The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1875-08-26
A Fight for Supremacy.

y gentleman IcsltlliS III JlllS city nau OC-
casion a few days since to take a journey
down the river and several miles back from
1t, using a saddle horse. Darkness over
took him in a sparscly settled district and
as the roads were in Il bad condition and the
evening looked threatening, he halted be-
fore forlorn looking hut and asked if he
could find lodging.
8 | reckon yc mought," replied the long
haired, sorrowful-eyed squatter, after hest
tating a moment.
The Nicksburgcr found little to eat, and
his horse found still less. The squatter and
his wife We're all alone, and they had but
few words for the stranger, and scarcely
spoke to each other. When the evening
grew old, the traveller camped down on the
floor on Il blanket, and being very tired he
fell asleep, while host and hostess were
smoking their black clay pipes at the other
end Of the room. He had slept about two
hours, when the squatter shook him by
the shoulder and said
Stranger, I'm powerful sorry to dis
turb ye, but | want to ak favor"
"Yes-yes-what is it?" inquired the
Vicksburger, as he rubbed his eyes and
sat up.
"Ye like to see far play, don't ye stran-
ger?"
Yes, of course"
wall, me n the old woman can't agree;
somehow she's cross and tetchy, and | guess
I'm trifle ugly. Leastwise, we don't hug
up worth old boots. We've fit and fit I'm
old and she's chuck full O grit, and its
about an even thing"
Well, I'm sorry put in the Vicksbur-
ger, as the squatter hesitatod.
We've been a-balkin' since We cum,
stranger, and we've made up to ask ye to
hold the candle and to let us 90 in for an
old rouscr OF a fght-a lar old sock
dologer, which shall settle our fuss If |
lick, she'll 90; if she licks, I'll travel !"
I'm sorry if there's any trouble, and |
hope you won't fight"
"Wevc got to do it, stranger replied
the woman. :" [ won't live with man
who can lick me, and he's just as high
born. Sans as good as the run o men,
but he's lazy and sassy, and he wants to
wear his hat on his ear
She's right, stranger, said the squat
ter, "and this cabin can't hold both of us,
any longer It's to be a squar' fght-no
kicking or clubbing, and we won't go back
on yer decision.
The Ficksburger protested, but the wo-
man placed lighted candle in his hand,
and posted him in the door, and man and
wife stepped out on the ground.
Suke, I'm going to wallop ye right
smart in just four hoots and holler y
said the sQuatter, as he pushed up his
sleeves.
Sam, ye don't weigh 'nuf into three
tons " she replied in a grim voice ; and the
battle commenced.
The Nicksburger mentally bet twenty to
one on the man at the start, but in two
minutes he had reduced the odds to ten,
and in two minutes more he was betting
even. The wife was like a wildcat, spring
ing, lodging, striking, and clawing, and
pretty soon her husband had to stand on
the defensive
. Look out for the Bengal tiger, Suke "
he warned as he clawed the air
4" | can whip the boots off n ye, Sam "
she replied, and the battle grew iierccr.
One Of the woman's sharp nails struck
the husbands eye and blinded him for an
instant. As he threw up his arms she
seized both her hands into his hair, yanked
him down, and in another moment had the
gouge on him.
Sam, do yc cave?" she asked as he lay
quiet.
"That's the dcad-word, Sule and I'm
a licked man p he mournfully answered.
She let him up, and he turned to the
Vicksburger and inquired
stranger, was it a far fought
II guess it was
"Then [ travel "
lie entered the hut, put on his coat anc
hat, took up his rife, and as he came out
he reached his hand to his wife, and said :
Goodbye, Sukc We agreed fa'ranC
squar' and here go " Then, turning t.
the traveller, he added
"Much oblecged, stranger-yc held th'
candle, plum far, and yc didn't holler TO
either one Of us
And he walked down to the fence, leape'
over, and was soon lost to sight.
: Good 'nuff on the shoot, unused tn
wife as she gazcd after him, but his fight
ing weight is clar run down to nuthin !!
= VichSJmy HeraH.
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