THE MULE
Without ancestral pride or hope for offspring the mule--along
with buffalo, hound and longhorn--made Texas history. In war he
carried cannon on his back. Because he was available to haul
freight, forts rose on frontiers. Indians ate horses hitched to
cart or coach, but let tough mule meat go by.
His small hooves scaled rock and steep untrod by horse or ox,
but big ears endangered him in lake or river. He went fast, endured
much, ate sparingly. Since beginning of Christian era, has helped
all over world bear burdens of mankind. (1965)