Des Arc citizen., 1859-04-22
1 From the Knickerbocker Magazine. ARKANSAS TRAVELLER.

In the early settlement of Arkansas, q traveller, after riding some eight or ten miles without meeting human being, or reaching human habtaton, came at length, by a sudden turn of the wood road, to a miserable shanty the center of a small clearing, in what had original ly been black iack,' whence the only sound that proceeds is the discordant mu- sic of broken-winded fiddle, from the troubled bowels of which the occupant Is IaboriousIy extorling the monolonouo tune known as the Arkansas or Raekensack Traveller Our traveller rides up within 3 foot of the door, which was once the bed frame of cart body, now covered with bear skins, and hung upon two big wooden hinges After much shouting the inmate appears, fiddle iu hand, and evidently wrathy' at being interrupted in the exercise of his art. The following ensues, the indelatigable fiddler still Ilaying the first strain of The Ar kansas Traveler,' which in fact he contin- ues at sudden intervals, until the dialogue, as will be seen, is brought to an unexpect- ed conclusion. If this be not seeking lodgings under difficulties we should like to know what might be legitimately so considered
 Traveller. Friend, can I obtain ac- for the night with you?
 Arkansas Artist No, sir-'nary 'commodation.
 Traveller. My dear sir, have al- ready travelled thirty miles to-day, and neither myself nor my horse has had a mouthlu to eat, why cant you accommo- date me for to, ,night?'
 Arkansas Arust.' Just ease it can't be did. We've plum out of everything to eat in the house. Bills gone to mill with the last nubbn of corn on these premises, and Il be nigh onto the shank of tomorrow evenin' afore he cums home, unless sumthin uncommon happens.
 Traveller You surely have some thing that can feedto my horse even a few potatoes would be better than no food.
 Arkansas Artist Stranger, our eatin' roots gin out about week ago, so your chance is slim thar
 Traveller. But, my friend, I must re- main with you, any way l cant go any further, whether obtain anything to eat or not You certainly will allow me the shelter of your roof?'
 Arkansas Artist It can't be did old hoss. You see we've got only one dried hide on the premises, and me and the old woman allus occupies that, so whar's your chance 2
 Traveller Allow me to hitch my horse to that persimmon tree, and with my saddle and blanket, I'll make a bed in the fence corner
 Arkansas Artist Hitch your horse to that 'simmon tree? In horn! Why YOU must be a a natural fool, stranger | Don't you see that's me and the old wo' mans only chance for 'simmon beer, in the fall of the year If your hoss IS so tarnal hungry as you say he is, he'd glr dle it as high up as he could reach, aiore mornin. Hitch your hoss to that tree spect not. No, no, stranger, you can come nary sich dodge as that.
 Our traveller, seeing that he had al original 10 deal with, and being himsel an amateur performer upon the glastru ment to which the settler was so arden!l. attached, thought he would change th' tactics, and draw his determined not-to
 be host out little before informing hln of the fact that he too could play the All kansas Traveller which once being knowr he rightly conjectured would be a pass
 port 10 his better graces.
 Traveller. Well, friend, if Icant sta
 how far is it 10 the next houses!
 Arkansas Artist. Ten miles an \ IIyoa,Il4hink they're mighty long ones to afore you get thar. came nigh onl forgettin' to tell you, the big creek is up the bridge is carried off lher's mar
 yearlhly chance to ford 1t, and if ye