Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-04-14
ARKANSAS TRAVELLER.

sas, a traveller after riding some elgh
or ten miles without meeting human
being. or seeing a human habitatior
came at length, by sudden turn Of tn
wood road, to miserable "shanty,
the center of small clearing. in wha
had originally been "black,jacl
thicket," whence the only sound tina
proceeds is The discordant music of ,
broken-winded fiddle, from the troub
led bowels of which the occupant j;
laboricasly extorting the monotonous
tune known as "Ihe arkansas 70,
Ra ckens ack) Tfaveler." Our Traveller
rides up within few feet of the door,
which was once the bed frame Of a
cart body, now covered with bear
skins, and hung upon two big
wooden hinges. After much shou.
ting, the inmate appears, fiddle in
hand, and evidently "wratby" at
being interrupted in the exercise Of his
art. The following colloquy ensues,
the indefatigable fiddler still playing
the first strain of THE arkansas
IraUeler, which in fact be continues,
at sudden intervals, until the dia-
logue, as will be seen, is brought to
an unexpected conclusion. Ii this
be not seeking lodgings under diff
culties,' We would like to know
what might be legitimately so con-
sidered.
Traueler -"Friend, can / obtain
accommodations for the night with
you?"
Arkansaw Ariist-"No, Sir, nary
'commodatiou,"
1raceler-"My dear Sir. l have
already travelled thirty-six miles to-
day, and neither myself nor my horse
has had mouthful to eat-why cant
you accommodate me for the night?"
Arkansaw Artist-"Just because
it can't be did. We're plum out of
everything to eat in the house:
Bills gone to mill with the last nub-
bin of corn on these premises, and'll
be nigh onto the shanks of tomorrow
evening afore be comes home, un-
less sumthin uncommon happens"
Traueler-"You surely have some
thing that | can feed to my horse;
even few potatoes would be better
than no food"
.4rkansaw Ariist-"Stranger, our
eatin' roots gin out about week ago;
so your chance is slim thar"
Trarezer-'But my friend, | mast
remain with you, any way. | can's
60 any further, whether l obtain
anything to eat OF not. You certain
ly will allow me the shelter Of your
roof?
Arkansaw Artist-.It can't be did,
old boss. You see, we've got but
one dried hide on the premises, and
me and ole woman allus occupies
that. so whar's your chance?"
Trareler-"Allow me to hitch my
horse to that persimmon tree, and
with my saddle and my blanket | will
make a bed in the fence-corner.
Arkansaw Arhst-"Hitch your
horse to that simmoa-tree?-in a
horn, stranger! Why, you must be
natiral fool. stranger! Don't you
see that's me and the ole woman's
only chance for simmon beer, in the
fall Of the year? II your boss is SO
tarnal hungry as you say he is, he'd
girdle it as high up as be could reach,
alore morning. Hitch your hoss to
that tree! i 'spect not; no, no, stran-
ger, you cant come nary sich a
dodge as that"
Our traveller seeing that he had an
origina to deal with, and being him
self an amateur performer upon the
instrument to which the settler was
so ardently attached, thought he wonld
change his tactics, and draw bis de-
termineo not-to-be :host' out a little,
before informing him of the fact that
he too could play the "Arkansaw
Traveller" which once being known,
he rightly conjectured, would be a
passport to bis better graces.
Traueler "Well, friend, if | can t
stag, how far is it to the next
house?''
.4rkansaw Artist-"Ten miles; and
you Il think they re mighty long ones,
too, afore you get thar. | came nigh
onto forgettiu' to tell you the big
creek is up; the bridge is carried Oft;
there nary yearthly chance to ford
it; and if yer bound to cross it, yerll
n ~>slz~ khoI