The Burro

Birge HarrisoD, in Harper's Magazine. Apart from the Indiansandthe Mexicana, these animuls are the most characleristic and ubiquituusobjeots in New Mexico. The shaggy Htlle brutes range from the size of a small Newfonndland to that of a six year old heifer. It is practicallv impossible to overload tbem. They' wül carry all that can be piled on their backs. I have frequently seen a solid heap of wood glidicg mysteriously into town, with no apparent motive power, but I knew that somewhere undernoath the pile thore was bidden a burro. When released frorc their burdens they will immediately set to work with diligence and gusto picking up a living in the midst of stones and dry cactus where any othor animal would starve to death. Joe proco3ded to attach them byawonderful series of knots, to the supporting posta under the house. I watched Liru curiously as he tied knot after knot, and at longth ventured to inquire whethur burros usually employed their spare tin'e in performing juggling tricks. Joe regarded me with a srnile which was compounded of one part of good uatured contempt, two of superior knowledffe, andthreeofgenuine ment. Wa'al," he said, "you are summat of a tenderfoot; that's so. Why, a bv ro is a bom devil." "Do you mean to say that a burro can undo one of those knots with nis teeth?" 1 asked. "I don't purfoss to say what he doe3 it with. He may do it with nis tail for ail 1 know, but "if you will learn me a knot that burro can't undo, if you will give him time enough, 1 wüi teil you thanks. Why the ïather of all eil is not a patch onan old jack burro fur infernal clevorness ami mischief."