Kossuth Showdown- In the northeast corner of Mississippi is a small little village named after a great Polish Patriot, Louis Kossuth. Today it is still a little place along MS Highway 2 not far from Corinth. The main anchor to the place is rooted in an Agricultural High School from the day when education followed the pragmatic reforms of the day. It had a cannery, ag shop, dorms, garden, fields, and livestock along with basic reading, writing, and arithmetic with the occasional hickory stick. Later the School became known as Kossuth Elementary – High School and the past became football, basketball, band, and such. The School is still the heart of the area and the families there go back a long time with some new folks from time to time, and many of those meld into the area. This becomes their home and all the people and the churches follow right along with the pride of an American small town. My home of Hightown was 5 SSW of Kossuth and I loved the area too. I graduated from KHS and still hold a warm spot in my heart for the people and history of the place. Mom used to tell me stories of the local people and places with Kossuth being a favorite. This writing relates one of these tales with names changed to protect the guilty and descendants of the main characters still live in the hamlet. It happened bright one sunny morning not long into the early 1900’s. Kossuth was along the main road, Highway2, which was still gravel. It ran east to west with a main street running north to south with the school sitting at the end of the north road. Sitting right in the middle of the intersection was a well covered with a small roof. This water was there for the convenience of both man and beast. Coming from the west was young Ed, a man full of energy walking to town to see his girl Vel. He got to the well and it was time for a drink and a rest. Coming from the south was another young fellow named Jim who was also going to see his woman. (The descriptive terms for Vel are such to show the difference in the 2 male characters.) Jim got to the well and he and Ed who knew each other started to make small talk. Soon it got to the subject of their girls who both turned out to be named Vel. “Wait a darn minute,” Jim shouted, “You are going with my Vel!” “Your Vel,” Ed cries! The next thing you knew a tussle had broken out with two young men a rolling and a cussing in the dust of the early morn. People rushed out of Doggett’s store and the other couple of businesses to see what the turmoil was about. In reality there was no local law at this time and if there had been, they would have stood there with the folks and watched until a store or other person were endangered. No one thought about getting a weapon as today with life so cheapened by movies and games, two similar men may shoot it out or start a gang war. Punches, slaps, and kicks were the methods of mayhem. Animals were neighing, braying, and mooing as well as barking at the commotion. The people started to take bets on who would win. Overalls were losing straps, pants were bursting at seams, one had lost his shoes, the other had no shoes, and the fight raged on. Suddenly a high pitched screaming voice shouts, “Boys! Stop it now!” It was Vel who had been coming to the store for her ma. Both contestants stopped out of breath and dusty as well as scratched and bruised, Vel went over to them and told them to behave as she went on to the store. Locals were a might upset cause the fun was over and bets were canceled as no conclusion meant a draw. Some had hope the battle would resume as soon as Vel went home, others just went on about their day as the boys took a blow. Vel did come out and to Ed’s surprise; she took Jim by the hand. Ed wondered and soon heard her say, “Boys, you all fighting like this has forced me to make a choice for your own good. I like you both but Jim is a might older and I like older men. Now you may think this is the end, but no. The two men became friends. One went to the Great War, and the other farmed. Soon both had settled in and married and yes Vel married Jim. WWII came and went and both were by now dads and granddads. Jim died in the 70’s and Ed’s wife died just a little later. As the 8o’s went on, both Ed and Vel were now in their late eighties and alone, to the shock of everyone Vel and Ed married. Ed told all he had always loved Vel and besides they needed both of their socials to get by. Vel said they could have lived together and had more money but did not want to live in sin’ like so many do today’. They lived together happily until both died within days of each other. Every now and then someone would bring up the well that used to be in the middle of Kossuth and both would smile. So like Willie Nelson, to all the girls I’ve loved before, who came in and out my door, (mostly out) I sit here today knowing nothing last forever, So one day if you and I are free again, I will have become more attractive than ever. Fat and then wrinkled, I will look good to several women who would not have given me the time of day because I have a state retirement, a paid for home, a caddy, and Social too. Look out girls, Joe is back in the game. Anyone want to go to the well with me?
Posted on: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 16:42:55 +0000
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