The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-01-03
Bud CroMner at the Ball.

talking over old days in California.
Il shall never forget my first ball IN
California said Bud Crowner 1t was
at Hangtown, in 80. In crossing the
plains we had all kinds of bad luck. We
had some of our horses stolcd by the In
iuns, some died, and ut last we left be-
hind wagons and everything but what
we could carry on our backs.
sit was every Teller tor himself tor a
short time | travelled on foot and took
the desperate chances of 6ndin' grub
among SIGH wagons and camps as pass
ed. Nearly naked and half starved |
finally got to the Humboldt. | found a
large party of emigrants camped thar
for day or two to rest, wash clothes,
bake breai, and the like.
Il was a rough lookin' customer. l
had only an old roundabout or wamus,
that had wore all the way from Pike,
trousers that was ready to drop of me,
and pair of moccasins | got from q
Shoshone Indian for an old jack-knife.
"a man at the camp took pity on me,
and, showing me two pairs of green
baize drawers, told mo if I'd wash 'em
might have one pair for my trouble.
AS they were sound and much better
than my paDtaloons, | jumped at the
chance. [ washed the articles and hung
'em up on bunch of willers to dry.
Presently the teller came and took
one pair, leavin' the other for me. He
was little, spindIin' bit of a cuss, while
.I, even at that time, starved as | was,
weighed nigh on to 10 pounds.
Il took the drawers and went some
distance down the river, behind bunch
of willers, to make my toilet. The
washin' and dryin' had shrunk the
drawers to such an extent that it took
me half an hour to git into EN-. They
was skin tight, and lacked sly inches of
reachin' down to my ancle lints.
Il walked up and down the bank of the
creek for long time before could
make up my mind to go back to camp.
went and looked for my old breeches,
but had throwed 'em into the creek at
the start, and they had foated off or
sunk somewhere.
CAS- walked up and down there by
the water my long, slim, green legs
made me look like fy-up-thecreek, a
crane, or some sick water fowl.
when went to camp everybody
roared and laughed, some rollin' them
selves on the ground and roarin' till they
was black in the face.
To keep the sun from burnin my
ANGLES got some cloth and made straps
so could strap the drawers down to my
In passin' along by the wagons |
overlook, had to stand all the fun that
people saw fit to poke at me. Here
comes the great crane of the desert
some would say, while others called me
the Green dragon of the plains
when / got to Hangtown, | found
put that there was to be a grand ball
that night in the edge of town. Before
;catterln' out into different parts of the
country, the people were goin' to have a
Dig dance together.
in the evening l thought Id step
Town TO where the dance was to come
off and look on awhile. l found they
had set up lot of crotches in which
hey had laid poles, GOVERN the whole
With pine and spruce boughs, maxim
sort of canopy. The ground had been
eveled off and beaten down TILL it was
ike brick yard.
q found two or three fiGdlers mounted
IN pine boxes and with them Teller
With clarinet. They were maxim pref
y fair music, and u great crowd were
lancin' away for dear life.
Il looked on for time but pretty
DON l got excited like, forgot all about
ny drawers, and sailed into the thick
# the business with big Pike County
al with sun-bonnet off and hair hangin'
alf way down to her heels.
Il can tell you we made the dust fly.
soon saw that, though my drawers
night be a little tight, l had on about
be soundest and gayest rig in the whole
lace. looked as though | was in some
ind of masqueradin' outft,and began to
onsider myself the beau OF the ball "a
egular dandy.
Il made them long, green legs of mine
Y "in swingln' on the corners, and was
he wonder of every man, woman and
hid at the ball. | got so excited about
be sensation | was maxim that ! cut
II kind of pigeon-wings and fancy
ouris hes, brIngin' down the house ev-
ry time.
AGO in green legs! the fellers on the i,
Inside would boiler, and go in l did.
inally,a couple Of children come waltz :
Y around. thought 1t would be q
God trick TO sling one of my long green f.,
,gs, circus fashion, over the heads of !
10 little couple.
Il tried 1t, and lett that hall, runnin' !,
Ike skeered kiotee, and dent know =
lat I've ever sot eyes on man. woman, !.
r child that was thar from that day TO
lis.'
Guess you have said an old chap
nong the listeners Il was thar aud saw
Ie whole performance. IL was my old
L gal you was a dancin' with.
The little glrl you tried to swing your
Q over said another old cock, 'was my l
lid, and she is nos the wife of SEN a
or VS., of California.
Il am the very man that gave you
ose green baize drawers, said another 9
the p&ty. Il remembered you as
nm as Won martioped WIN, haupened q