San Andreas independent., 1856-12-20
The Rufle-rail oal Of Arkansas.

Mr.. Editor Not many years since,
gentleman of this county was engaged in
the delightful vagrancy of buying and fur
nishing cattle for the New Orleans market
For this purpose he occasionally {" prowledo
in the sparse settlements of North Louis
lana and Texas, but oftner in the wilds Of
Arkansas. Whether his preference for the
latter range was owing to greater facility
profit, or whether for frequency and pi.
quancy of incident, is question solely
" between his conscience and his God. -
Simultaneous with visit to "young and
tender county, scarcely then touching the
puberty of civilization, he was made aware
OF dancing party, i" a rale regular ar
6ansas breakdown" about to take place at
the house of we'll and widely known set
tier, who was the first i" to break brush,
and get blood inthem parts" Invitations
being unknown to the manners of the
times and region, the vaccine speculator,
without hesitation, made himself one of
the joyous throng. No sooner did he do
SO than his " store clothes and high heeled
boots" rendered him mark of importance
among the men, and the especial admira-
ton of the fare sects." Entering the
cabin which had the terpsichorean conve-
nlence, puncheon floor, rare at the time
In that region, he was Hospitality greeted
by the pioneer patriarchess, smoking and
chatting nearthe fire, with, "roll a punkin
up to the fire, stranger, and take a seat
then look on the shelf, thairs little grain
of honey in them skins, and its mighty
sweet too" The welcome over the dan
GERS began chasing the glowing hours
with flying feet
A "power' Of young ladies, and older
ones, with longings matrimonial, eraced
the occasion, and evidently set their caps
and We'd with each other to secure the at
tentions of him of the "rare and dazzling
plumage." One, a lovely virgin of "sweet
sixteen, was conspicuous in the compe-
titlon-who, because of native attractions
and superiority of dress, was confessedly
the leader of the fashion-for her dress
was anvtdiously set off with Aounces, Ga
recent import, but many years in vogue in
other States, fact for which it was easy
to perceive she particularly plumed her
seH-and in her own conceit, lowered a
head and shoulders taller than the less for
tunate Of the sex, that had not yet 'caught
up with the fashion"
Between "trots' the musicians en-
ployed the interval in humping the strings,
and saving the belly of his critter;" the
men in refreshing, or as the term was. |
" acetting aoih hcker;;" and the ladies in
eating the delicious roasted potatoe, which
dexterously pealing, ever and anon they
transferred to their call absorbing" lips.
At the screech of the violin, and the mu-
slcians order to "let her rip" the "cow
dandy" solicited her of the hounces as
partner, to which she heartily responded,
I" here Sal, hold my tater while l take
trot with this ere hoss"
Towards the small hours of night,
another fair native had {" manned him as
partner, and with the rest of the ladies,
endeavored each to g tire down" their COM
panions of the sterner sex. In the height
of this trial of wind, limb, and muscle,
when the stirring notes of the " Arkansas
traveller had reused an inordinate exhili-
ration, she Of the founces sprang into the
animated circle, and thrusting aside our
hero's partner, exclaimed, "get out of
the way and let Ruf1e Tail try him
while" Whether this " double dealing"
or the too frequent reunion with certain
demijohn Of "stuff," overcame him-or
whether victorious In every respect, even
over the artless diffidence and winning par
tiality of Rufle Tail, we leave to conjec-
ture. Suffice it, that few days after he
was seen following drove of cattle, and
rejoicing on his way to New Orleans
Mariposa Gazette.