The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-03-29
From the Huie&e'bocker MsgssiLo
4 SCENE OF ARKANSAS LIFE.
Pursuit of Hospitality Under Difficulties

Pursuit Of Hospitality Under Difficulties.
In the early settlement of Arkansas, a
travcller,after riding some eight or ten miles
without meeting human being, or seeing
a human habitatien, ca no at length, by
"A sudden turn of the wood-road, 10 a mis-
cradle "shanty," the centre Of "A small clear
INC, in what had originally been BLACK
jack thickct, whence the only sound that
proceeds is the discoidaHt muse of bro
keu-windcd fiddle, from the troubled bow
els of which the occupant r. labo!ousIy cX
torting the monotonouS tune known as The
Arkansas, or Rackcnsack Traveller" Our
traveller rides up to willin few feet of the
door, which WAS once the bed frame Ct
cart body, now covered with be; r skins,
and hung upon two lis wooden hinges
After much shouliug>, the inmate appears,
fiddle In hand, and evidently wrath at
being interrupted III the exercise OF his
art. Tho following colIoquy ensoes, tho
iulo'atiagblc fiddler still playing tho fist
strain of ," TLeArkaa~as Traveller" which
IN fac. he contindc,, -: Sudden intervals,
until tie dialogue, aa viii ie seen, is
brought 10 an unexpected conclusion. If
Ills Je not seeking lodgings under lill'
cul,ics,' We should Ike 10 know what
might he lig,timately y 30 considered -
"Irnellcr Friend, ylu | obtain accom-
m,latieu tor the night with your
Arkansas 'Altist:' Ne, S.r-'nary com-
uo5ai.on.'
Traveller Ny dean Sir, | have already
travelled thilty miles miles to-day, and
neither myself nor my hose has had 4
mcuthiul to cat: Why can't you accommo-
date me for to night!
".ArA.' Artist Just 'caus it can't be did
Wc'le plum ont of every thing to eat in
the house: Bi,i's gone to mill with the last
nubbn OF corn on these premises, and it'll
be nigh onto the shank Of tomorrow eve
hin afore he Gums home unless suthn on
common happens.
Traveller: You surely hayo something
that | can feed to my horse; even few
ro,atoes would better than no food
"Ark. Artist stranger, our eating
roots gin out about week ago so your
chance is slim thar.
"Trayeller: But, my friend, | must re-
main with you, any way, | can't 90 and
farther, whether l obtain any thing to eat
or not. You will certainly allow me the
shelter ofyour roof!
"Ark. 1t 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 'Vhar's your chance.
"Trayeller; ALLOW me to hitch my horse
to that persimmon- tree, and with my sad
die and blanket I'll make bed in the fence
corner.
"Ark. Artist, Hitch your boss to that
simmon tree i'm hornp Why, you
must be a nat raj fool stranger! Don't you
see that's me and the oil woman's only
chance for smmou. beet, in the fall of the
year9 If your boss is so tarual hungry as,
you say he is, he'd girdle it as high up as
he could reach, afore morning. Hitch your
hoss to that tree! spec NOT: no no
stranger, you can't como nary seth a dodge
as that.
Our travler seeing that he had an or
iginal to deal with, and being himself an
amateur performer upon the instrument to
with tn settler vase so ardently attached,
though he would change his tactics, and
his determined not to-be "host" out n lit
tie, before informing hin Of the fact that
he toocould play the "Arkansas Traveller
(which one being known, he rightly con-
jectured, would be passport to his better
grace.
Traveller: well, friend, if l CAM
stay, how far is IL to the next house?
"Ark. Artist Ten miles; and you'll
think they're mighty long ones, too. afore
you get thar. ! came nigh onto forgettin
to tell you, the big creek is up; the bridge
is carried of, there's nary yearthly chance
to ford it; and il yer bound to cross it
yer'll have to go about seven miles uT
stream, to ole Dave Lodys puncbeon bride
through one the darndest tamboo- swamp'
ever you see. reckon the bridge is stan
din yet--'twas yesterday mornin': though
one end had started down stream about fif
cen feet or sich matter.
Traveller: Friend eeem communicative