The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-04-04
"AT THE PATGO.s

There is q very peculiar custom whicl
prevails in IN rural districts of Louisi
anna, of which the oldest inhabitant can
not tell the origin. In some points i
resembles the old Scottish game of tn,
''Wappenshaw," but it has local anc
special features of its own, which onl,
some dead-and-gon Acadian ancestor
could explain.
AS for the singular name, ii Is simpl,
acorruption of "Pape gaie"--the Pape. J
or "Popn as it Is called in English.
being bright little bird.
The Patgo is wooden rooster. gail,
decorated with showy ribbons, and
mounted Qp pole as mark, or target.
Prizes are offered, so many dollars fol
each wing, so much for the head bui
the grand prize falls to the lucky marks.
man who brings down the bird.
A horseman discounting before ~
gate of one of the small cottagesl a
Prairie Manon, in Southwestern Louisi.
anna, noticed great excitement in and
about the house. Men were collected in
groups, guns were being cleaned and
fired, and that deafenIng hubbub pre-
vailei which the soul of the excitable
ACduldn ue1gntS IN.
The gentleman fastened his horse to a
post, and approached venerable-look-
ing old man who sat on the steps OF the
house, and who was gesticulating and
shouting with the most obstreperous of
the noisy crowd.
"Can you give me lodging to night,
siri" he said, taking off his hat with a
courteous inclination of his fine head
The old man took his pipe fran his
sse..s @ee%.h End end stared -st Tie sneesneF VINO
was magnificent young man in the un-
dress uniform Of the United States army.
over six feet in statue, he was finely
proportioned, and had face of singular
and marked beauty. There was game.
bag slung over his shoulder, and he held
rifle.
"Je comprends pas, monsieur" the
old man answered. sT spik not the
language. 'mericain."
'And | not one word of French. -
laughed the stranger. s'But look here.
old fellow, must make you understand,
Been hunting" pointing to the full
game-bag and gun. Lost my way."
walking about, and turning from right
to left in a confused manner. "Want
some supper, Chewing vigorously, ''and.
above all, want bed," LAYING his head
on his hand and shutting his eyes. ''If
the Old coon dot understand that
speMing pantomim& he's an IDIOT"
The old man certainly understood all
that was ridiculous in it, for he laughed
aloud, but courteously repressed his
merriment and answered gravely: 'sMy
garcon, my son, Jean Baptiste, he spik
de 'merlcaiu good. Jean Baptiste, viens
iciln
Jean Baptiste came up. A good-look-
ing lad about eighteen, but with
gloomy and despondent face. In fact,
Jean Baptiste had the air of person
crushed by some misfortune, for whom
the world had mo charm. He listsned to
the officer, and translated his request to
his father, who answered him in an ex-
cited speech.
''My papa he say 20 house is full, full.
People come feefty mile to shoot at re
Patgo tomorrow; but if monsieur can
sleep in ne loft. bon he can stay. Ze first
come, he get ze'best bed"
''And as Pm the last conner, / get the
loft, and thankful am for it," said the
oflcer, with gay laugh. sit isn't
pleasant to be lost in your prairies at
night. But, my boy, what in the world
is Patgor
Monsieur does not know re Patgo2"
In tone of astonishment "Mon Dieu,
that is strangel II is bird made out ze
wood. You pay twenty-five cents for a
shot Zeman what brings it down gets
ze big prize. Such pony, all bla k, ,no
white spot, and he run like deer"
81 suppose you are going to try for
the wonderful ponyl"
"Ah, mon Dieu, but mol | have
broke my gun, and zey will not lend me
one. And Why's ] shoots best, and zey
Is ialoux. Zey wants me not try. All,
and zey is glad my gun is broke
he muttered between his set
teeth, as he glarcd sasagely at the marks
men.
The stranger looked around, and
thought to himself that even in this beau
Iiful isolated region, so remote from the
ambitions Of the world, envy
md hatred hourished "The boy has
actually murderous look, " he thought,
''and those fellows must be a mean set
of beggars to treat him so. ~
Look here, Jean Baptiste - be said