The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-04-07


III tell you how it was. That boy, Bill, our
Oldest son, he see how the ticker was goin',
and he didn't have nary red to iine in the re-
tail business; so one night he crawls under
the house, and taps the bar'l atwixt the
cracks in the puncheon floor; and | rally be.
leve he's got more than me or the ole wo'
man either; the good.fOr-nothing vagabond'
to come the 'giraff' over his nateral-born
parents; it's enuff to make man sour agin
o creation; that boy will be the ruiuation of
US yet. He takes to trickery jist as material
as hungry possum takes to hen.roost'-
Now, stranger, what on yearth am ! to do?
He beats me and the ole woman entirely"
Traveler-"Tt would be difficult for me
to advise in regard to your son, as have no
family of my own. You say it's ten miles
to the next house; the big creek is up; the
bridge carried away: no possibility Of ford
ing it, and seven miles through a swamp to the
cnly bridge in the vicinity! This is rather
q gloomy prospect, particularly as the sun is
just aboit down; still my curiosity is excited
as as ycu, have been playing only one part
Of the ARKANSAS Traveller ever since my
arrival, would liEe 70 Know, before leave
why you don't play the tune through ?"
Arkansas Artist-7"1'or one of the best
reasons on yearth, old hcss--I can't do it.
l hain't larrt the turn Of that tchune, and
drat me il believe ever shall." ,,,...
Travcler--"Give me your instrument,
and III see if can't play the turn, for you y
Arkansas Artist--"Look here, my friend
do play the turn Of that tchune ?"
Traveller--"I believe | can."
Arkansas Artist--"'Lite, lite, old boss
--weWind place for you in the cabin, sure
Ole woman ! ole woman "a 'hoIlo !! with
in the siianty was The first indication the
traveller had of any other human being on
the premm'sses) the traveller plays the turn
OF the 'Rackensack Traveller My friend
hitch your horse to the 'simmon tree, or any
where else you please. Bill will be here
soon, and take keer OF him. Ole woman
call Sail and Nance up from the spring: tel
Nance to 60 into the spring house, and Gu
off good large piece ov bar-steak, to briit
for the strangers supper;.teII Sail to knock
over u chicken or two, and get out somc
flour, and have some -four don's aud chick.
en.6&ins for the stranger. (Bill just heaves
in sight, twenty foar hours earlier than he
wus expected half uh hour before.) Bill
there's stranger here, and he plays the
turn of the 'Rachensock Traveller 60 ic
the corn.crib and get big phnkin, and bring
ii to the house, go the stranger can have
sulhin to sit on and skin sater 'iong witt
me and the ole woman, while the gals il
gs'iih' supper; snd Bill take the hess, ane
give him plenty of corn--no nubbins, Bill
--then rub him doWri we'll; and then, when
you come to the hotise, bring up dried hide
ana Bar skin, for the stranger to sleep on;
and then, Bill, | reckon he play the turn
of the 'Rackensack Trave.er,' for u.s."
The puokin was brought; the taters were
skinned and eateh; the turn Of "The Rack
easack Traveller" was repeatedly played, to
abundant edifcation; and the gals finally
announced that supper was ready, and al
though instead Of 'store-tea,' they only huI
'saxifax tea-doins.' without milk, yet the re
past was one to be long ard gratefully re
membered. The traveller remained al
night, and was pilotod safely over the "bit
creek" early the next morning. OF a truth
"music has charms to soo,he the savage
breast !"