Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-12-18
powerful sight O. pervidinl Come, now,
be man for once, and see how 'twould


be man for once, and see how 'twould
SEEM
SIT was bitter pill for Eliakim to
swaller, but he finally made up his mind
that twas the best he could do. So he
tackled up old Grimes, an took Polly Ann
with him to help him out, for everybody
liked Polly Ann, she was so chirk an pretty,
even if she was sickly. They went to every
place where he'd had help afore, an every
one en- 'em promised to come. They KEEP
their word
81 s'pose the consciences o. some on 'em
had been trOublin 'em leetle. for al
though the Good Book don't say, Thou
shalt not tear down thy neighbours barn.
it does say somethin like this, Vengeance
is mine, saith the Lord an Do unto others
as We would that they should do unto YOU
An not one of 'em wanted their barns
knocked in. So they was glad of chance
to make amends.
mother an the gals an some O. the other
neighbors helped Miss Hunt cook, until
they was ready for any number. When
Eliakim had got the Lbetter O. the stingy
old Adam in him, he pervided as liberal as
father d done.
"Polly Ann took me into the butt'ry an
showed me the rows of pies an cakes an
cheeses, an platters of cold meats an loaves
of bread an pots of baked beans.
can there's two pigs roasting in the
brick ovenr she said kind O. proud.
s"The men come early an worked with a
will, tell We. Why, by o'clock the hull
barn was up AS good as it was afore, an up
to stay too. Eliakim, he thanked 'em as
gracious an perlite as if he'd lived in city
all his life, an asked 'em down to the house
to supper
"'Twas fust class set out, an no mis-
take A better supper they never ate, an
when twas finished they was all ready for
fun.
sOur deestrict was right on the line be-
twixt Plynlton an Coventry, an some o.
the men was from one town an some from
t'other, an a sight O. rivalry there was too.
The Piymton boys was always tryin to
beat us, but we'd held our own until this
year.
''Some of our smartest wrastlers had
moved off, an some O. the Plymtons had
learned how to throw, so It this year the
Plymtons had beat every time until at our
raisin your Uncle Dan had throwed Salma
Chase three times rnnnin. But I've told
We bout that afore.
oval, the Plymtons was mad enough,
an vowed they'd whip us this time. So
when we went out from supper we expect
ed fun, an we got it.
Seems s if when Eiiakim got a.goin he
didn't know when to stop. He stood right
out afore 'em ali an says, says he:
"I want ye all to have a good time, SO
We kin remember Eliakim Hunts raisin
with pleasure Now, let's make this a
town fight, Plymton agin Coventry, an I'll
give five dollars to the side that beats.
An if Coventry gifts it I'll give five more
for the music next June trainin.'
''Wal, they jest went to work then!
Both sides was on their mettle. They got
together, each town by itself. an chose the
best wrastler on each side for bully, an
three others.
''Then they formed in ring, an Ike
Huntress, the biggest man in all Plymton,
went into the ring. He was their bully.
Father acted as manager for our side. He
knowed that Ike was tremendous strong,
but that he didn't know much bout wrast-
lin, 'cept to knock a man down. So father,
he picked out little Jabez Slocun.
'.Now Jabez wasn't nigh so heavy as Ike,
but he understood how to handle himself;
an the fust thing Ike knew, he laid
sprawlin in the dirt
"''Twa'n't fairr ''Twa'n't fairr TRY it
agin! shouted the Plymton fellows.
"'All right says father; throw him
agin, Jabez!'
so Jabez threw him agin; but the Plym-
tons warn't satisfied. They wanted to try
it once more, an SO Jabez threw him the
third time
"'Twas leetie trick he had with his left
foot. He could IA throwed Goliath easy,
do believe.
oval, the Plymtons couldn't deny but
twas fair enough this time; but they was
hot to try it agn.
$50 Salma Chase an Simeon Low went
into the ring, an Simeon throwed Salma as
easy as Jabez had Ike. Then your Uncle
Dan an Tom Harris tried it, an your uncle
throwed Tom.
"'Three times an outr says father. BE
We satisfied now?'
''They had to own themselves beat; SO
Eliakim give the five dollars to father to
keep for June trainin, All give the other
five to Jabez an Simeon an your uncle; an
arter deal O. talk they went off home.
can that's all there was to Eliakim
Hunts raisin. "-Willametta A. Preston in
Youths Companion.