The tale of Mistah Mule

In Short

Arthur Scott Bailey’s juvenile tale follows Mistah Mule, a cunning and stubborn newcomer who arrives at Farmer Green’s farm to the immediate dismay of the resident animals. Through a series of misadventures involving balking, kicking, and teasing, Mistah Mule learns the limits of his mischief while exasperating everyone from old Ebenezer the horse to the Muley Cow and Mr. Crow. Ultimately, the mule proves his unexpected strength and utility, blending into farm life while retaining his unique, disruptive spirit. The book endures for its charmingly rendered animal personalities and gentle, humorous look at community and stubbornness.

The Story

Mistah Mule arrives at Farmer Green’s farm, immediately causing a commotion by kicking the farmer and laughing aloud. Old Ebenezer, the resident horse, warns his new neighbor about farm expectations, but Mistah Mule prefers to plot his own amusement. When Farmer Green tries to harness him, he attempts to kick again, prompting the farmer and his hired man to secure him firmly in his stall with a stout pole. Later, during drives around Pleasant Valley, Mistah Mule constantly crowds the wagon-pole, leading Farmer Green to attach sharp tacks that prick the mule and make him believe he is being stung by hornets.

Despite these lessons, Mistah Mule remains defiant. When taken to the gristmill with a sack of corn, he plants his feet and flatly refuses to budge, forcing Farmer Green to tie a piece of string around his ear to distract him. Yet, when ridden by Johnnie Green, Mistah Mule shows unexpected speed and style, though he nearly unseats the boy by stopping too abruptly when told to stop.

Mistah Mule’s penchant for teasing expands across the farm. He exchanges sharp words with old Mr. Crow and deliberately misleads the proud Muley Cow into thinking they share a special bond because of their similar tufted tails. When Mr. Crow organizes his cronies to expose Mistah Mule's double-dealing, the mule effortlessly deflects the drama, even convincing Master Meadow Mouse that his strange laugh is actually the sound of a ghost.

As time passes, Mistah Mule continues to test his boundaries. When sent to the village with Johnnie Green for a machine part, he balks on a long hill, sparking a frantic race back down the road when Farmer Green tries to catch up. Later, at the blacksmith’s shop, Mistah Mule boasts of how much trouble he will cause, only to be securely roped down and fitted with four new shoes by the blacksmith and his helper. Returning home, he encounters Turkey Proudfoot strutting in the lane. By tricking the proud bird into attacking Farmer Green without a stick handy, Mistah Mule watches in delight as the farmer drenches the turkey in sour milk, humiliating the farmyard ruler.

Even a stroll in the back pasture with the slow-moving oxen, Bright and Broad, leads to chaos. Mistah Mule enters a deliberately slow race, only to bolt past them and claim a bear won the race after being startled. Finally, when Farmer Green’s wagon becomes hopelessly stuck in the mud, Mistah Mule is brought out skeptically. To everyone's astonishment, he exerts his true strength and single-handedly yanks the bogged wagon and the lazy bays out of the mire. He returns to the barn triumphant, proving that beneath all his stubbornness and trickery lies a genuinely capable worker who has found his permanent place on the farm.

How It Unfolds

A turbulent arrival Farmer Green brings a mysterious new mule into the barn, where he immediately kicks his owner and startles the livestock. Old Ebenezer tries to advise his recalcitrant neighbor, but Mistah Mule prefers plotting his next prank.

The tacked wagon-pole To stop the mule from crowding the wagon during drives, Farmer Green arms the pole with sharp tacks disguised as hornets. Mistah Mule remains utterly baffled by these mysterious stings, blaming imaginary insects for his discomfort.

The gristmill balk Standing outside the gristmill with a light load, Mistah Mule plants his feet and flatly refuses to move another inch. Only a piece of string tied tightly around his sensitive ear distracts him enough to resume the journey.

A bumpy saddle ride Johnnie Green takes the mule for a ride, enjoying his smooth amble until a single command causes the animal to stop dead on all fours. Johnnie sails straight over the mule's head, learning a painful lesson about literal obedience.

