The Ballad of Ezra Mize From a farm on the banks of the Ohio Down Old Kentucky way There came a man to the western mountains Who's still talked about today. Six foot four, with a cat-like grace And arms like iron bands He came to the mountains to seek his fortune Out amongst the western lands... At sixteen, he'd run away from home - At twenty one he headed west Strong as ox and eagle eyed, He should have ranked among the best. But fortune and glory didn't come to Ezra. Even for all his strength and size. He came to be known instead, from Shoshone to Taos Simply as "The Coward Ezra Mize" Now most every mountain man loves a good brawl - They figure it's a God given right. And with his size, Ezra was a natural target But Ezra wouldn't fight! So they brow beat him and they cussed him - The "Breed" even slapped his face one day Now, if that'd been me or you, that Breed woulda' died But Ezra just shrugged and walked away. The Breed said, "Ezra Mize, you no gots no balls! How you ever leave ma ma? Hey fellers', I t'ink maybe nex' spring I make Ezra Mize my squaw!" Like most tales, once the story got started It took on a life of it's own. Til a feller'd wonder how such a coward as Ezra Ever got away with leavin' home! So they called him a yellow dog and the story went That for all his strength and size When trouble come brewin' you'd see naught but the back-side Of the big ol' coward Ezra Mize! I felt bad for Ezra, but he didn't seem to mind, He even took it good naturedly! When someone'd say, "Here comes the coward!" Ez would just smile and say, "That's me!" "Boys, I'm a coward right enough! Tho' at trappin', I'm a hand... But I don't like fightin' and I don't want bloodshed. So yeah, I'll run 'fore I'll face a man." Then come that day on the Musselshell When a band of Piegans took us from out of the blue They run off the mules and when we looked, We found they'd run off Ezra too! "Dat damn dirty stinkin' coward!" Someone yelled out, (We knew it was the Breed.) "If I ever catch dat Ezra Mize, by Gawd, I'll sure enough make heem' bleed! Charlie said, "Breed, shut up and reload! Fellers, be sure to pick yer' shots, Our powder an' lead was on them mules So what we're carryin's all we got!" So we settled in to make 'em count In that little canyon off the Musselshell And the powder smoke choked us while the sun beat down On our own private little hell! The minutes ticked by like hours, And the hours seemed to last for days - And through it all, we cursed Ezra's soul Thru' the dusty, smoky haze. When they rushed us we figured all was lost When there, to our surprise&ldots; Firin' an' cursin'- and leadin' the mules! Come the big ol' coward, Ezra Mize! Through the smoke and dust he made his way Fightin' like a man possessed Then with a burst of speed and a blood curdling scream, He charged into our nest. He slid to a stop and let out a roar, "Don't just stand there, fools! Breed! Look out behind ya'! Charlie! Grab these mules! "You two! Give Charlie a hand With the powder and the lead! Careful of the cask, it's got our drinkin' water... Breed, dammit duck yer' head!" Well, when Ezra took over it changed things some Fact is, he saved our lives that day. And eight men who should have died there on the Musselshell Lived to ride away! When the fight was over and the powder smoke cleared Eight free trappers gathered 'round To aid The Hero Ezra Mize As he lay there on the ground... The Breed cried out, "Ezra can you 'ear me? Oh, please don' die mon' freré! With that Ezra sat up and slapped him! Hard! 'Said, "Breed, I reckon that makes us almost square!" Charlie said, "Ez', what made ya' come back? Ya' coulda' forgot all about us fools!" "Aw hell, Charlie I never meant to run - But my plews was on them mules! "An' I figured you boys could hold yer' own Til I come up with a way to get 'em free... 'Course, I can't fault ya' fer thinkin' I'd gone plumb yeller. That's just the way ya'll have branded me... "But Boys, I'm gonna' let ya' in on somethin' That I've never told a soul... Ya' see, I killed my Pa with my two bare hands When I was just sixteen years old... He was drunk, and beatin' on Ma' I lost my temper an' beat the Old Man to death! An I can still hear Mama screamin' An' I can still smell the whisky on his breath! "An' that's why I won't fight at rondyvoo Or wrestle with you fools Though I don't mind fightin' injuns An' I was glad to fetch them mules. "It's just that&ldots; all this time they've haunted me An' sat there, just below the skin... And I'd rather die a coward Than live through that again! "Fact is, I don't know my own strength - I didn't mean to kill my Pa! I was just out to teach 'im a lesson, Fer' what he done to Ma'. Well, we all bowed our heads an' shuffled our feet, And allowed as to how we understood. And Ez got up and dusted off, And allowed as to how he figgered that we would. He said, "Now, havin' said all that - I'll tell ya' this!" And here, he gave a grin. "Breed, I swear I'll kick yer' ass to Hudson's Bay If you ever fall asleep on watch again!" Don Jus'Me McCrary (AKA The Kansan) October 22, 1999 Back Home