Des Arc citizen., 1859-04-22

| LeQY punChOn Drldge, tHiougu OiiC VI the biggest bamboo swamps ever you see. I reckon the bridge is siapdin' yet-';was yesterday mornn', though one end had started down stream about fifteen feet, or sich matter.
 Traveller. Friend you seem commu- nicative. and if it's no offence, Id like to know what you do for a living.
 Arkansas Artist No offence on yearth, stranger, we just keep a grocery
 Traveller. A grocery! Where in the name of all that Is mercantile do your customers come from? Your nearest neigh bor is len miles off '
 Arkansas Artist The fact is, me and the old woman is the best GUS s.omers yet; but we 'spect these dggins will im- prove, and in course business will improve too. Hows'ever, we do nulhin now, even. Me and the old woman took the cart t'other day, and went to town we bort a bar' Of whisky; and arter we come home and gin to count the balance on hand, we found thar want but just one solitary pica- yune left, and as the old woman alers car- ries the puss, in course she had it. We'll, sot the bar'l agin one side of the room, and shortly after, the old woman sez, Suppose you tap your end of the bar'l ; and 1 did and she bort drink, and paid me picayune. Pretty soon, l began to get dry, and says I, Ole woman, spozen' you tap your end of the bar'l !'-and she did and then she sells me a drink and the way that pioayune has travelled back ards and for'ards over the bmg of that bar'l is a caution to them as love red eye. But, stranger, losses Is apt to come with every business, and me and the ole wo- man has lost some in the grocery line, and I'll tell you how twas. The boy Bill, our oldest son, he see how the ticker was go- in, and didn't have marry red tojine in the retail bisiness SD one night he craWfcd under the house, and taps the bar'l atwixt the cracks in the puncheon floor and l rally believe he's got more than me and the ole woman ither the good for noth- in vagabon. to come the gaif' over his natral born parents it's huff to make man sour agn all creation that boy'Il be the ruination of us yet lie takes to trickery lis as natral as q hungry possum takes to hen roos. Now, stranger, what on yearth am to do He beats me and the ole woman entirely
 Traveller. It 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 possi- bilily offording it, and seven miles through a swamp to the only bridge in the vicinity. This is rather gloomy prospect, partic- ulaHy as the sun is about down still, my curiosity IS excited, and as you have been playing only one part of the Arkansas Traveller ever since my arrival, would like to know, before Ileave, why you don't play the tune through 2
 Arkansas Artist For one of the bestr reasons on yearh, old hoss-I can't do it. l hain't Iarnt the turn of that tchune, and drat me if l believe l ever shall.
 Traveller Give me your instrument, and I'll see if can play the turn for you
 Arkansas Artist Look ahere, my friend, do you play the turn of that tchune {?
 Traveller. ' believe l can
 Arkansas Artist Lite, lite !! old hoss-we'll find place for you in the cabin, sure. Ole woman Ca hallo!' within the shanty was the first indication the traveller had of any other being on the l. premises the stranger played the turn of the Rackensack Traveller My friend, hitch you hoss to the simmon tree, or anywhere else you please. BilPll be here soon. and he'll take lteer of him. Ole woman you cal Sal and Nance up, from the spring tell Nance to go into the spring house, and cut off q. good large piece of bear steak, to brile for the stran- gers supper; tell Sal to knock over a chicken or two, and get out some flour, and have some flour doin's and chickin fixin's for the stranger. (Bhl just heaves in sight twenty-four hours earher than he was expected half hour before.) Bill, | 0 Bill there's a stranger here, and he plays the turn of the Rackensack Tray eler,' go to the corn crib and get a big punkin, and bring 1t to the house, so the stranger can have suthin' to eat on, and skin tater long with me and the ole woman while the gals is gettin' supper !; and Bill, take the hoss, and give him plenty of corn no nubbins, Bill :; then rub him down we'll; and then when you come to the house, bring up dried hide and bar-skin for the stranger to sleep on and then, Bill, l reckon he'll play the turn of the Rackensack Traveller for us.'
 The punldn' was brought; the'taters were skinned and eaten the turn o Ithe Rackensack Traveller was repeated. Ily played, to abundant edification and the gals finally announced that supper
 was ready, and although instead of store
 tea they only had saxifax tea doins,
 without milk, yet the repast was one to b'
 long and gratefully remembered. Tht
 traveller remained all night, and was pi
 oted safely over the big creek early th, next morning. Of truth music ha
 charms to sooth the savage breast!
 "A benevolent old gentleman used { l ,;,,, s,,,a,, ,yood to the poor by the CORD. i