The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-07-23
!. ..sllliisyf'.enal1,,,n.,
Tooth and Nail,

2 ~
h A gentleman residing in Vicksburg
had occasion, aifew days since, to take q
journey down the river and several miles
back from it, using saddle horse;
Darkness overlook him in sparsely set
lied district, and as the roads we're in q
bad condition and the evening looked
threatening. he halted before aforlorn
looking hut and asked if he could Hnd
lodging Jss; is4I n, sf,ser -
81 reckon you mought.ps said cor.
|rowful-eyed sqaatter, after hesitaiine a
moment. GGi'EBtia sa5 io 7o44r 4 flsyl
The Vicksburger found little to eat,
and his horse still less. The squatter
and his wife were all alone and the yShad
but few words for the stranger and
scarcely spoke TO each other. When the
tevening grew cold the travele, camped
Idown On the floor on q blanket, and be.
ing very tired he fell sslsep, while the
host and hostess smoked their clay pipes
lat the other end of the room. He had
lslept about two hours when the soustter
lshook him by the shoulder and said: =
Stranger, I'm powerful sorry to dis
turb We, but want to az favor. .ssr.
/ "Yes--yes-what is it2r inquired the
tvicksburger as be rubbed his eyes and
sat up. ,fe,..-. b. y-,.y =. 80, 49,.
."Ye like to see fair play, don't ye,
stranger? ?" lsrssf Ne L'g fa..1e9',
"Yes, OF course" 5 -afs s,ea n !,
"Wall, me- the old woman can't agree !:
she's cross an techy, and guess I'm a
Eltrife ugly. sLeastwise we don't hang up
like old boots, We've flt an at; I m old
and she's chuck full Of grit, an It's
about an even thing" a' 9e..ssa'
"Well, I'm sorry" put in the vicks-
burger as the squatter hesitated. ..''s =
We've been talkin' since We cum,
stranger, an we've made up to ash ye to
hold the candle an to let's 90 in for an
|old rousel Of fight-a regular old
sockdolager, which shall settle our fuss !!
If I lick she'll go; il she licks I 60"
T. I'm sorry il there's any trouble, and
hope you won't fight"
"We've got tc do it, stranger, replied
the woman. s"T won't live with a man
who kin lick me, an he's Just as high
born. Sans good as the run of me q,
but he'slazy and sassy and he wants to
wear the hat on his carp
"She's right, stranger" said the squat
ter, "and this cabin cant hold both of
us any longer. It's to be a sauar' fight,
no kickin' or clubbin'. an we won't 90
back on your decision" -
/ The Vicksburger protested, bat the
woman placed a lighted candle in his
hand and posted him in the door, and
man and wife stepped out on the ground
together. gt s. g s.sas s
"Suke, I'm going to wallop ye right
smart in just fou- boots and holler ~
said the squatter as be pushed up his
sleeves.
"Sam, ye don't weigh enough into
three tons!" she replied in grim voice,
and the battle commenced.
The Vicksburger mentally bet twenty
to one on the man, but in two minutes he
reduced the odds to ten, and in two min
dtes more he was betting even. The wife
was like wild cat, springing, dodging,
striking and clawing, and pretty soon
her husband was standing on the defens-
ive.; H1 nj
"Look out for the ngal tiger, ,Suke,"
he warned as he clawed the air. l3'29
81 kin lick the boots off'n you, Sam ~
she replied, and the battle grew fiercer.
One Of the woman's sharp nails struck
the husbands eye and blinded him for
an instant. As he threw up his arms she
planted both her hands into his hair,
yanked him down, and in another mo.
ment had the "gouge" on him.
"Sam, do you cave ?" she asked, as
they both lay quiet. : f2aAta
/ "That's the dead word, Suke, an I'm
q licked man !" he mournfully answered
She let him up and he turned to the
Vicksburger and inquired: '5s II 1
"Stranger, was It far foughtS'
81 guess It was" etad vis
"Then / travelw
He entered the hut, put on bis eoat
and hat, and as be came out he reached
his hand to his wife and said:
eGood.by, Suke, We agreed far an
squar', an here Igop Then turning
to the traveller he added: asg
"Much obleeged, stranger-ye held
the candle plum fa'rs an ye didn't holler
for either one Of u.s.
And be walked down to the fence,
leaped over and was soon lost to sight.
"Good 'nuff on the shoot" unused the
wife, as she gazed after him, abut his
fighting weight is clar run down to nuth-
;n,tO =