The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-04-14
Backwood's Jollity.

discouraged
II was in back county. if there are any back
counties IN that state and the settlers had located
their cabins just six miles apart to a rod When
| set out to walk and pull the mule to boot he
looked up at the sky, around at the woods and
keeled over in 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 a fiddle reached me between
the snowiiakes, and discovered that had reach
cd a siX-mile cabin
Come in old hoss sang out a voice as | fell
against the door
When opened 1t | was in a room about sixteen
feet Square-the only one in the house The big
fireplace gave light, and the furniture was home
made gaunt long haired pioneer sat on a shake
down bed, playing the fiddle; a gaunt slim wo-
man was dancing in the centre of the floor and
several children were scattered around as specta
tors
Keep it up, ole woman-'d evening stranger
be through in a mint find cheer-go in for all
yer worth, Mary !" called the fiddler as shut ,he
door behind me
As | walked to the fire one of the children
wheeled up block OF wood and the father re-
marked
Powerful storm outside stranger-keep them
feet gwine, old lady--you children wipe off your
mouths and sing with me
81 was forty miles from Pike
And the road was full of snow.
And the wind was gettin' ready
For to hump Itself aud blow"
Faster uow-change otf'--klck higher-up with
them hoots-round with ye-~hoe n tl0wl-ladles
chauge-tddt's 9 all-stranger, howdy!"
was made at home.
''Wal now, but this seems to be the hand of
Providence, as | drew up to the table Here YOU
are, showed IN, and here a1e chock fun of per
vlshuns and happiness, and to-morrer is Christmas
Stranger, Il show yer more high steps more
hoots and wells, more music and feastin, and
dancin, and gttin up st rs to morrer than We ever
"a II n var dave Ma -.
the Lords dolns, then I'm petrifed reptile and
never got religion
Ben, yer right = added the wife as she poured
out another cup of burnt corn coffee ''WeIs a
hos pit able family. When we can't wooper 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 ended it was time to 20 10
bed, and the old man said
Now. then, ye kin see that we haint billn rich.
Here's two beds. and nine of Us Me and the old
woman take one, you take tother and it the chill
dren can't keep warm atore the fire Ill liven their
blood with CAD. Git right into bed stranger and
If the children git to tishtin in the night heave
} ef boots at EN-.
If the children got into row | didn't hea1
them. 1t didn't seem as if | had slept an hour
when the pioneer shook me by the shoulder and
called out:
Say, stranger, day light has arrove, and Christ
mas am here Git up. and prepar to line 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 hahn Divine Providence billed down
then | don't like coon and corn You children
stop that quarreing. Thomas Jefferson did you
forget TO say yer prayers If you did III woloE
We like baZeS =,
We had corn 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 embarrassing
pause after We were all ready, and finally the man
said
stranger. | was givin' ye a chance 10 throw
yersclf on a blessin' but We didn't tumble Old
woman, reel off sunthin' purity"
She closed her ewes and uttered the following as
if she had repeated it a thousand times Nav
lay me down to sleep, and bless this meat and breac
and sass We are thank for what we've cot. anC
not Jealous of our betters Keep us in good health
make coons plenty and cause rs to escane the itcf
ard measles. Amen
When the table had been cleared away the pioneei
and wife held 4 consultation in a corner, and wher
it ended the man approached and asked "Straug
er are We win to help Us make this a vhoopiu
Old day ;"
~ es"
"Good" Az a family we are ~ per cent Oh {
rough and tumble I'm about twice yer size an(
hen ard it wouldn't be a fair show, but the olt
woman is a pretty even match and she's ius
achiu' to lay ye Oh yer back :"
But never wrestled with a roman iumv life
We'll its a good time to begin. "She'S wir,
and quick, and she'll lay ve if She can Stant
right up stranger and do yer level best to obligt
me
Obliged The situation was new and novel
and in twenty seconds | was thrown over one O
the shake downs with a crash that Jared The
house The woman cracked her heels togethe
and crOWed lustily the children lauphnd and tbt
pioneer helped me up with the explanation:
stranger she's practiced this for ten Years apt
she II down any man in this county 'cept me
kuowed how it would be. bat am much obleesed
for your great kindness The hull family will now
swarm tor their patcrual dad
retreated to a corner, and the old woman aut
her six children made rush for the father. They
were seven to one They attacked him on all side
with great vIgor. and were picked up and fun!
ten feet without being bit discouraged ThpI
finally got him foul and brought him down. and a.
"Ciillreu won may feel nroud over this