Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-03-19
Arkansas Traveller.

Arkansas Traveller.
In the early settlement Of Arkansas, a traveller,
after riding some eight or ten miles without meet
ing human being, or seeing human habitahon
came at length by q sudden turn Of the wood road
to miserable 'shan,y.' the centre OF small
clearing in what had originally been the Black
lack thicket,' whence the only sound that pro
cecds is the dscordaut music Of broken winded
fiddle from the troubled bowels OF which the oc-
cupant is laboriously eKtorting the nonot"nous
tune known as, The arkansas or Rdckcnsdck
Trareler' 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
shouting the inmate appears, fiddle in hand, and
evidently 'wrathy at being interrupted IN the ex-
crcise Of his rrt The following colloqny ensnes.
the indefatigable fiddler still playing the first
strain of, The Arkansas Trareier,' which in fact
he continues, at sudden intervals, until the dia-
logue, rs will be seen. is brought to an uneSpect-
ed conclusion. ifths be not seeking lodgings I'M
der diffcultes we should like to know what might
be legi,imately considered
Traveller Friend, can obtain accommodations
for the night with your
Arkansas Artist No, S'r-'nary 'commoda'
ton
Traveller: My dear Sir, havo already Travelled
thirty miles to-day, and neither myself nor my
horse has had mouthful Ia eat, phy can I you ac-
commodste me for tonight
Ark. Artist Just case it can't he did. We're
plum out Of everything to eat in the house. Bills
rone to mill with the last nubbin of corn these
premises, and II be nigh onto the shank oftomor-
row evenn' afore he cumes home, unless sumthn
uncommon happens
Traveller; You surely have something that
can feed to my horse; even few potatoes would
be bettor than no food
Ark. Artist Stranger. our catin-roots, gin
out about week ago: and so your chance is slim
thar
Traveller: But. my friend, | must remain with
you, any way. ! can't 90 any further whether
obtain any thing to eat ornot. You certainly will
allow me the shelter Of your roof?'
Ark. Artist 1t can't he did, old boss. You
see, we've got only one dried hide on the promises
and me and the ole woman allus Occupies that: so
chars your chanceT
Traveller. ALLOW me TO hitch my horse to that
perrimmon-tree, and with my saddle and blanket
III make o bed in the fence corner
Ark. Artist Hitch your horse to that sim,
mon tree Pin a horn! Why you must DO II
patral fool, stranger Don't you see that's me
and the ole womans only chance for simmon
beer, in the fall of the year II your horse is
tarnal hungry as you say he is, he'd grdle it as
high up he could reach, afore morning! Hitch
your boss to that tree | 'spect not no. no
stranger, you can't come nary such a dodge as
that"
Our traveller. seeing that he had an original to
deal with. and being himself IN amateur pcrio
mer upon the instrument to which the settler was
so ardently attached, thought he would change
his tactics, and draw his determined not-to-bc
host out little before informing him of the fact
that he too could play the Arkansas Traveller"
which once being known, he rightly conjecturcd,
would be passport to bis better graces:
Traveller: We'll, friend; if | can't stay how far
is it to the next houseY
ARK rfiat.' srep ,niles and ynu,u th;nL
they're mighty long ones, too, afore you get thar.
l came nigh onto forgettin' to tell you, the big
creek is up; the bridge is carried off there's ma
~ yearthly chance to ford it and if yer bound
to cross it, yerll have to go about seven miles up
the stream. to ole Dave Lody's puncheon-bridgc
through one Of the biggest bamboo swamps ever
you see. reckon the bridge is standing yet
twas yesterday mornin' though one end had star
ted down the stream about fifteen feet or SIGH Il
matter
Traveller Friend, you seem communicative,
ard III it's no offence, I'd like to know what you
do for a liying?'
Ark. Artist No offence on yearth, stranger
we just keep grocery
Traveller: "A grocery! Where in the name of
all that is mercantile do your customers come
fromf Your nearest neigbbor is ten miles dis
tantv
Ark: Artist The fact is, me and the ole wo-
man is the best customers yet; but we spcct these
improve too. How sever, we do suthin notc
even. Me and the ole woman took the cart 10th.
er day, and went to town; We bort bar'l Of whis-
key; and arter We come home and gin TO count
the balance on hand, We found thar want but lust
one solitary picayune left, and as the ole woman
allus carries the puss in course she had it. Well
sot the bari one side Of the ROOM and shortly
arter, the ole woman eex: 'S.pposin' you tap YOUR
end Of the bar'P and did; and she bousht n
drink and paid me q picayune. Pretty soon.
begun to get dry, and says /: ole woman spozen'
you tap your end Of the barl"-and she did: and
then she sells me drink; AM, the way that pic.
ayuns has travelled bsck'ar and for'ards owe,
the bung Of that bsr'l, is caution to them A,
love rod sye. But stranger losses is apt to com,
with every business, and me and the ole woman
has lost some in the grocery line: and I'll tell yor
how 'twaa Tho boy Bill, our Oldest son, he Sc,
how the Ticker was going. and he didn't have ma
ryred TO ine in thsfeta bisinsss: so one ght he
awtunder1he house, and taps the barl atwx
the cracks in the punchson-hoor; and rally be-
nsve hiss got more than me or the ole woman it'll.
or; sne good for nothin' vagabon to come the
eser ns material born parents; it's cnuff tc
MAKE man sour agin all creation; the boy III be
the ruapaacn OF Us yet. He takes to trickerv iist
- material a. hungry possum takes to hem
reoee. NOW. stranger, what on yearth am to do
He beats me and the ole woman entireIv, w.
Tasyeler: 1t would be difficult for me to advise
IN regard TO your son, - have no family AZ M
OWE. You ~ its tan miles to the next bonsc
the big meek = ups the bridge carried avav: n,
pnshhty of AOrding it and seven miles through
aswemp y the only bridge in the vicinityl Thi
n@f1n gloomy prospect. particularly as tn
sun " 3Eyt About down; sill, my curiosity is excl
20 aaa Jon hsys bssn playing only one par
~ The 'Askanaas Trsssler sver since my arrival