#4        WALTER (DOC) HOPPAS, BALLADEER

              231117 Doc Walter Hoppas, born March 23, 1883 in Mitchell County, NC, was the seventh and last son of James Alison and Nancy (Creson) Hoppes. Although born in poverty and abandoned while still a child when his father deserted the family for another woman and then moved to Jennings County, IN, he was raised by his loving mother among the wolves and rattlesnakes of Mitchell County.  Stories about how he taught himself music and folksong composition/delivery until he eventually became an expert balladeer have been told in the Hoppes Generations publications DIARIES AND BOOKS and MORE HOPPES TALES.  When I prepared the excerpts in DIARIES AND BOOKS from Cabins in the Laurel by Muriel Early Sheppard, I inadvertently omitted the lyrics of the ballad Court Week, which begins of page 70 of her book.  Because the ballads of Doc Hoppes are precious and acclaimed through Appalachia, but difficult to find on the Internet, I am submitting the following quotation from Ms. Sheppard’s book:

              Doc Hoppas of Bushy Creek tells the story of an episode during court week that belongs to the period after Bakersville became the county seat, when the first rancour of the war years had begun to die out.

                    COURT WEEK

If you’re not on the docket, court week is a treat,
When the folks go up to the county seat.
They used to get rough.  One time was a sight.
They carried on high.  Ye’d think that they might
A known the Judge wouldn’t stand for that,
And the third day mornin’ he came out flat.
“No liquor!’ he says.  “Ye disgrace the court!
There’s a law against corn.  Chief Thompson, report
To me any man that you find with a drink.
He’ll go to the chain-gang for as long as I think
Will make the rest of you all think twice
Before doin’ the same.”  And he meant it.  The price
Of corn went up.  A fellow down town
Got caught with some and the Judge sent him down
On the county road like he said he would.
Then the town sobered up.  Not even Zack could
Get hold of a drop of corn anywhere
And he could have got whatever was there.
Zack Stone and Deal Ransom would never go dry.
They had to have somethin’ and someone said, “Try
A bottle of tonic.  Hit’s part alcohol.”
They bought some Cheruna.  I guess they got all
The store keeper had before they was through.
Of course there was other ones drinkin’ it too.
And then they drunk Syrup of Indian Weed.
There was plenty in stock, all they would need.
They liked it right well.  Things waked up a bit.
The Judge was right sharp though.  He got onter it
And said no more of the stuff could be sold
Without a prescription.  Ye’d think that would hold
Zack and Deal for a while.  But they got holt of Paul,
The son of the doctor, and he wrote ‘em all
The prescriptions they wanted.  (Paul’s off in the head
And he thought he had to do just what they said.)  
He writes mighty well.  Hit’s the most he can do.
They got permits enough to last ‘em clear through
Till the Judge went away.  But he found what they’d done,
(The Doc missed the blanks) and so every one
That come for prescriptions was let in fur trouble.
He aimed to collect and make ‘em pay double,
And then I’ll tell you, the town was dead.
Zack and Deal sulled up.  That night instead
Of hangin’ around with the rest of the men
They was mad as hornets and scowled you down when
Ye as much as looked at ‘em.  They just went walkin’,
Glowerin’ and sulky and neither one talkin’.
They ran on Coy Torbett.  He pulled his coat back
And winked and says sly-like, “Look a here, Zack!
See what I found that someone had hid
By the steps of the Hotel.  All that I did
Was to look out the window and there was the shine
Of the light on the glass!”  “That air stuff is mine!”
Says Zack to him, talkin’ rough like he’s mad,
“Were ye aimin’ to take the last corn I had?
Give it here!” He snatched it.  “Now next time you see
My corn by the steps, ye just let it be.
Of course I know you didn’t intend
To grab off a bottle of corn from a friend –”
Zack did it like that.  Coy argued some
But they carried it off and then they come
Up to the court house and eased in behind
To try it out.  Says Deal. “Is your mind
Quite easy, Zack, about that quart?
Hit seems to me that any sort
Of feller whose corn we’d want to drink
Would be too cautious to ever think
He could leave a bottle right in sight
With the town as dry as it is tonight.”
“I’d studied some about that that too.
We need it awful.  What’ll we do?”
“Why don’t you have a snort and see
How good that corn appears to be?”
“I’d rather not.  Suppose I tried
To sample it, and then died!’
Said Deal, “We’d better, if we can,
Experiment on another man.”
And Zack suggested, “Just suppose
We looked around right smart and chose
A man we wouldn’t mind to lose.
There’s two or three I’d like to choose.”
