The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-12-15

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cumstances, felt 10th to undress for bed
but upon being told my bed was ready, and
seeing that nobody was about to leave the
room, conceived that all was right, and
stripped, retaining my shirt and drawers
with tolerable degree of composure
Having been accustomed to sleep alone,
was as afraid of being touched by child as
I would have been of an eel and conse.
quently courted sleep of little purpose.
Soon after getting into bed, heard scuf
fe. and general rush to the entry, saying,
'you strike him p Wishing to see all the
fun, l slipped out of bed, and crept to the
door, where there was such an eternal clat-
ter of tongues, that it was sometime before |
could ascertain the cause of the disturbance,
which turned out to be thus:
A servant belonging to one of the neigh.
bors, had come over, as it seemed his usual
custom, to buy pint of whisky, and while
waiting at the door for the landlord, was ac-
costed by large, bony, grabbed man, nam
ed Wolfe, who, from some cause which did
not appear, thought proper to strike him !;
this was perceived by small, sharp, thin
looking man, called Aaron, who having a
good share of artificial stimulus, added to
much natural firmness, bristled up, and
strutted about with huge consequence.
There we're many persons about the house
who appeared perfectly unmoved by the
passing scene, and it was principally the
younger persons who surrounded the expect
ed combatants, girls and men formed the
ring promiscuously, the girls "chock fulr' of
fun and life, holding a!oft large lightwood
torches, determined to see all that was to be
seen; conceive myself, undressed, peeping
over the crowd, and you have the scene as I
saw it when Aaron cried out, "Who struck
that niggur ~ T .aa. ra
81 struck him, ad-d black vampire. and
he that takes his part is no better, than a
niggur" ~"
Aaron, making towards him: Snow don't
you call me niggur, Wolfe, don't you call me
niggur-if you do. d--n me if | don't
walk rig At into you, I'll 60 entirely through
you" ...-..
"Come on, then-I'll lick you, an the
way III lick you will be caution to the
rest of your family; if | don't, d-n me-"
"Part 'em, part 'em," was the cry from
many, and again heard Aaron's voice ris-
ing above the others, saving:
"Did the niggur mislist your"
mo; but intruded my conversation up
on him, and he could GIN me no answer"
swell, | say twas d-n mean to beat a
neighbors niggur merely because he came
to git drink. Now, you know, Wolfe,
when you was sarvin' under General Jack
son, in the army, you would steal out to get
drink, and why not low the poor nggur
the same privilege" " -s
"D-n the niggur-I've great mind to
use him right up, and you, too, for takin' his
part" a..# rEs "a "a
"Now, use me up as soon as you choose;
you know you is bigger than me; but tell
you I'm all gristle; and God never made a
man who could walk over me, o. hurt faster
when he begins--I weigh just one hundred
and twenty-five pounds"
81 don care what the devil you weigh,
nor anything about you--all can say is,
can lick you, if you take the niggur's part
you is no better than nigg,.r. l say this
and stand in my Shoes"
Snow, you needn't talk about your shoes,
kaze you see Pm barefooted, hain't got no
shoes, it's true, but l stand fat footed. and
d. n the man who can move me one inch
do you hear that Wolfe?'
"Yes, l hear it, and, Aaron, can lick
You" .. So.
"Well, Wolfe, I'll fight you, but you've
never had better friend than I've BEEN
Use 'friended you when no other man would
"How have you 'friended me- Aaron, and
what have you done for me? ?"
"Didn't keep them steers of yourn bet
ter than two months? and didn't turn your
nice heifer into my pea-patch?" t..
can sposen you did, didn't I call up your
hogs9 but that has nothing to do with it
Aaron, you took the niggurs part, and you
must fight me-" raa .aa
Aaron could stand this no longer, but
made at him.
"Part 'em, part EN-" was again the cry !;
but now the girls interfered, crying out, "let
'em fight let 'em fight--you spose we gvine
to stand here all night holding the hght?'
and, at the same time, discovered a hearty,
buxom, lively-looking girl, whom they called
Poll, rolling her sleeves up, and swearing at
the same time that both were towards, and
| that she believed she could clean 'em both
ont; this added fresh stimulus and at it they
went; the first concussion was like the meet.
ing Of two locomotives at full speed, the jar
was so great that both were thrown into the
yard, where, clinching, they rolled over hike
a couple of cats, squailing and using the
most horrible execrations--the crowd still
pressing upon them, and the girls holding
the torches. r... ..
"Horraw for Wolfe well done, Aaron,
now eouge him! oh! you missed chance.
now give it to him! why don't you bite him?'