A Joke On The Teamster

A good story is told of one of General Sherman's Missouri teamsters. He had just joined the service, a raw recruit, and was assigned the task of driving a six mule team. Wheu the army halted for the first night, he was wearily unharnessing his team. "Helio there," said the wag of the company in passing. " What do you mean by taking care of those mules yourself? Why don't you have the faostler do it?" "Why, I thotight every man had to take care of his own team, "said the bewildered teamster. "You bet he doesn't. We've got a hostler for that. There's his tent right over there. He's a lazy, contrary old cuss, and he may not want to do it, but you swear at him anti he'll move off at doublé quiok. " The Missourian strode over to the tent indicated, which happened to be General Sherroan's headquarters. "Here, you son of a gun," he roared fiercely, "get out of here and brush those mules." Needless to say, the teamster spent the evening in the guardhouse. A pious old Indiana farmer was assigned to the duty of teaming, probably by mistake. The roads were muddy, and the rest of the teamsters were literally bombarding their charges with oaths. It was against the old man 's principies to swear, and he held his peace, albeit in impotent rage. At last one of the hind mules balked and refused to advauce a step. The old man used every ndeavor to urge the beast ulong, but to no purpose. At last he roared in a loud and solemn voice: "Oh, Lord, you know where this mule ought to be as well as aiiybody. This whole army knows where he ought to be this minute. He knows where he ought to be. I know where he ought to be, oh, Lord, and if he doesn't move in a minute I intend to say so, by gum.':