mind…What If Pack Mules Could Fly? en, ya wouldn't be thinkin' about, maybe, havin' to kiss yer Ass goodbye! If Pack Mules Could Fly