Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-06-09
The Arkansas Traveller.


habitation, came at length, by sudden turn
of the wood-road, to miserable g shanty" the
centre of the clearing, in what had originally
been a " Blackjack -thicket," whence the only
sound that proceeds is the discordant music of q
broken fiddle, from the troubled bowels of which
the occupant is laboriously extorting the mo-
notonous tune known as " The Arkansas, or
Rdckensack Traveller" 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 wooden hinges.
After much shouting, the inmate appears, fiddle
i9 hand, and evidently z wrathys at beiNg in-.-
tdrrupted in the exercise of his art The fol-
lowing colloquy cnsues, the ndefatigable fiddler
still playing the first strain of 1.-the Arkansas
Traveller" which in fact he continues, at sud
den intervals, until the dialogue, as will be seen
is brought to an unexpected conclusion. If this
is not " seeking lodgings under difficulties, " we
should like to know what would be legitimately
so considered;
Traveller Friend can obtain accommoda-
tions for the night with you?
Arkansas Artist No, Sir-'nary 'commo-
dation.'
Traveller My dear sir, have already trav-
eled thirty miles to-day, and neither myself nor
my horse has had a mouthful to eat sUhy can't
you accommodate me for tonight? p
! Ark. Artist Just because it cant be did.
We're plum out Of everything to eat in the
house. Bills gone to mill with the last nubbin
of corn on these premises, and II be nigh onto
the shank Of tomorrow evenin, afore lie cum
a home, unless suthln uncommon happens.
Traveller; You surely must have something
that | can feed to my horse even few pota~
toes would be better than no food
Ark. Artist; Stranger, our eatin' roots gin
out about week ago; so your chance is slim
THAR
Traveller: But my friend, l must remain
with you any way. can't go any further,
whether obtain anything to eat or not. You
will certainly allow mo the shelter of your
roof
Ark. Artist 1t can't be did, old hoss You
see, we've got only one dried hide on the prcmi-
ses, and me and the ole woman alus occupies
that; so ,chdrs your chance?'
Traveller: Allow me to hitch my horse to
that persimmon- tree, and with my saddle and
blanket I'll make bed in the fence corner
Ark ARTIST Hitch your horse to that sim
mon tree ?-in u horn ; Why, you must be
a nat'ral fool, stranger! Don't you see that S
me and the ole womans only chance for sim
? mon beer m the fall of the year If your hoss
is 50 tarnal hungry as you say he is, hed grdle
it as high up as he could reach afore mornin
Hitch your horse to that tree spect not !;
no, no stranger, you can't come nary sch a
dodge as that?
Our Traveller, seeing that he had an original
to deal with, and being himself an amateur
performer upon the instrument to which the
settler was 50 ardontly attached, thought he
would change his tactics, and draw his deter
mined not to- be host out little, before in
forming him of the fact, that he could play the
Arkansas Traveller which once being known,
he rightly conjcctured, would be passport to
his better graces.
Traveller Well, friend, if | can 'tstay, how
l far is it to the next house,?
Ark. Artist: Ten miles; and you II think
they're mighty long ones too, afore you get
thar. ! came nigh onto forgettin to tell the
big creek is up; the bridge is carried off +;
: there's nary yearthly chance to ford 1T and if
yer bound to cross it, yer'll have to 60 about
) seven miles up the stream, to ole Dave Lody S
punchcon bridge, through one of the biggest
bamboo swamps ever you see. reckon the
J. bridge is standin yet yesterday mornin'
i though one cend had start.d down stream fifteen
: feet, or sicha matter
: Traveller; Friend, you seem communicative;
and if it's no offence, Id like to know what you
do for liying?'
% Ark. Artist No offence on ycarth, stran-
ger; we just keep grocery.
! Traveller: A grocery. Where in the name
!" of all that's mercantile do your customers como
! from Your nearest neghbor is ten miles dis.
y taut
~ Ark. Artist : The fact is, me and the ole
. woman is the best customers get; but we 'spcct
these diggins will improve, and our business
" will improve too. How sever, we do suthir
no,c, even. Me and the ole woman took tht
D" cart t'other day, and went to town We bort &
+" bar'l of whiskey and arter we come home anG
gin to count the balance on hand, we found
" thar want but just one solitary pccayune left
10 and as the ole woman allus carries the puss, in
II course she had it. Well sot the bari agil
It one side of the room and shortly arter, the oil
~ woman sez 'Supposn' you tap your end o
! the bar'l?' and did ; and she bought drinl
" and paid me the piccayuno. Pretty soon began
" to ret dry, and says '0ls woman spozen
" you tap your end of the bar ? and she didj
and then she sold me drink and the way tha
70 piccayune has travelled back ards and for ard
!" over the bung Of that bar'l is y caution t.
y them as love red eye But stranger, losses
l. apt to come with every business and me an,
o the ole woman has lost some in the grocery line
re and tell you how it was. The boy Bill, ou
oldest son, he see how the Ticker was goin ant
'e he didn't have nary red to jine in the retail
y business SO one night he crawlcd under tn
p house, and taps the bar'l atwixt the cracks i
the puncheon floor; rally believe he's 60
10 more than Inc or the ole woman ither th
m good for nothin' yagabon' to come the gaia
r, over his material born parents it's cnuff t
" made man sour agin all creation that boy'l
a. bc the ruinatlon of us yet. He takes to trick
cry jist rs naternl as hungry pOssum takes t