The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-07-11
Tooth and Nail.


A gentleman residing in Vicksburg,
had occasion, a few days since, to take
Journey down the river and several
miles back from it, using saddle horse.
Darkness overlook him in a sparsely
settled district, and as the roads were
in bad condition, and the evening
looked threatening, he halted before
forlorn looking hut and asked If he
could find lodging.
"I reckon YOU mought," said sor-
rowful-eyed squatter, after hesitating a
moment.
The Vicksburger 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 cold the
traveller camped down on the floor on a
blanket, and being very tired he fell
aleep, while the host and hostess were
smoking their 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, Pm powerful sorry to
disturb ye, but want to ak favor.
Yes-yes-what is it?" inquired
the Vicksburger, as he rubbed his eyes
and sat up
eye like to see fair play, don't ye,
| stranger?'
Yes, of course"
"Wall, men the old woman can't
agree; she's cross an techy, and guess
| Pm a trife ugly. Ieastwise we don't
hang up worth old boots. We've fit and
fit; Pm old and she's chuck full of
| grit, an it's about and even thing.
"Well Pm sorry" put in the Vicks-
burger, as the squatter hesitated.
"We've been balkin' since ye cum,
stranger, and we've made up to ask ye
to hold the candle and to let's go in for
an old rouser of a fght-a regular old
sockdolager, which shall settle our
fuss! If I Heks she'll go; if she icks
CO.
hope you won't fight"
We've got to do it, stranger" replied
the woman. "I won't live with man
who kin lick me, an he's just as high
born. Sans good as the run of men.
but he's laky and sassy and he wants to
} wear the hat on his carp
"She's right, stranger" said the
) squatter, "and this cabin can't hold
! both of us any longer. It's to be a
squar' fight, no kickih' or clubbin' and
we won't go back on your decision"
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
together.
; "Suke, I'm going to wallop ye right
smart in just four boots and hollerP
said the squatter as he pushed up hi
r sleeves.
-" Sam, ye don't weigh enough int
three toi1s!'' she replied in grim voic'
! and the battle commenced.
l The Vicksburger mentally bet twent,
q to one on the man, but in two minute
: he reduced the odds to ten, and in tw,
e minutes more he was betting even. Th
e wiie was like a wild cat, springing
y lodging. striking and elawing, and prett,
|, soon her husband was standing on tn
i defensive.
y "Look out from the Bengal tigel
e Suke," he warned as he clawed the all
e 81 kin lick the boots off'n you, Sam !!
d she replied and the battle grew fercer.
le One of the woman's sharp mai
L struck the husbands eye and blinde
AIAl 1O1 Oil lIiSOdAC Ao uS UultW u
his arms she planted both her hane
ID into his hair, yanked him down and
I'd another moment had the "gouge" c
Id him.
K "Sam, do you cavc?' she asked
OIL they both lay quiet.
lie "That's the dead word, Suke, al
ce Pm a licked manv' he mournfully a
MT swered.
al She let him up and he turned to t
ch Vicksburger and inquired:
OF "Stranger, was it fa fought?'
"I guess it was''
"Then I travel %
He ehtered the hut, put on his &C
and hat, and as he came out he reach
.ou his hand to his wife and said:
.o4 n9 Goodbye, Suke, we agreed far a
squar' an here gop' Then turning
the traveller he added:
In Much obleeged, stranger-ye held
as as candle plum far, an ye didn't hol
re- re- for either one Of usi'
ltn And he walked down to the fen
leaped over, and was soon lost to sig
"Good 'nuff on the shoot" mu
eu- the wife, as she gazed after him, $
let his fighting weight is olar run down
DE nuthin'p'
an
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