Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-01-09

though the stiffness Of night Ia quite
frequently broken by the barking Of
hounds on racceou or OpOssum cha'e.
We have not heard the merry Jingle Of
sleigh toly, nor have yet seen snow
bir1. Far rom thii; for day or two
ego, four OF us were seen on
aunt, covered with umbfellas
to avoid the sums heat, wipiDg Defspi'
ration from our brows, ~ we leisureIy
walked toward a Christmas turkey. o.
this dsy the sh0at sufierp, and "back
bone pie" usually tuppiants the turkey.
'lis the season Tor "craoktn" or
"shorteBed bread" (clfn bread cooked
wi Ia tho scrstcniDgs OF hog fat) while
he "coonD aud "pOssum" contribute
TO the yule least. peuimmon beer being
y common beverage, Corn snlrils ATE
drank In liberal qusntlties. NOtwith.
standing this county IL strictly "pro'
hibition,0 Michigan CITY, suppotung a
white population Of about my souls,
sustAins four "Dlind tigers" In constant
operation.
A peculiar dialect charaol erizps this
people. They "caffy" their mule, 10
water anu "tJto" tbs cora 10 the hogs.
Elder Rod. Is. Ashby Ia tespo nhlble for
the following pun! He, II seems, had
not been In tue field loug when o
Southetnsr asked, "Ds you.ens have
pestimenls (prsts) 10 yOur.alis county
like we.uns do" "In you-ens ooun-
try thoy.all initiate the crops, DON'T
they7p The humilisted Elder gave
tue only answer he had learned ayes,
alright smari.o
To aud TO our pleasure this Christ.
mas We were Joined by Elders Huh
batd aud Ashby, Of Tippah county 10
whose company Elder WIN. Pafdou
anu myself truly enjoyed ourselves.
Our = gram may be outlined under
tue following oifoumsianotti One
Sunday sOme four weeks ago my com.
Danion and | repaired 81 small anti.
quated tchoolhuuse wherein wo spoke
~ n cOnr Ion Of villagers. AZ we
sang a discussed on the truth,
two pair ~ traf.stained eyes were
upon Ne, and at thu close OF the meet.
Ing two OF the chosen seed VI Isfao
met us with hearty "God bless you"
and won't you come homo with W. -
The seed sOwh "fell on good ground
and spfaug up,n and thor chose
this day to "bo born OF water
aud OF the 5pirit.D Sis or
Annie Fleet and her daughter Haf.
riet-'of such arc the names Of the
newcOmoa-Vith few white ami
eolored ftieuds, repaired 20 the besuti-
iul Gtay's creek,ou large "tAnd bar"
Nature lent her pleasant smiles. The
sun broke through the dsrkening
clouds A. light from heaven, rejecting
its rays In tho clear waters ~ they rip.
pied down their course. Tue ordinance
being performed and tue Holy GnosI
Impaired uuto our menbers, we loft
the spot, feeling W thank God for such
Christmas feast.
During the day We feaated literally
among our friends, nor did We spare
tue gOblin, two OF which decorated our
table. This people generally extsnJtd
to u every cUutie1y possible. Halt
past 10 PAN, our company Just returned
iiOm their inltialory "possum" huut.
Our leader, oolofed man, co.
dravorei 10 manipulate the chase
with his horn. All being ready we
scampefed out dozen strong. Our
aim being to follow tue dogs. we tore
through tbs woois, Tipping ever
slunlps, rushing tntou h brler, leap.
Ing over thiokets, teTambling 40 tue
wafer, yelling with fearful energy,
wandering along thi but hafkl "a
po'sumi po.'uml Hear them dogs
bafkl Bo stil - cried n chorus "
voices. All grew still. Tho noise was
the boot Of au owl. Ga We pressed
again through the MiHslislppi iim0eTs
until = hours had rolled ny, when the
doge became Lost, the company e.
heusted anu the leader discouraged.
We Hauniofed back home resolved to
trouble Mr.. "pOssum" no more.
Greatly appreoiating your paper,
remain your brother,
JOSEPH w. MussER.