Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-12-31
pAcKwooDs JoLLITY.
A Christmas Day In One ofthe Back Ceun-
ties Of Missouri.

ties Of MISSOURI
IL used to be the saying In the army
"When soldier is riding q hoss, and
the boss plays, the soldier is played.
When my mule played out after an
all-dsy,s ride through q Missouri snow.
storm, I dropped off into snow foot
deep and more coming, and felt 3 bit
discouraged.
1t was in a back county, If there are
any back counties in that state, and the
settlers had located their cabins Just SIX
miles apart to rod. When l set out
to walk and pull the mule to boot, he
looked ND at the sky, around at the
woods, and keeled over in despair. 1
was trudging along in the snow over my
boot tops, and thinking how much
easier it was to drown than to freeze to
death, when the sound OF q fiddle
reached me between the snow-fakes.
and I discovered / had reached a Six
mile cabin.
HCome in, old hossl" sang out
voice, as fell against the door.
When opened it l was in a room
about sixteen feet square-ths only one
in the house. The big fireplace gave
light, and the furniture was home made.
A gaunt, long haired pioneer sat on
shake-down bed playing the fddle;a
q gaunt, slim woman was dancing In the
center OF the floor, and several children
were scattered around as spectators.
keep it up, old misunderstanding,
stranger-be through in a mint find
cheer. Go in for all yer worth, Mary J"
called the fiddler, as shut the door be-
hind me.
Ash walked to the fire one of the
children wheeled up block OF wood,
and the father remarked:
powerful storm outside; stranger
keep them feet gwine, old lady-you
children wipe off yer mouths and sing
with me:
az was forty miles from Pike,
And the road was full Of snow,
And tho wind was getting ready
Fur to hump itself and blow"
"Faster now-change of higher-up
with them hoofs-round with ye hoe
'er down-ladies change-that's oil
stranger, howdyr'
was made at home.
"Wan, now, but this seems to be the
hand of Providence" said the old man,
al 1 drew up to the table. Here ys are,
showed in, and here we are chuck full
of oarvishuns and Happiness. and To-
morrer is Christmas. Stranger I'll
show ye more high steps, more boots
and wells, moro music, and feasting and
dancin' and gittin' up stars to-morrer
than ye ever saw in all yer born days !
Ole woman, if this hain't the Lords,
doin's then I'm petrifed reptile and
never got religion"
Bon, yer right" added the wife, as
she poured out'another cup OF burnt
COIN coffee. eve is hos-pita able fam
lily. When we can't whoop'er up fur-a
stranger on Thanksgiving or Christmas
or New Years, nobody else need try"
After supper one OF the boys took the
fiddle, and the rest of the family linn
bered up for Christmas. When this
process was ended it was time to go to
bed, and the old man said
"Nvw, then, We kin see that we hain't
bilin' rich. Here's two beds, and nine
OF US. Me aud the old woman take one,
you take t'other, and il the children
can't keep warm afore the fire, I'll liven
their blood with CAD. Git right into
bed, stranger, and if the children git to
dghtin' in the night heave yer boots at
emp
If the children got into arrow, I didn't
hear them. 1t didn't seem rs if / Lad
slept an hour, when the pioneer shook
me by the shoulder and called out:
"Say, stranger, daylight has srrove.
and Christmas am here. Git up and
prepar 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
nj exclaimed:
1T this hain't Divine Providence
billed down, then I don't like coon and
coin. You children, stop that quarrel
ing Thomas Jefferson, did you forget
to ray yer prayersp II you did, I'll
wollop We like blazesl"
We had coon meat, corn-dodgers,
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-
hauassing pause after We we were all
ready, and finally the man said:
stranger, / was givin' ye a chance
to throw yerself on blessin', but ye
didn't tumble. Old woman, reel of
eunthin' puttyr'
She closed her eyes and uttered the
following as if she had repeated it q
thousand times: "Now 1 lay me down
to sleep, and bless this meat and bread
anC tass. We are thankful for what
we've got, and not jealous of our betters.
Keep us in good health, make coona
plenty, and cause US 20 escape tbc itch
and measles. Amen!''
When the table had been cleared
away, the pioneer and wife held son
sultation in q corner, and when 1t ended
the man approached and asked "Stran-
ger, are We willin' to help Us max this
whoopin' old day"
| Yes
"Good As q family, we are SO
per cent. on rvugh-and-tumble. I'm
about twice yer size and heft, and it
wouldn't be far show, but the old
woman is pretty even match, and she's
just achin' to lay ye on yer backF
"But never wrestled with woman
in my life"
'Well, it's a good time to begin.
She's why and quick, and she'll lay ye
il she can. Stand right up, stranger,
and do yer level best, to oblige me-"
obliged. The situation was new
and novel, and in twenty seconds l was
thr;wn over one of the shake-downs
with crash that Jared the house. The
woman cracked her heels together, and
crowed Justify, the children laughed,