The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-02-11
Christmas Day in one of the Back
Counties of Missouri.
BY NJ. QUAD.


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 | 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 Twas trudging along in the snow
over my boot tops, and thinking how much
easier it was to drown than freeze to death.
when the sound of fiddle reached me be-
tween the snow-fakes, and l discovered
had reached six mile cabin
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 biz fireplace gave light, and
/ the furniture was home made. A guant,
/ long-haired pioneer sat on shake-down
bed playing the fiddle; guant, slim
woman was dancing in the centre of the
floor, and several children were scattered
around as spectators
Keep It up, old woman deevning,
stranger-be through in mint, find
cheer. Go in for all yer worth, Mary =
called the fiddler, as | shut the door be-
hind me
As walked to the FIRE one of the chill
dren wheeled up block Of wood, and the
father remarked
Powerful storm outside. stranger-keep
them feet gwine, old lady-yOu children
wipe of yer mouths and sing with me;
I was forty miles fro@ Pike.
Aud the rad WIS fuil Of snow.
Aud the wind was getting ready
FuF % hump itself and blow
! Faster now-ehange off higher-up
with them hoofs--round with ye-hoe er
dowB--ladies ehange-thaf's all-straRger,
4 howdy
"Wal, now, but this seems to be the hand
Of Providence, " said the old man, as drew
up 10 the table Here We are, showed in,
and here we are chuck full Of pervishuns
and happiness, and to-morrcr is Christmas.
{ Stranger II show We mOre high steps, more
hoo,S and yells, more music, and feasting
and daacin' and gissen up st'rs to-morrer
than We ever Jaw in all your born days
0ie woman. II this hain't the Lords doins
then TN petri6ed reptile and never got
religion
Ben. yer right. added the wife. as she
lourcd out anothcr cup of burnt-corn cot.
fec we Is a hes pit liable family When
We can't whooP 'er up for stranger on
Thanksgiving or ChYlsimas OF New Years,
nobQiy else Reed tEy.
After supper one Of the boys took the
fiddle. and the rest Of the family hmbered
up for Christmas. When this process was
ended il was time TO go to bed, aud the old
man said
Now, then. We kin see that we haint
bilin rich Here's two beds, and nine of
Us Ne and the old woman take one, YOU
take tosher. and IL the children can't
keep warm afore the IRE, IN hsen their
blo<,d with = gad Git right into bed,
stranger, and IL the children git to fghtin
in the nigh, heave yer boots at cm
If the children ~, into row. ! didn't
hear them. Il didn't seem a. il | had
slsJs an hour when she pioneer shoOk me
by the shoulder and called cut
Say. stranger. daylight has arroye and
Christmas am here. Cit up and rrepar "a
jine in she festivities
The snow was four feet deep and still
coming. but the prospect delighted INV host,
who cracked his heels together and ex-
claimed
IF this hain't Divine Providence billed
down, then | don't like coon and corn.
Yoa children, stop that quarrehng -
Thomas jefferson. did YOU forget to say
yer prayers. il you did, III wollop ye like
blaxas
We had cooa meat, csorn-dodgers. apple
sauce and ecace for breakfast Seats were
found for the pioneer and myself and the
mother and children stood up There was
hong and embarrassing pause after we
were al ready, and finally the man said
Stranger, | was givin' We chance to
throw yourself On hlessin but ye didn't
tumble. Old woman, reel of suthin putty
She closed her eyes and uttered the fol-
lowing as if she had repeated it u thousand
times Now | bay me down to sleep,
aud bless this meat and bread and sasS,
We are thankful for what we've got, and
not jealous of our betters- Keep Us in
COED health, make eoons plenty, and cause
US to escape the itch and measles. Amenr'
When the table had been cleared away,
the pioReeF aud wife held consultation in
a corner, and when it ended the man ap.
preached and asked Stranger, are We
willin to help Us make this whoopin old
day T
"Yes.
Good As family We are 90 per
cent on q rough and tumble. I'm about
twice yer size and heft. and it wouldn't be
far show, hut the cid WOMAN is pretty
even match and she's just achin' to lay yer
on yer back =
But | never wrestled with woman in
my life
"Well, it's good time to begin. She's
wiry and quick. and she II lay We if she can,
Stand right up, stranger, and do your level
best, to oblige me
obliged. The situation was new and
novel, and i'll twenty seconds was thrown
over one of the shakedowns with 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 exclamation
Stranger, she's praetieed this fun ten
years, and she'll down any mah in this
county 'cept me, knowed how it would
be, but am much obleeged for your great
kindness The hull family viii now swarm
for their paternal dad.
| retreated to 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 gseat vigof,
and We're picked up aud flung ten feet with
out being a bit discouraged, They finally
got him foul aud brought him down, and
as he lay on his back he observed
Children, ye may well feel proud over
this. 1t shows that We are healthy and full
o. pluck, and that the itch has no business
in family like this"
We had hickory nuts, popcorn, cider
and apples for lunch, and at dinner we had
bear meat, pumpkin pie, roast Woodchuck,
apple butter and gingerbread After the
meal half tame bear, about a year old, |
was brought in, the floor cleaned, aud |
grand hugging match took place, The old |
woman led off. Standing face to faee with |
the cub she hugged and squeezed. 1t was !