The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-03-22
ny JOE BLACKKY.

Joe Blackey, he was teamster,
Went along to drive the team;
1t was hurry ap, Joe Blackey,
And put on all your steam.
We was Joined at mouth Of Sand Lick
By man we all did know,
Who went along, as they all said,
For company for Joe.
The first for dinner
We eat at mouth Of trace,
With no one in this company,
Who washed his hands or face.
We drove along that evening
Till it was growing late,
Until we came to the forks OF the ROAD,
Where we should separate.
We drove to Betty Troublesome
And put up with Nick Combs,
Ii was so hot they couldn't sleep
For thinking Of their homes.
The remainder Of this party,
Staid at another place,
! So we was out next morning,
All seemed to he in haste.
Next morning We drove through Hindman,
Or rather house or so,
This was no sort of village,
AS was declared by Joe.
! He swore the mum who named it
For years had ought been dead;
But alas! it was an old woman,
AS one Of the party said.
1t was Sam Ray, for instance,
And, of course, he ought to know,
For he'd been there attending court
For at least year or more.
We drove along till almost dark,
No place could get to stay;
We could not get u bundle of fodder
| Nor as much as a feed OF hay.
did not like the people,
They had such hateful ways.
So some put up at Riches,
The rest they stayed with Hays.
Joe Blackey got Disguised,
Because his mule wouldn't eat,
lie swore by old Jim Hobson,
He never saw the beat.
He lay awake, he couldn't sleep,
For thinking about his mule,
At last the thought struck him,
I'll get some horse capsules.
The day before he tore his sack,
Call up lot of shoats,
SO he gave his mule twelve capsules,
With peck OF fine rolled OATS.
His mule then grew better,
And soon he was all right;
| His stomache then came to him,
SO he stood and eat all night.
We went on TO Smiths branch,
Or somewhere thereabout,
While some of the party lay in the house
The rest they all lay out.
This was my travelling restaurant,
With meals all hours of night,
Alas. for poor Old Stephen,
Who declared it was a sight.
This was his first night laying out,
He'd never lay out before,
And he said if he lived to be an old man,
He'd never lay out any more.
Henry Blair had borrowed a skillet
To get supper in that night,
SO the man came out and hsllowed
AS we drove along in sight.
Henry Blair lie was so frightened,
! He didn't know what to do,
He SAYS just wait there, boys,
Wen put the old chap through.
He'd started out that morning,
Before that it was day,
Henry got some "mountsin dew"
To cheer US on our way.
| We drank it down in hurry,
We all felt lively and gay,
We then drove down to the mouth OF the
branch,
Aud overlook Sam Ray.
sam Ray came out bareheaded,
And said he had just got up,
So hand me'out your bottle,
I'll take little sup.
lie says don't drink whiskey,
Unless when am sick;
| But hand me ont your bottle,
And hand it out here quick.
We drove on down to Jackson
And put up with friend,
Alas, for poor Old Blackey.
His journey was at al end.
z his party repacked their baggage,
And took it over to the train,
Joe Blackey hitched up his yellow m ules,
And started home again.
This party bought their tickets,
And started for the West,
So they got there, took up a claim,
And are satisfied guess.
If you think that am mistaken,
In what I've wrote for you,
Just ask this party about it,
And thew will tell you it ia true.
Farewell, my western kinfolks,
bid you all adieu,
May success crown your efforts,
In everything you do.