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

There is very peculiar custom which
prevails in the rural districts of Iouisi-
anna, of which the oldest inhabitant can
not tell the origin. In some points it
resembles the old Scottish game of the
"Wappenshaw," but it has local and
special features of its own, which only
some dead-and-gone Acadian ancestor
could explain.
AS for the singular name, ii is simply
scorruption of "Pape gae"--the Pape,h y
or "Pop.n as it is called in English,
being a bright little bird.
The Patgo is wooden rooster, gaily
decorated with showy ribbons, and
mounted on pole as mark, or target.
Prizes are offered, so many dollars for
each wing, so much for the head; but
the grand prize falls to the lucky marks
man who brings down the bird.
A horseman discounting before the
gate of one of the small cottages in
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-
vaile which the soul of the excitable
Acadian delights in.
The gentleman fastened his horse to a
post, and approached a 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,
sirl" he said, taking off his hat with a
courteous inclination of his fine head
The old man took his pipe from his
meath gssGGatth ard and stared az az Tie sneaker Whu
was a magnificent young man in the un-
dress uniform of the nited 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
a rifle.
'Je comprends pas, monsieur" the
old man answered. 'T spik not the
language. 'mericain."
'And | not one word of French, "
laughed the stranger. 'But look here.
old fellow, / must make you understand,
Been hunting" pointing to the full
game-bag and gun. Lost my way, y
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 al
the old coon don't understand that
speaking pantomime, he's an IDIOT"
The old man certainly understood al
that was ridiculous in it, for he laughed
aloud, but courteously repressed his
merriment and answered gravely: 'My
garcon, my son, Jean Baptiste, he spik
de 'mericain good Jean Baptiste, vien'
icim
Jean Baptiste came up. A good-look,
ing lad about eighteen, but with 8
gloomy and despondent face. In fact
Jean Baptste had the air of a person
crushed by some misfortune, for whom
the world had no charm. He listened tC
the officer, and translated his request tC
his father, who answered him in an ex
cited speech.
'My papa he say re house is full, full
People come feefty mile to shoot at .,
Patgo tomorrow; but if monsieur car
sleep in ne loft, bon he can stay. Ze first
| come he get re best bed"
"And as Pm the last conner, | get the
loft, and thankful am for it, said the
officer, with a gay laugh. SIT ism
pleasant to be lost in your prairies a
night. But, my boy, what in the world
is a Patgo~
''Monsieur does not know re PatgoF
in tone of astonishment. Mon Dieu
that is strange! 1t is bird made out z'
wood. You pay twenty cents for /
shot. Zeman what brings it down get
re big prize. Such pony, all bla k, nj
white spot, and he run like a deer"
81 suppose you are going to try TO
the wonderful ponyl"
"Ah, mon Dieu, but mo- hav
broke my gun, and zey will not lend M
one. And whyl | shoots best, and re.
is jaloux. Zey wants me not try. All
and zey is glad my gun is broke
Canaillen he muttered between his Sc
teeth, as he glared sa agely at the marks
men.
The stranger looked around, an
thought to himself that even in this beau
tiful isolated region, so remote from tn
struggling ambitions of the world, env
and hatred fourished "The boy ha
actually murderous look" he thought
"and those fellows must be mean Sc
of beggars to treat him so. y