Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-04-26

| ANO" bS"'o hVc'oS plSO ilSNu VI
After supper one of the boys took the
fiddle and the rest of the family timber
ed up for Christmas When this pro-
cess was ended 1t was time to 90 to bed,
and the old man said:
Nov then, ye 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 il the children
git to hghtin' in the night heave yer
boots ut '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
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 haint Divine Providence billed
down, then | don't like coon and corn.
You children, stop that quarreling.
Thomas Jefferson, did you forget to say
ser prayers If you did III wollop you
| like blalesw
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 was givin' We 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 %
Thousand times: "Now 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
terSF Keep us in good health, make
coons plenty, and cause us to escape
| the itch and measles. Amenm
When the table had been cleared
away the pioneer and wife held con-
sultation in q dark corner, and when it
ended the man approached and asked:
Stranger are yo willin' to help us make
this whaopn' old day "
yes
Good, AS n family we are ninety
nine per cent. on rough and tumble.
Pm about twice yer size and heft, and
it wouldn't he fair show, but the old
woman is apurty even match, and she's
just akin to lay ye on yer back"
"But never wrestled with u woman
in my life
"Well, Pts n good time to begin.
"She's wiry and quick, and she'll lay We
if 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 | was
thrown over one of the shake-downs
with a crash that Jared the house The
woman cracked her heels together and
crowcd Justify, the children laughed
and the pioneer helped me mp with the
explanation
stranger, she's practiced this for ten
years, and she'll down any man in this
country, 'cept me. ! kn0wcd how it
would be, but as much ableeged for
your great kindness. The hull family
will now swarm for their paternal dad"
retrcated to q corner, and the old wo-
man and her six children made rush
for the father. They were seven to one.
They attacked him on all sides with
great vigor, and were picked up aud
flung ten feet without being bit dis
conraged. They finally got him foul
and brought him down, and as he lay on
his back he observed:
"Children, you may feel proud over
this. 1t shows that ye are healthy and
full Of pluck, and that the itch has no
bizness in % family like this"
We had hickory nuts, popcorn, cider
and apples for lunch, and at dinner we
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
ed, and great hugging match took
place. The old woman led of. Stand
ing face to face with the cub, he Rugged
and she squeezed 1t was a nip and
tuck. She sighed and coughed and he
growled and strained; but at last be
whined in token that his ribs could