American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-07-17
A Eight for Supremacy.

A gentleman residing in this city had
occasion n few days since to make a
journey down the river and several miles
back from 1t using a saddle-horse. Dark
hess overlook him in a sparsely- settled
district, and, as the roads were in a bad
condition and the evening looked threat
ening, he halted before fOrlOrn- looking
hut, and asked if he could find lodgings.
II reckon ye mought," replied the long
haired, sorrowful-eyed squatter, after hest
tating for a moment
The Vicksburger found little to eat, and
his horse found still less The squatter
and his wife were all alone, and they had
but a few words for the stranger, and
scarcely spoke to each other. When the
evening grew old the traveller camped
down on the floor on 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 squat
ter shook him by the shoulder and said:
stranger, I'm powerful sorry to disturb
We, but want to Ak favor"
"Yes-yes-what is it?" inquired the
Vicksburger, as he rubbed his eyes and sat
aye like to see far play, don't ye,
strangerr"
"Yes, of course"
%. avail, men the old woman can't agree !;
somehow she's cross and tetchy, and
guess Pm n trifie ugly. Leastwise, we
don't hug up worth ole boots. We've fit
and fit Pm old and she's chuck full O.
grit, and it's about an even thingr'
Well, I'm sorry" put in the Vicks-
burger as the squatter hesitated-
We've been a-balkin' since We cum,
stranger, and we've made up to ask ye to
hold the candle and let us go in for an old
rouser of fight-a reglar old sockdola-
ger, which shall settle our fussi If I lick,
she'll GO; if she ticks, I'll travel!''
Pm sorry If there's any trouble, and I
hope you won't fight"
We've got to do it stranger" replied
the woman. al won't live with man
who kin lick me, and he's just as high
born Sans as good as the run o. men,
but he's lazy and sassy, and wants TO wear
his hat on his carr
She's right stranger" said the squat
ter, :" and this cabin can't hold both of us
any longeri It's to be squar' fight-no
kicking or clubbing, and we won't go back
on yer decisiont"
The Vicksburger protested, but the
woman placed a 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 We right
smart in Just four boots and hollerm
said the squatter as he pushed up his
sleeves.
"Sam, We don't weigh huff into three
tonsr' she replied in grim voice, and the
bzt1le commenced.
The Vicksburger 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 bet
ting even The wife was like wildcat,
springing, lodging, striking and clawing,
and pretty soon her husband had to stand
<.r, tl,f, dofpnxive
Look out for the Bengal tiger, Suker'
he warned, as he clawed the air.
:" / can whip the boots off'n we, Samw
she replied, and the battle grew ficrcer.
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 We cave.' she asked, as they
lay quiet
That's the dead-wood, Suke, and I'm
licked manw he mournfully answered
She let him up and he turned to the
Vicksburger and inquired:
/" Stranger, was it far foughtg"
4 guess IL WASH
"Then travclr'
He entered the hut, put on his coat and
hat took up his rifle, and as he came out
he reached his hand to his wife and said:
~Good-by, Sukel We agreed far and
SQUAT, and here gor' Then, turning to
the traveller, he added:
Much oblecged, stranger; ye held the
candle plumb far and ye didn't holler for
either one Of usI'
And he walked down to the fence,
leaped over and was soon lost to sight
GOOD huff on the shoot" unused the
wife, as she gazed after him; but his
fighting WEIGHT Is cl'ar run down to nuth-