The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-03-17
a Watch for Il Mule.

When my mule played out after an all
days ride through Missouri snow storm.
dropped off into snow a foot deep, and
more coming, and felt a bit discouraged.
1t was 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 up at
the sky, around at the woods, and keeled
over iii despair. was trudging along in
the snow over my boot tops, thinking how
much easier it was to drown than to freeze
to death, when the sound Of fiddle
reached me between the snowflakcs, and
l discovered that had reached six-mile
cabiu.
Come in, old hoss," sang out voice
as fell against the door.
When opened it was in room about
sixteen feet square the only one in the
house. The big fireplace gave light, and the
furniture was homemade. A gaunt, long
haired pioneer sat Oh a shake down bed,
playing the fiddle gaunt, slim woman
was dancing in the centre of the floor, and
several children were scattered around as
spectators.
"Kecp 1t up, ole woman-'d evening
stranger; be through in mint find a
called tho fiddler, as | shut the door be-
hind me.
AS walked to the fire, one of the child
rec wheeled up block of wood, and the
1athcr remarked:
"PowcrfuI storm outside, strangcr-keep
them feet gwine, old lady-you children
wipe oil your mouths and sing with me:
Il was forty miles from Pike,
And the road Was Iull Of snow.
And tho wind WAS gittin' really
Fur to hump itself and blow.
'Faster now-change off-kick higher
up with them hoofs-round with ye-hoeer
down-ladies change-that's all-stranger,
howdy2"
was made at home.
"Wall, now, but this seems to be the
hand of Providence" as l drew up to the
table. "Hcrc ye are, showed in, ard here
we are chock full of pcrvshuns ar d happi-
ness, and to-morrcr is Christmas. Stranger,
iii show yc more high steps, more boots
and yclls, more music and feastin' and dan
Gin, and gittin' up stairs to-morrcr than ye
ever saw III all yer born days! Ole wo-
man, if this amt the Lords doln's, then
I'm pctriiicd reptile, and never got re-
ligioa."
"Ben, yer rightl" added the wife. as
she poured out another cup of burnt corn
coffee. 'We is hos-pit-able family. When
we can't whoop 'er up fur 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 limbered
up for Christmas. When this process was
ended it was time to go to bed, and the old
man Said:
IL
blin rich. Here's two Two "d bc"ds S and dTG nihe hai1f 81
us. Me and the ole woman take one, you
take tother, and If the children can't keep
warm afore the fire III liven their blood
with a CAD. Git right into bed, stranger,
and if the children git to tightin' in the
night heave yer boots at 'em."
If the children got into 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 arrovc, 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 and
exclaimed:
eff this hain't Divine Providence billed
down, then l don't like coon and corn.
You children. stop that quarreling. Thomas
Jefferson, did you forgiL to say yer prayers2
If ye did, III wollop ye like blazcs -
We had corn, meat. corn dodgers, apple
sauce and coffee for breakfast. Seats were
made for tho pioneer and myself, and tie
mother and children stood up. There was
IL long and embarrassing pause after we were
all ready, and finally tho Man said:
"SLranacr, was givin' yc chance to
throw ycrsclf on a blcssin', but ye didn't
tumble. Old woman, reel Oft suthin purity"
She closed her eyes and uttered the fol-
lowing rs if she had repeated it thousand
times ''Now | lay me down to sleep, and
bless this meat and bread and sass We
arc thankful for what we've got, and not
jealous of our bctters. Keep us in good
health, make coons plenty, anu cause US to
escape the itch and mcascls Amen!"
When the table had been cleared away
the pioneer and his wife held consulta-
ton in corner, and when it ended the
man approached and asked: "Stranger,
are ye willin' to help us make thisa whoop-
in old day2'
eyes"
'Good j AS family we arc 90 per cent
on q rough and tumble. I'm about twice
yer size and heft, and it wouldn't be fair
show, but the old woman is pretty even
match, and she's just achin' to lay ye on
yer back !"
"But never wrcstlcd with W woman in
my life"
"Wcll, it's good time to begin. She's
wiry and quick, and she'll lay yo if she kin.
Stand right up, stranger, and do yer level
best, to oblgc me-"
l obliged. The situation was new and
novel, and in twenty seconds was thrown
over one of the shakc-downs with a crash
that Jared the house. The woman cracked
her heels together and crowed Justify, the
children laughed, and the pioneer helped
me up with the explanation:
Stranger, she's practiced this for ten
years, and she'll down any man in this
county 'ccpt me. l knowed how it would
be, but am much obleegcd for your great
kindness. The hull family will now swarm
for their patcrnal dad"
rctrcatcd to corner, and the old wo-
man and her six children made rush for