“COON-DOG WESS”

“Coon-dog Wess” — he allus went

‘ Mongst us here by that-air name.

Moved in this-here Settlement

From next county — he laid claim,—

Lived down in the bottoms — whare

Ust to be some coons in thare!—

In nigh Clayton's, next the crick,—

Mind old Billy ust to say

Coons in thare was jest that thick,

He'p him corn-plant any day!—

And, in rostneer-time, be then

Aggin’ him to plant again!

Well,— In Spring o’‘ ,

This-here “Coon-dog Wess” he come —

Fetchin’‘ long‘ bout forty -‘ leven

Ornriest-lookin’ hounds, I gum!

Ever mortul-man laid eyes

On sence dawn o’ Christian skies!

Wife come traipsin’ at the rag-

Tag-and-bobtail of the crowd,

Dogs and childern, with a bag

Corn-meal and some side-meat,— Proud

And as independunt — My!—

Yit a mild look in her eye.

Well — this “Coon-dog Wess” he jest

Moved in that-air little pen

Of a pole-shed, aidgin’ west

On “The Slues o’ Death,” called then.—

Otter- and mink-hunters ust

To camp thare‘ fore game vam-moosd.

Abul-bodied man,— and lots

Call fer choppers — and fer hands

To git cross-ties out.— But what's

Work to sich as understands

Ways appinted and is hence

Under special providence?—

“Coon-dog Wess's” holts was hounds

And coon-huntin’; and he knowed

His own range, and stayed in bounds

And left work for them‘ at showed

Talents fer it — same as his

Gifts regardin’ coon-dogs is.

Hounds of ev'ry mungerl breed

Ever whelped on earth!— Had these

Yeller kind, with punkin-seed

Marks above theyr eyes — and fleas

Both to sell and keep!— Also

These-here lop-yeerd hounds, you know.—

Yes-and brindle hounds — and long,

Ga'nt hounds, with them eyes they’ got

So blame sorry, it seems wrong,

‘ Most, to kick‘ em as to not!

Man, though, would n't dast, I guess,

Kick a hound fer “Coon-dog Wess”!

‘ Tended to his own affairs

Stric'ly;— made no brags,— and yit

You could see‘ at them hounds’ cares

‘ Peared like his,— and he'd a-fit

Fer‘ em, same as wife er child!—

Them facts made folks rickonciled,

Sorto’, fer to let him be

And not pester him. And then

Word begin to spread‘ at he

Had brung in as high as ten

Coon-pelts in one night — and yit

Did n't‘ pear to boast of it!

Neghborhood made some complaints

‘ Bout them plague-gone hounds at night

Howlin’ fit to wake the saints,

Clean from dusk tel plum day-light!

But to “Coon-dog Wess” them-thare

Howls was “music in the air”!

Fetched his pelts to Gilson's Store —

Newt he shipped fer him, and said,

Sence he'd cooned thare, he'd shipped more

Than three hunderd pelts!— “By Ned!

Git shet of my store,” Newt says,

“I'd go in with‘ Coon-dog Wess’!”

And the feller‘ peared to be

Makin’ best and most he could

Of his rale prospairity:—

Bought some household things — and good,—

Likewise, wagon-load onc't come

From wharever he'd moved from.

But pore feller's huntin’ - days,

‘ Bout them times, was glidin’ past!—

Goes out onc't one night and stays!

... Neghbors they turned out, at last,

Headed by his wife and one

Half-starved hound — and search begun.

Boys said, that blame hound, he led

Searchin’ party,‘ bout a half

Mile ahead, and bellerin’, said,

Worse'n ary yearlin’ calf!—

Tel, at last, come fur-off sounds

Like the howl of other hounds.

And-sir, shore enugh, them signs

Fetched‘ em — in a’ hour er two —

Whare the pack was;— and they finds

“Coon-dog Wess” right thare;— And you

Would admitted he was right

Stayin’, as he had, all night!

Facts is, cuttin’ down a tree,

The blame thing had sorto’ fell

In a twist-like — mercy me!

And had ketched him.— Could n't tell,

Wess said, how he'd managed — yit

He'd got both legs under it!

Fainted and come to, I s'pose,

‘ Bout a dozen times whilse they

Chopped him out!— And wife she froze

To him!— bresh his hair away

And smile cheerful’ — only when

He'd faint.— Cry and kiss him then.

Had his nerve!— And nussed him through,—

Neghbors he'pped her — all she'd stand.—

Had a loom, and she could do

Carpet-weavin’ railly grand!—

“‘ Sides,” she ust to laugh and say,

“She'd have Wess, now, night and day!”

As fer him, he'd say, says-ee,

“I'm resigned to bein’ lame:—

They was four coons up that tree,

And hounds got‘ em, jest the same!”

‘ Peared like, one er two legs less

Never worried “Coon-dog Wess”!