The Green Forest tribune., 1895-02-21
A STORY or REAL LIFE.
HOW THE MISSOURI BALpkNOBBERs
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS.
A Good Story From the Graphic Pen Of one OF the
Tribune's Special Correspondents.

Mr. EDIToR:-I do not submit the
| following as news, but thinking there
would be some who would like to know
! how Bald knoobers spend Christmas.
| To those will say that this they may
| lesrn by the perusal OF the following
lines:
Picture 20 yourself little, cross
| road town consisting Of one general
merchandise store, & black smith shop,
mill and post Office nestled down
between cedar the crowned hills Of Long
creek. This town is called Cedar
Valley. You must understand that
there are plenty Of cedars here, but no
| valley.
Christmas is usually spent at this
place by the fathers and sons gather
ing together and spending the DAY in
aga ting, shooting at q mark, wrestling,
jumping and playing at game COM
N only called "seven up
Upon this particular Christmas day
there had gathered together some
thirty odd mountaineers to have fun in
their customary way. BY 10 am. the
fun was under a good headway.
Just at this time there came be-
belated brother into town riding
mouse eolored mule worth about SIS 90.
One brother, Perkins bv name, spied
| fI,p I,a o,1a IL,
advancing along the main street
Perkins having taken an overdose of
"bug juice" ran out to the traveller,
whose name was Franklin and said,
"f franklin, by the wars | have bought
that ar donk and by the damsel that |
worshop I am going to have it" Now,
much talk frustrated Franklin, but
there was one brother Wilkins that
heard the above and went TO Frank
Inns rescue He told Franklin to
stand to him for he was with him,
wherenpon Perkins became exasperated
at Wilkins. wilkins fist assumed
rather irreligious altitude, therefore,
Perkins laid down to rest awhile.
Others seeing the fracus stood for the
doored Perkins, but it was found that
there were none able to stand until
the seventh man had approached very
cautiously to infuriate Wilkins.
Just at this junction men began to
take sides very fast and the scrap
became free fight. There were four
youths nearby playing poker in a
hay NOV. They had just dealt the
cards. Stevens, the dealer, held
an invinciable hand of four aces, but
this wae no inducement when free
fight was i'll progress near by. They
threw down their cards and ran to the
place where there was more than poker
games.
Some how or other some one started
boy to Kerbyvile where they were
having 'shindig."
ladies' fair tipping their fantastic toes,
could be heard shrill voice crying "a
free fight" Some one while the caller
was taking fresh breath enquired Of
the lad what he meant.
When it was generally understood
that there was free fight at Cedar
Valley, l can assure you that there
was hurrylng to and fro, youths
tolIing the bald knobber bells that
there was place in this wide world
that possessed more charms than the
bells of the bald hills, or the dance at
Kerbyvil.e.
Some were afoot without overcoat
or overshoes SO they got started first.
The chicken hearted" ones had to
soy more to their girls 20 convince them
that they were brave. such as telling
them that there is 4 land that is fairer
than they where free fights and puglitic
brawls never come.
If you had been on the road leading
from kevbyvile to Cedar Valley yoa
would have seen grander sight than
the retreat Of Gen. Price from Missoa
ri You would have secn men And
boys, some afoot, some riding old mules
with pack saddles ard roap. rein brid'eo
some with fair horses and rigs, SOME
In bnggies, and suine III freight wagons
drawn by cattle, all rushing at their
utmost speed and all singing the good
old hymn "We're coming father
Abraham, q hundred thousand more