The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-04-13

meut 10 which the settler was so ardent,
~ attached, thought he would change
his tactics, and draw his determined not
to be host out u little, before Informing
him OF The fact, that he too could play
the 'Ark"nSas Traveller;' which once be.
inS known, he rightly conjec,urcd, would
bc passport to his better graces
Traveller We'll, friend, it can't stay
how far is 1t to the next house =
Ark. Artist: Ten miles; and You'll
think they're mighty long ones, too, aro-e
you get thar, came nigh onto forciltin'
to tell you, the brg creek is up; the bridge
l. carried oft; there's nary ycarthlv chance
to ford 1t, yer'I have to 20 about seven
miles up stream. TO ole Dave Lody's pun
choon bridge, through one Of the darn,
dest bamboo s"amps ever YOU seed. |
reckon the bridge Is standin' yet-'twas
Yesterday m"rnin: though one end had
started down stream about fifteen feet, O,
srch natter
Traveller: Friend, you seem communi
cauve; and If it's no offence, I'd like to
KNOW wnat you do for a living here Z
Ark. Artist: No offence on vcar,h.
w just Yep grocery
Tra'eIleI: "A grocery Where in the
name ot all that is mercantile do your
customers come from 7 Yoar nearest
neighh"r is ten miles distant
Ark. 'Artls':' The fact is, me and the
old woman i: the best cnstomers yet =
but we 'sPect these diggins will improve
100. uo"sever, we do sunthin now,
even. Me aud the ole woman took the
cart tolher day, aud went down To town;
We bot b.'rl Of whiskey; aud arter we
come home, and gin to count the bal.
ance OF hand, we found thar walt but
Jst one solitary pIcaynne left, aid rs IT, c
ole woman carries the pus, in course she
had IT, Well, so; The bari gin one si!c
OF 'hc room, and shortly arter, the ole
woman says: 'SuPposin' You tap your
eend ot the bsr'I,' and did and she
bought II drlnk, and paid me the plea.
yune. Pretty soon, | begun TO get dry.
and seq Ole woman, sposin' you tap
your eend Of the har'I - and she lid :;
aud then she se!.3 me drink: and the
way that pisayune has trs.eilsd back'ards
and !or'ards over the hung of that har'I,
Is caution to them as loves red eye.'-
But. stranger, losses is apt to come with
every business ana ne aud the ole 'oman
has lost some in the grocery line; and I'll
tell you how twas. That boy Bill, our
eldest soL, he seed how the liquor was
goi"', and he did'm: have nary red to join
III the retail business; SO one night he
cra~ls under the house, and taps the bar'l
atwiIt the cracks in the puncheon floor,
aud rally believe he's 60, more than me
or the ole woman either; the good for
nothIn' VACATION TO come the girati over
his material born parents: is enutf TO
make man sour agin all creation; that
boy'Il he the ruinalion Of us vet. lie
takes 20 trickery jist as material AS hun,
CRY FoSsum takes tG hen roost. Now,
stranger, what on yearth am | to do -
lie beats me and the ole woman al! hol.
ler.'
Traveller: 1T would be difficult for me
to advise in regard to your son, as | have
no family Of my own. You say its ten
miles to the mex, house; the big creek is
up, the bridge carried away no possibiI
ity OF fording it, and seven through a
swamp 10 the only bridge in the vicinityl
Thi- is a rather gloomy prospect, particu
laIIy as the sun IS just about down; still
my curiosity Is excited and as YOU have
reen P'ayIng only one part OF the "Ar
kansaw Traveller" ever since my arrival
| would like to know before | leave, why
you don't play the tune through =
Ark. 'Artis::' For one of the best
reasons on yearth, old hoss i cant do it..
| haint !arnt the turn Of ;hat tchune, an
drat me # believe ever shall"
Traveller: Give mo your instrument
and Ill see if can't play the turn for
you
Ark. Artist Look here, my friend,
do you play the turn OF that tchune 2
Traveller: Il believe can.'
Ark Artist Lite, lite, ole hoss -
well find place in the cabin, shore.
Ole woman ole woman ! e. halo with.
IN the shanty was the first indication the
traveller had of any other human being
on the premises) the stranger PLAYS the
turn Of the 'Rsckensaek traveller My
friend, hitch your boss TO the 'simmmon
tree, or any wheroyou please. BiI'II he
here soon, and he'll take keer Of him
Ole woman, you call Sail and Nance up
from the spring; tell Nance to go in:o
the spring house and cut off good big
piece Of barsteak to brils for the stran.
gers supper; tell Sail TO knock over a
chicken or two, and glt out some -four,
and have sum -four doins and chicken
ixns for the stranger. (Bill heaves in
sight twenty four hours earlier than he
was expected a halt hour before Bill,
o Bill there's a stranger here, and he
playa the turn Of the 'Rackensack Trav.
slIer,' go TO the corn crib and git big
pumpkin. and bring il to the house, 40
the stranger can have sumthin to set on
and skin = tsler long with mo and the
ole woman, while the gals is gettin' sup
per; and, Bill take the hosS and give him
plenty Of corn 40 nubbias, Bill; then
rub him down, well; and then. when you