Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1899-05-02

He jest come at me with both hans, an
we cinched in, an down we went in
pile an laid thar pantin an clinchin
fur about q mint, when thought I'd
give him another trial, so let go, an
we both staggered to our feet.
"'Got 'noughS' says l.
'' Not ha'f, says he.
"'Do ye still think ye're the best
man9'
"'I'm a better man than ye ever
dared to be, says he.
"'All right, says I, spittin in my
hams, here goes to prove it, an at it
we went ag'in. Ye know Ben's arms is
jest leetle but longer'n mine, an he
could tech me afore 1 could git in lick,
when we stood square up to each other.
So swung round my lef han, an as he
flung out Lis right to ketch the lick
peeled him side NV the head with my
right an knocked him into the middle
nv the road.
''He stood thar sorter dazed fur ha f
mint, an then he charged ram sheep
fashion an butted me in the stummick,
an the lick knocked the breath OUT n
me. As 1 sorter doubled over from the
lick he struck me sorter glancin blow
on the head, an I ducked an ketched
him round the middle an flung him
over my head.
"'Purty good fur you, Bill, I hearn
some un say, an, glancin round, seed
pap settin on the fence a-grinnin from
year to year. While had my 'tention
drawed to the ole man Ben tuck the
vantage nv me an give me lick in the
burr nv the year that made me see seb-
en- stars.
''I wheeled round an peeled him in
the mouth an knocked two nv his teeth
out He stopped to spit, when l lit into
him fur all he war wo'th. Ye see, l
knowed that pap war watchin us, an
whichever got the wo'st nv it'd halter
settle with the ole man, Hiram. 1
fetched jump an struck Ben right an
lef', an he went over back ards, but as
he went he carried me with him, an
then felt somethin come down ON my
right thumb an knowed Ben had it in
his mouth.
''I tried to jerk loose, but he friz to
that thumb wos't'n one NV these ere
thunder cooters what don't turn loose
Their grip tell it thunders. 1 knowed
somethin had to be done, so reached
round with my left han an grabbed up
han'fu nv sand, an begun to cram
it into Ben's eyes.
'Ouchr yelled Ben. 'Lemme up
I've got 'nough.
'' Still think ye're the best man p I
axed.
'Lemme up; I'm satisfied.
$50 let him go, an we both sot back
an looked at each other fur bout
mint, neither one nv us havin breath
'nough to speak
'Ye haint a'-gwinter set up thar
on the fence any mo- an suck yer teeth
at me, says L.
Ben looked sullen and cowedlike, but
he shuck his head Then l knowed the
grudge war settled. But ye jest orter
a-seed rs. Ben's nose an lips war
swelled IS if he'd ben through yeller
jackets nest. His eyes war bloodshotten
an his clo'es war nigh bout tore off II
him. My lef' eye war closed an my
thumb war Il plumb sight, an my shirt
war ripped clean down to my wais ban :
an thar we sot like two badly bunged
up ROSTERS.
"'Git up, ye young raskils, says
pap, IAN go down to the branch an wash
yerselVes. Ye amt sich bad grit, a ter
all. feel ruther proud nv vel Mex
time ye wanter try yer spunk jump ON
to somebody what's not in the family
Hits ag'in the rules fur the Forresters
to fight 'mongst each other, an then
be turned an walked off up the road
whistlin his favorite chune when he
feels right good. u. T. McVay in st.
Louis Globe-Democrat