And Speaking of Smartasses...

...I just ordered one of these off EBay, but it's in German; they woulda figured it out had they consulted an online translator...

...fortunately for me, I didn't need to do that, as Great-Great-Grandmother Emma Gardner Hall had written a little poem about one! And here it is!

"A MULE BAROMETER."

--o--

(------by my great-great-grandmama, Emma G. Hall...how she loved these ridiculous dashes!!!!!!------)

How funny to think!

Just to see "Maud" wink

Toward her bushy tail,

As if she said--"Hail!"

"You see, I'm no fool,

But the smartest mule

That ever did walk,

Or ever did talk.

"For, when there is ice,

My tail's frozen nice!

And, when the day's wet,

My tail swings, you bet!

"When the wind is high,

My bushy tail's dry:

When bright is the sun,

I'm so glad, I run!

"So, when you would know

Of the weather, bestow

One look on my tail;

You I'll never fail!"

--Mamma

(To a paper mule barometer. Its name was Maud.)

(--haha! If I can figure out the ridiculous computer trickery I used before, with the other pictures, I'll take a picture of the little German mule barometer postcard I just ordered online and put it here.--)