Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1917-03-23
A NewYear
Day Contest
By F. A. Mitchell

New Years day died suddenly. 1t be-
gan in New Amsterdam-now New
York-having been brought over from
Holland when Manhattan Island was
settled by the Dutch.
About the middle of the nineteenth
century. when the custom of calling
on the LIST q January was observed by
all classes, two colored gentlemen of
the blue grass region of Kentucky
were rivals for the hand of the same
dusky girl They happened to make
up their minds to propose to her on
the same evening. Nose links was In
the act of declaring himself when in
came Pete Carpenter for the same pur-
pose and surprised his rival pouring
forth his love.
"Yo' git right out o. heyer," said
Pete. "Wha' yo' think-dat Sarah
AIMS gwine to put up with any SIGH
niggah as your
do you spect dat Sarah AIMS gwine
to take up with field hand lax you
dat house sarvent-a lady's maid,
TOOLS gwine to marry good for moth
in con hoerY
Reckon Sarah Ann knows what
she's about"
"spec she does. She's gwine to TAX
me-"
shes gwine to tax me-"
Meanwhile Sarah Ann stood a spec
tator to this struggle for her hand.
But at this point both suitors looked at
her appealingly. Finding herself call
ed upon to decide between her two
suitors, she said:
II feels mighty complerented at be-
in axed by two SIGH gemmelen and yo'
bofe so fine that don know which to
take"
TAX one or de udder," said Nose.
'dTak' de udder; OATS me-" said Pete.
II tell yo' what l do. Tomorry's
New Years day. You two come here
tomorry AFTERNOON at fou' o'clock, and
de one what's made de mos calls 1
take"
Oats far enough" said Pete.
Huh! If yo' hadn't interfeared I'd
been engaged by dis time," said Nose.
However, Sarah Ann would not de-
eide between them in any other way,
and Nose was obliged to consent. 1t
was arranged that committee of
three be appointed by the lady to ar
range the terms of the contest. This
committee decided that the contestants
start at IL o'clock in the morning and
finish at A. Each was to carry a pa
per on which the names of the women
he called on were to be entered by
by making mark.
Naturally the contest excited a great
deal Of attention, for 1t was known
far and wide that the two suitors for
Sarah AIMS hand were to contest for
it by making calls on New Years day.
Each had his adherents, and there was
a determination on the part of these
persons to aid their favorite.
" The rivals were started ON opposite
extremities Of the field of operations.
Each selected friend who could write
to attend him so that he might be sure
all the calls he made were recorded.
As the morning wore away, however,
each had train of followers that was
constantly increasing. At 1 o'clock
the bride to be sent out friend to
bring her a report as to how the affair
stood. She learned to her satisfaction
that Nose was seven calls ahead. At
3 O'clock-an hour before time would
be called-she sent out another inquiry
and learned that Nose had lost his
Overplus and six calls besides.
"Jim," she said to her messenger,
"can't yo' fix Pete SOS he'll fall behind
ag'in?"
Reckon kin try" was the answer.
There was stream between the two
parts Of the trial ground which was
crossed by means Of log. Jim went
to where Pete was calling and waited
till he wendell his way to the other
side of the stream. When Pete was in
the center Of the log, followed by six
attendants close packed, Jim made a
rush for the rear man, and the seven
men, including the contestant, went
against each other like falling card
houses and into the stream on either
side of the log.
OF course Pete could make no more
calls till he had changed his clothes,
and he hurried away for the purpose.
This unfair proceeding greatly out
ragged his followers, and since they
were not making calls themselves and
didn't mind wet clothing they ran off
to find Nose in order to take a SINH
lar revenge They found him near a
dyehOuse, and one of them going into
the house came out with a bucket of
dye, and, throwing it over Nose, turn
ed him to bright scarlet.
Unfortunately for the contestants,
they were both delayed beyond the
hour named for return. At $3.50 Sarah
Ann sent Jim out to learn the situa-
ton. Jim returned at five minutes to
4 and reported that Pete had changed
his clothes, made several additional
calls and was coming to claim the
prize. Noses condition required more
time, and his record was behind
Pete's.
Sarah Ann waited till the clock
struck 4, when, seeing Pete coming,
she said to Jim.
II don't want dat niggah, nohow.