Matt, your mule is so skinny, its ribs are being used as a wash board!
One time, the mule was chasing a kid but the wind changed, and he was blown off course.
Y-y-y-ou're a liar! I feed my mule one cup of corn every day!
Yeah, I saw him by the schoolhouse. Must've been out all night.
Have any of y'all seen my mule? He's missing, and I need him to plow tonight.
Yeah, tackle him!
Hahahaha!
Catch him!!
In this scene, Lige and Sam make fun of Matt Bonner because his mule is so skinny, accusing him of not feeding the animal. They like to tell exaggerated stories on the porch. For example, the men tell a story about the mule being blown off-course while running. (pg. 52 and 53)
Why, I cannot believe them! Messing with that poor thing after it's done near been worked to death. They should be ashamed of themselves!
On a different day, in the late afternoon, Matt comes up to the porch and tells them that that his mule is missing, and they continue to poke fun at him. (pg. 55)
I'll give you $5 for this here mule.
If you want to rob a poor man, fine. He's gonna be dead soon anyway.
I'm not buying him for work! I'm gonna let him live out the rest of his days in peace.
After Matt leaves, the people on the porch hear the mule and go to "catch it". They really just end up messing with it and fooling around while it pants about. (pg. 56)
Everyone seems to be having fun "mule-baiting" except for Janie, who is upset that they are messing with the poor creature. Joe overhears her muttering to herself. (pg. 56)
After hearing Janie upset with the others for being mean to the mule, Joe gets Matt to sell it so that it can live the rest of its life peaceful. Janie is grateful and proud of Joe for his act. (pg. 57 and 58)
The mule does end up dying after a while, but (as promised by Joe) it does get to live out the rest of his life in peace. (pg. 58 and 59)