Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-03-21
END oF a TENNESSEE FReLIe.
BY SAM SLICK.

Well, We danced and hurrawed without any
thing of ofparticular interest to happentil about
three O'clock, when the darrdest musS was
kicked up you ever did see. Jim Smith sot
down alongside Bet Holden Cthe steeI-trap gall
and just give her hug, bar fashion. She etook
it very kind till she seed Sam Henry a lookin'
on from behind about dozen of gals-then
she fell TO kickin', and hollerin', and a
schreenih' like all wrath. Sam, he come up
and told Jim to let Bet go. Jim told him to
go to a far-oT country whar they give away
birthstone and throw in the fire to burn it.
Sam hit him stratc atween the eyes, and after
q few licks the fightin' started Oh, hush! 1t
makes my mouth water now TO think what Il
beautiful row we had. One fellow from Ca
dy's Cove knocked hole in the bottom of d
fryin' pan, over Dan fuckers head and left
it hangin' round his neck, the handle flying
about like long queue, and thar it hung till
Jake Thurman cut it off with cold chisel
next day. That was his share for that night,
sure. Another feller got knocked into meal
barrel; he was as mealy an Irish tater and
as hot as q horse-radish; when lie busted the
hoops and came out he rared few. Two fel-
iers ft cut of the door, down the hill, into the
creek, and there ended it in quiet way, all
alone. A perfect mule, from Stock Creek hit
me wipe with a pair o windin' blades; he
made 1indlin' wood of them, and lit on him.
We had it head and tails for very long time,
all over the house, but if the truth must be
told, and shame nay kin, he warped me nice;
just 70 save his time l hollered. The lickin'
he gave me made me sorter oneasy and hostile
Ike; it wakened my wolf wide awake. The
little fiddler came scrougin' past, holdn' his
fiddle up over his head to keep it in tune, for
the fghtin' was gettiu' toler1blc brisk. You
are the one. thinks /, and just gsabbed the
dough-tray and split Il plump over his head
lie rotted down right thar, and | padded his
tother end with one of the pieces! While [
was mollyfyin' my feelings in that way, his
gal slipped mp behind me and fetched me 4
rake with the pot-hooks. julie Sawyer was
thar, and jist annexed to her right of, and a
mighty nice fight it was. julie striped and
checked her face nice, like partridge net
hung oifa white fence. She holiered for her
fiddler. but oh, pshaw! he couldn't do her a
bit of good; he was too busy rubbin' first his
broken head and then his blistered extremi-
ties; so when thought julie had given her a
plenty, pulled her off, and put her in good
humor by given her soft sawder. Well, l
thought al first if I had drink I'd be about
done so l started for the creek, and the first
thing i saw was more stars with my eyes shut
than 1 ever did with them open. 1 looked
around, and it was the little ttddIer's big bro
ther! ! l1nowed what it meant, so we locked
horns without a word, thar all alone, and do
think we fit an hour. At last some of the fell
lers hearn the jOlts at the house, and they cum
and dug Us ont, for we had iit into hole
where a.big pine stump had burnt ont. and
there we was, up TO our girths, a peggin'
away, face to face, and no dodgin'.