Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-11-22
OLD "CODGER" WAS NEUTRAL.
Didn't Give q Gol-Darn Whether His
Wife or bear Won Fight.

L HSic lS, VI " any rate was untll
recently, an old "codger" living "way
up the valley of the Magalloway
river, in Northern Maine, for whom
his neighbors make the claim that he
really originated two ideas which
have been more or less prominent
features Of the policy of the present
administration, relates the Washing
ton Star.
The Magalloway region is pretty
wild, and where the river energies
from Magalloway Lake IS right on
the edge Of the wilderness, as wit
ness the three-day wanderings and
! narrow escape from death by Mr.. and
Mrs. Denison, of Boston, in that por-
tion Of the State in or nearby New
Hampshire, only last month. This
old mans stumpy and rocky demesne
is the last farm up. He doesn't think
much Of the Judgment Of his ances-
tors who picked it out and cleared it,
burt. having no other place to go, he
lives there alone with his wife and
"hired man.
And the old fellow is henpecked.
There isn't a doubt about it. His
wife is big, strapping woman and
rules him with rod OF iron: won't
let him come into the kitchen with
his boots on; won't let him smoke
except in the barn, and sees to it that
he doesn't get bite Of supper until
he has completed various and sundry
| heavy "chores" each evening, the
worst Of which is the milking Of n
good many COWS.
His hired man was away one
| night, and he meekly but firmly in
| formed his better-half that she would
absolutely and positively have to help
him milk if the job were to be done
before it was too late. She, hating
| to benefit him, but realizing the ne
cessity, grudgingly consented, CIV
| ing him the rough side Of her tongue
| the while.
Just as they were nearly finished
fair-sized bear, impelled either by
extreme curiosity or the possibility
Of veal supper, suddenly appeared
in the doorway. 1t would be hard to
decide which was the more surprised
the bear or the lady Of the house
but 1t was safe bet who was the
most scared. The old man made the
top Of the haymow in one jump.
The old lady, made of sterner stuff,
picked up the milking stool and belt
ed Mr.. Bear across the nose with 1t.
| The bear Che was about half-grown)
| got in a couple or good cuffs" on his
| antagonist. hut the latter finally, by
| n mixtnre of force ana blum, got the
| animal outside and shot the bolt OF
the door.
Old Man Too o-Proud-to-Fight knew
the story would get pretty we'll circu-
| lated and fought shy Of the village
! gathering places for some time. FL
the post office one evening.
'Lo, Seth. Hear a bar got inter
yer caow barn t'other night" greet
ed the principal "kidder" Of the rural
community.
"Wall, naow, one did," admitted
Seth.
"Hear you got skairt and run up
| top tn haymaow, n left the old wo-
man ter handle tn mess?"
''Wall, naow, dunno but whut ye
| heard right" admitted Seth. and. in
| a burst Of confidence, added:
'But lemme tell you fellers sum-
thin: l wanter tell you that see a
dummed good fight, DANCED If I
didn't. An eff you ever see a feller
who was absolutely neutral. it was
me. l positively didn't give gol-
darn which one O. them two come out
| a bnadtb