“Kaint do no hurt, Zack,” Deal agreed.
“We’ll pick a man don’t no one need.
Suppose he dies! We’re doin’ good,
Let’s start right off.  I think we should.”
“Watch out,” Zack warned.  “Let’s not share much.
I’m awful dry, but we won’t touch
A drop of it until we know.
I met a man a while ago
I’d like to give some.  Let’s get goin’.
Hit seems a sight of fuss fur knowin’
If we can drink this corn or not.”
“There’s Rankin comin’, I’d forgot
His being here.   He’s done some killin’.
How’ll he do?”  “No.  He’s distillin’.
I’d hate to cut down the supply.
Hit’s low enough, Deal.  He goes by.”
They greeted Rankin and passed on.
“I’m wonderin’ where McQuade has gone.
There ain’t a thing he wouldn’t steal
And he won’t work.  He suit ye, Deal?”
“He’s a sorry un, but let’s begin
On someone else.  McQuade’s my kin.
There’s Sanford comin’.  He’s our man!
I know he’s done more mean things than
A low-down triflin’ slacker’d do –”
“Hold on there, Deal! Suppose it’s true.
There’s plenty from the other side.
Hain’t his wife’s kinfolks always tried
To meddle in?  I’ll grant he’s bad
But you’d be worse if you had had
To live with her fur more’n a day.”
"I wouldn’t a picked her anyway.
That’s his fault . . . .We’ve let two get by.
Hit seems to me, Zack, if you shy
Off every single man I get __”
“I hain’t shied off. We’ll pick one yet.
Wa’nt you the one said ‘Leave McQuade!’”
“Well, you said ‘No’ first choice I made!”
“I’ll bet that corn is awful good.
Just taste it, Deal, I would you would.”
“I wouldn’t touch it, Zack, look here!
Columbus Carr’s our man.  See where
He’s standing yander in the door
Of the boarding house. Let’s ask afore
We waste more time.  He’s mean enough,
A regular stealin’ spyin’ tough.
What say? He bad enough fur you?”
“Hit’s gettin’ late, Deal.  Yes, he’ll do.
Corn’s so scarce, just leave him taste it.
He’s too worthless.  We kaint waist it.”
They greeted Carr.  “Say, want to come
Along with us?  We’re drinkin’ some.”
Zack pulled his coat back.  “Carr, look here!
Want some?  Turn your back.”  All clear?”
“Nobody lookin’.  Go ahead!”
“Thank ye, boys, fur that,” he said.
“Hit holped me out.  Let’s set a spell.”
The three sat down.  “Ye feelin’ well?”
Asked Zack and dipped a bit of snuff.
“No, I ain’t.  I feel right tough.”
Deal and Zack exchanged quick glances.
Zack said, “Well, I take no chances.
Watch out what ye eat and drink.”
And Carr says to him, “Sure, I think
A feller ought to take some care.
How much corn ye got to spare?”
“Be careful, Carr! That’s powerful stuff.”
“Hit’s fine; I’d never get enough.”
“Well, hit’s your funeral.  Go ahead.
Have another,” Ransom said.
Columbus did.  He got a lot.
“Zack,” he says, “I’m getting’ hot.
What d’ye say? Let’s take a walk.”
Carr felt lively, full of talk.
“When you fellows came along
I wasn’t feelin awful strong.
The last two days I’ve had a cold,
And needed whiskey.  I can hold
A sight of corn.  Hit’s right smart good.
I’m feeling fine.” “I’d think you would!”
Zack looked cross.  “Ye sunk it some.”
He turned to Deal.  “He better come
Along home now.  Let’s get him back.
I see Old Thompson’s on his track.”
Deal gave a comprehending wink.
“Yes.  I saw him.  Do you think
He’ll make us trouble?  Carr, keep quiet!”
“I’m feared he will. He’s goin’ to try it.”
“Zack, we’re goin’ to see him through!”
“Hold on! What you all tryin’ to do?”
Carr looked at Zack and Deal in doubt.
“Are you two fellows makin’ out
Two drinks of corn would make me high?
Sure I’ve seen the Chief go by.
He never gave a look at me.”
“Oh yes, he did.  (He didn’t see
How Thompson had his eye on him.
He’s bad off, Deal!  Full to the brim.
We’ve got to get him off the street.
Don’t he know hit’s the County Seat?)”
Columbus begged, “Now I ain’t ready
To go home yet.  I’m just as steady –”
“You think you are.  I say you ain’t.
You’ve reached the point now where you kaint
Remember half what you been doin’.
You’ve got the pair of us a stewin’
For fear that we’ve been pulled in too
Fur bein’ caught along with you.
You better come and leave us pack
You safe in bed.  We’ll take you back.
The things we’ve seen you do tonight!
The Chief’ll jail ye just for spite.”
“I’m a peaceable man.  You boys kin swear
I ain’t done nothing anywhere.”
“You tried to pick a fight with Deal
That’s your good friend!  And he don’t feel
To stand too much.  And at the store
You got so wild, we thought before
We got you out you’d wreck the place.”
“I’m high all right if that’s the case.
I guess that’s what I’m like to do
When I’m just right.  Boys, see me through!
Get me to bed,” “We’re aimin’ to.”
They took him home.  He’d taken more
Than they had planned to spare before.
“Hit cost too much to try it out,”
Says Zack when Carr was gone.  “I doubt
 His needin’ much that second one.”
And then Deal says, “Leave go what’s done.
Count out that couple of drinks of his.
We’ve got the only corn that is!”