Teasing the farmyard Mistah Mule delights in causing social friction, convincing the sensitive Muley Cow that they are related and tricking Turkey Proudfoot into an embarrassing encounter with sour milk. He even convinces Master Meadow Mouse that his bray is actually a haunting ghost.

The blacksmith's ropes Sent to the village for a machinery part, Mistah Mule balks again before enduring a trip to the smithy. Despite his threats, the blacksmith and his helper securely rope him down and successfully nail four new shoes to his feet.

Pulling the bogged wagon When Farmer Green’s heavy wagon sinks deep into the meadow mud, Mistah Mule is reluctantly drafted to help. To everyone's utter astonishment, he summons his hidden strength and yanks the entire stuck load free.

The People

Mistah Mule wants complete autonomy, uninterrupted meals, and endless opportunities to play tricks on others. His main obstacles are Farmer Green’s clever countermeasures, such as tacked poles and tied ears, which curb his worst impulses. He ends up tamed just enough to be useful while retaining his mischievous spirit.

Ebenezer, the elderly resident horse, wants peace, order, and adherence to farm traditions. He is constantly obstructed by Mistah Mule’s disruptive neighborhood presence and bad manners. Ultimately, Ebenezer grows to tolerate and even appreciate his colorful neighbor as he improves.

Farmer Green wants a functional farm and reliable work animals to help with daily chores. He is constantly thwarted by Mistah Mule’s tendency to kick, balk, and crowd wagons. By using practical deterrents like tacks, strings, and ropes, Farmer Green successfully harnesses the mule’s labor without changing his stubborn nature.

Johnnie Green wants adventure, smooth rides, and independence. His obstacles are Mistah Mule’s sudden stops and unpredictable bucking spells, which routinely send Johnnie flying. He learns to respect the animal's eccentricities while safely managing him on errands.

Turkey Proudfoot wants undisputed dominance and respect as the ruler of the farmyard. His ambition is thwarted by Mistah Mule’s mocking laughter and cruel pranks, leaving him publicly humiliated by sour milk and distrustful of the newcomer.

In Its Own Voice

When Miss Kitty Cat approaches old Ebenezer to ask about the commotion in the farmyard, the weary horse describes the newcomer's immediate hostility.

“He tried to kick me,” said old Ebenezer in a tone of great disgust.

While discussing their upcoming labor in double harness, Mistah Mule casually explains his core philosophy to his deeply shocked neighbor.

“I has to have my fun,” he remarked. “Sometimes I has it one way; sometimes another.”

When the mule plants his feet outside the mill and refuses to budge, the faithful old horse tries in vain to reason with him.

“Come!” Ebenezer urged him. “Don’t make trouble for Farmer Green!”

What It's Really About

The book explores the dynamics of community integration and the friction between individuality and institutional expectations. Mistah Mule represents the irrepressible spirit of nonconformity, using humor, stubbornness, and wit to assert himself in a structured environment. Yet the narrative argues that absolute stubbornness is ultimately unproductive; through gentle physical corrections and practical consequences, the farm community teaches the mule that cooperation yields better rewards than isolation. Beneath its lighthearted surface, the story examines how diverse personalities learn to coexist, suggesting that even the most difficult characters can find a valued place through contribution, provided they respect the fundamental boundaries of their community.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy classic animal fables and gentle, character-driven rural humor will find immense charm in this public-domain story. Reading it feels like stepping into a sunlit nineteenth-century farmyard, complete with talking animals, rhythmic pacing, and a wholesome atmosphere reminiscent of classic children's literature. However, modern readers must navigate certain challenges, notably the stylized dialect used for Mistah Mule—rendered through phonetic spellings—which reflects period attitudes toward speech and characterization that require patience today. Additionally, the episodic nature of the plot can feel repetitive, as the mule repeatedly tries a trick, gets outwitted, and moves on to the next victim. Despite these dated elements, the story stays with you through its vivid depiction of rural camaraderie, the delightful absurdity of Mistah Mule’s braying laughter, and his ultimate redemption when he saves the day at the bog. It offers a cozy, nostalgic escape into a simpler world where even the most stubborn rascals eventually learn to pull their own weight.