Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-04-30

New Years nobody else need try"
| After supper one of the boys took the
fiddle and the rest of the family timber
| ed MP for Christmas. When this pro-
cess was ended it was time to 60 to bed,
and the old man said
"Now then, We kin see that we hain't
bilin' rich. Here's two beds, and nine
| of us. Me and the old woman take one,
You take t'Other, and ii the children
git to ightin' in the night heave yer
boots at 'em."
If the children got into a row ] didn't
hear them. 1t didn't seem as if | had
slept an hour, when the pioneer shook
me by the shoulder and called out:
"say, stranger, daylight has arrove
and Christmas am here. Git up, and
prepare to jine in the festivities
The snow was four feet deep and still
coming; but the prospect delighted my
host, who cracked his heels together
and exclaimed:
"If this hain't Divine Providence billed
down. then don't like coon and corn.
You children, stop that quarreling.
Thomas Jefferson, did you forget to say
yer prayers? If you did I'll wollop you
like blazesw
We had meat, corn meat, corn dodg-
ers, apple sauce and coffee for breakfast.
Seats were found for the pioneer and
myself and the mother and children
stood up. There was a long and en-
barrassing pause after we were all
ready, and finally the man said:
stranger l was givin' yea chance to
throw yerself on blessin' but ye didn't
tumble. Old woman, reel of sunthin'
purity"
She closed her eyes and uttered the
following as if she had repeated it a
thousand times: "Now l lay me down
to.sleep, and bless this meat and bread
and sass We are thankful for what
we've got, and not jealous of our bet.
tiers. Keep us in good health, make
coons plenty, and cause us to escape
the itch and measles. Amen"
When the table had been cleared
away the pioneer and wife held con
sultation in q dark corner, and when II
ended the man approached and asked
STRANGER are We willin' to helpus make
this whaopin' old day I"
3 ''Yes."
Good! As family we are ninety
nine per cent. on rough and tumble
/ Pm about twice yer size and heft, ant
it wouldn't be fair show, but the ole
woman is purity even match, and she'
, Just akin to lay ye on yer back"
e "But never wrestled with woman
< in my life"
, "Well, ITS a good time to begin
"She's wiry and quick, and she'll lay y
I if she can. Stand right up, stranger
and do yer level best, to oblige me-"
| Obliged. The situation was new ant
. novel, and in twenty seconds | wa
. thrown over one of the shake-down
, with crash that Jared the house. Tn
7 woman cracked her heels together ant
crowed Justify, the children laughe'
and the pioneer helped me up with til
explanation
stranger, she's practiced this for tel
t wears, and she'll down any man in thi
e country, 'cept me. | knowed how
Il would be, but as much ableeged 70
!, your great kindness. The hull famil,
Il will now swarm for their paternal dad.
n Iretreated to q corner, and the old wo
g man and her six children made q rus
: for the father. They were seven to one
They attacked him on all sides wit
9 great vigor, and were picked up an
a flung ten feet without being bit dis
couraged. They finally got him fou
: and brought him down. and as he lay o.
his back he observed:
"Children, you may feel proud owe
u this. 1t shows that We are healthy ant
full of pluck, and that the itch has n
bizness in family like this"
We had hickory nuts, popcorn, eide
and apples for lunch, and at dinner W
had bearmeat, pumpkin pie, roast wood
chuck, apple-butter and gingerbread
After the meal a half tame bear, about
year old, was brought in, the floor clear
T ed, and great hugging match too
u place. The old woman led off. Stand
inc face to face with the cub, he hugge
and she squeezed. 1t was q nip an
tuck. She sighed and coughed and h
e growled and strained; but at last h
o whined in token that his ribs coul'
/, stand no more. Then the two big boy
l. tackled him. but Bruin laid them bot