Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-04-05
MISCELLAN Y.
From til. Kniektr6ocker Nagasihs e.
The .sArkansaw Traveller"


Our friend aud gratiyiDg-commendtu cores
pondept "Saw Dust" of Pass Christian Miss.
must pardon Us TOR presenting some what re-
duced copy of his clever sketch, wherein we
have endeavored to preserve the spirit OF the O.
riginal:
or, after riding some eight or ten miles wlthont
meeting a human being, or seeing human
habitatioD, came at length, by sudden turn OF
the wood road to miserable "shanty," the
centre Of small clearing, in what had originally
been blackjack thicket," whence the only
sound that proceeds is the discordant music OF
broken winded fiddle, from the troubled bow
els of which the occupant is laborlously extort
ing the monotonous tune known as "1hs Ar6dn-
sas, or Rackensack TrGpeler." Our traveller rides
up TO within few feet of the door, which was
once the bed frame of cart body, now covered
with bear skins, and hung upon two big wood
en- hinges. After much shouting, the Inmate
appears, fiddle in hand, and evidently "wrathy''
at being interrupted in the exercise OF bis art.
The following colloquy ensues, the indetati-
gable fiddler still playing the first strain OF
SThe Arkansas Traveller" which in fact he
CONTINUES, at sudden intervals, until the dialogue,
as will he seen, is brought to an unexpected con-
clusion. Ii this be not seeking lodgings under
difficulties" we would like to know what might
be egitimately so considered:
Traveller :-"Friend, can obtain accommo-
dation for the night with you2"
Arkansaw ARTIST :"-"No, Sir-'nary COM
mediation"
Traveller :-'My dear sir, have already
travelled thirty miles to day, and neither my
self nor my horse has had mouthtul to eat
why can't you accommodate me for TO might T.
Ark. "Artist :"-'Just case it can't be did,
We're plum out OF everything to eat IN the
house; Bills gone to the mill with the last puo
bin of corn Oh these premises, and it'll be nigh
onto the shank of to morrow evenin aiore lie
comes home, unless suthin oucommon happens.
Traveller You surely have something that
can feed my horse even few potatoes would
be better than aso food"
Ark. ARTIST "-"Strauger, our eatin' roots
gin out about week ago; 30 your chance Is
slim thar"
Traveller :-"But, my friend, must remain
with you, any way. can't 60 any further,
whether obtain anything to eat or not. You
certainly will allow the shelter of your root 2"
Ark. "Artist :"-"It can't be did, old hoss.-
You see we've got only one dried hide ON the
premises, and me and the old 'oman alus Uccu.
cupies that so whar's your cbancef"
Traveller :-''Allow me to hitch my horse
to that persimnom tree, and with my saddle
and blanket III make bed in the fence corner y
Ark. ARTIST :"-"Hitch your boss to that
Summon tree e2-in hornl Why, youmust be a
nat'ral fool, straDgerl Don't you see that's lne
and the ole 'oman's only chance for simlnon-
beer, in the fall OF the yeara 1t your hoss is SO
tarnsl hougry as you say he is, he'd grdle 1t as
high up as he could reach, afore inorrn.'-
Hitch your boss TO that treel | 'spect not; no.
no. stranger, you cau't come nary such Dodge
as that.
Our traveller, seeing that he had an original
10 deal with, and being himself al ainatuer per
former upon the Instrument to which the set
tier was 80 ardently attached, thought he would
change his tactics, aud draw his determined not
10 be "host" out a little, before Informing hin
Of the fact, that he too could play the 'Arkan,
sas Traveller :" which once being known, lie
right, coujectured, would be u passport to hi:
Ueter graces:
Traveller er:-"Well. friend, il can't stay, how
far Is il to the next houseI"
Ark. ARTIST :"-"ren miles; and you'll think
they're mighty long ones, too, atore you gel
thar. | came nigh onto turgttin' to Tell you,
the big creek is up; the bridge is carried off
there's 5 nary yearthly chance 10 ford il; and
# yer bound to cross it, you'll have to so about
seven miles up stream, 10 ole Dave Lody's
ouncheon bridge, through one of the darhdesl
bamboo swamps ever you seed | reckon the
bridge is standin' yet-'twas yesterday mornin +;
though one eepd had started down stream about
fifteen feet or sich a matter"
Traveller :-"Friend, you seem commnnicat
i've. aud if it's no offence, I'd like to know
what you do for living here3"
Ark. ARTIST :"-"No offence on yearth, stran
ger; We Just keep grocery"
Traveller :'sA grocery Where in the name
of all that is mercantile do your customers come
froln9 Your nearest neighbor is ten miles dis
taut !"
Ark. "Artist 1.-THE fact is, me and the o.
man is the best customers yet; but We spec,
these diggius will improve, and in course bust.
ness will Improve too. Hows'ever, we do sutb
in now, even. Me and the ole 'olnan took the
cart Lother day, and went down to town; we
bort bar1 OF whskey and arter We come
nome, and gin to count the balance on hand,
we found thar wsrn't but jist one solitary plea
yune left, and as the ole 'olnau carries the pus
in course she had it. Well, | sot the barl gin
one side OF the room, and shortly arter, the ole
'oman says: "SuppoSin' you tap your eend OF
the bar'l,n and did; and she bought urink,
and paid ME the picayune. Pretty soon, | be
gun to get dry, and sez |: "Ole 'omau, sposin
YOU tar your eend of the bar'l2" and she did
and then she sells me o drink; and the way that
picayune has travelled back ards and for'ards o.
yer the bung OF that bar', is a caution to them
as loves "red-eye." "But, stranger, losses is
apt to come with every business; and me and
the ole woman has lost some in the grocery
line and I'll tell you how twas. That hoy
Bill. our oldest son, he seed how the liquor
was goin', and he didn't have nary red 10 jine IN
the retail business; so one night be craws un-
der the house, and taps the bar'l atwlxt the
cracks in the puncheon floor; and rally be-
lieve he's got more than me or the ole woman
either; the good for nothin' vagabond to come
the giraff over his material born parents it's
enutf to make man sour agin all creation
that boy be the ruination of us yet. He takes
70 trickery jist as material as hungry 'possuIn
takes to a hen roost. Now, stranger, what on
yearth am to doa He beats me and the ole
woman all hOller."
Traveller :-"It would be difficult for me to
advise 10 regard to your sou, as have no fami-
ly of my own. You say it's ten miles to the
next house, the big creek is up, the bridge is
carried away, no possibility of fordng it, aud
seven miles through swamp to the only bridge
in the vicinity! This is rather gloomy pros
pect, particularly as the sun is Just about down