Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-03-12
The Arkansaw Traveller. y

/
Our friendly and gratfying.commcn
correspondent Saw Dust" of Pass Chris.
tan, Miss, must pardon us for prcscntinp p
somewhat reduced copy ofhis clever sketch.
wherein we lnve cndcavorel to preserve the
spirit OF the original: In the early settlement
OF Arkansas. II traveller after riding some
eight ortcn miles without meeting n human
being. or seeing human hnbitatinn, came
at length, by n sudden turno of the wood -road.
to miserable "sl'anty." the centre of n Small
clearing, in what had originally been n
BlackjNck-tlicket," whence the only sound
That proceeds is the discordant music of a
-windcd fiddle from the troubled bow
els OF which the occupant is laboriuusly cx-
tor!lnS the monotonous tune known MS = THE
AFhdnSd%, or Rdckcnyuck TiuuHev." Our
traveller rides up to within few feet of the
door which was once the bed frame of n cart
body, now covered with beNrSkinS. and hung
upon two big wooden hinges Afcr much
shouting, the inmate appears. fiddle in hand.
and evidently "wrathy" at being intcrr,nt-
cd in the exercise of his art. Tie following
c0lioquy cnsues, the indctatigable fiddler still
! playing the first strain of The Arkansas
| Traveller" which in fact he continues. mt
sudden intervals, until the dialogue, as will
he seen, is brought to an unexpected conclu.
sion. IF this be not seeking lodgings un-
der ulihculties," we should like to know what
might hc legltimntcly 50 considered:
| Traveller: &" Friend can obtain accom-.
mediation for the night with you?"
ArSansaw Artist" "Nn, Sir--'narv
| 'commOdatiUn."
Travellers: My dear sir, have already
travelled thirty miles to-day, and neither
/ myself nor my horse has had II mouthfuI tu
cat; why can't you accommodate me for to-
night?"
Ark. "Artist:" Just case it cant be GiR
were plum out of everything to eat in the
house: Bills gone to mill with the last nub-
pih oi corn on these premises, and it'll bc
nlSh onto the shank of tomorrow cvenin'
aforc he Gums home, ,unless.suthin uncommon
happens"
traveller: You surely have SoD,cthing
that can feed to my horse; .ccen few no
tatocs would be better than no food"
Ark. Artist" "Strangcr our eatin'
roots gin out abont a week ago; SO your
chance is slim thur"
Traveller: But, my friend, mast remain
win you, any way | can't go any farther,
WhcCher obtain anything To eat or not
Lou certainly VIII ALLOW me the shelter of
your roof"
Ark. Artist:"- " 1t can't be did oIdhoss.
You sec we've got only one dried hide on tho
premises, and me and the old 'omen nilus oc-
cumes that; SO whar's your chancc?"
traveller: ALLOW me to hitch my horse
10 that persimmOn-trce, and with NV saddle
and blanket I'll make a bed in the icnce-cor-
ner."
Ark. Artist" Glitch your hoss to that
simmon tree ?-:n horn! Why You must
De hatral fool. strangerl Don't you see
snats me and the ole womitn's only chance
Tor 'simmon-beer. in the fall of the ycar?-
IL your hoss is so tarnal hongry as YOU saw
nc ls' he'd grdle it as high up as he could
| reach, afore mornin'. Hitch your hoss to
that tree! 'spect not no. no, stranger,
You can't come nary sich dodge as that -
Our traveller, seeing that he hid an origf.
nal to deal with, and being himself an atna-
teur performer upon theinstrument to which
the settler was 50 ardently attached, thought
he would change his tactics, and draw Ills
determined not-to-be = host" out little be-
lore informing him of the fact, that he too
could play the" Arkansas Traveller :" which
once being known, he rightly coniecturc3.
would DO passport 70 his Better gracos
Travellers "Well, friend if ca,I stav
how far is it to the next house ?" ~
Ark. " Artist" "Tcn miles; and you'll
think they're mighty long onos, too, afi,re
you get thar. | came nigh ontc forcittlu' TO
tell you, the big creek is up; the bridge is
carried OF there's marry yearthly chance to
,ord nj and If yer bound 10 cross it, yer'il
nave 10 go about seven miles up stream, to
w o D"rV iouys puncheOnsbridgo, through
one OF the darndest bumboo-swamps ever YOU
seed. lrcckon the bridge is sthndin' vet
twas yesterday mornn': though one eend
had started down stream about fifteen feet,
or sicll q matter" 0''
Traveller: q Friend. you seem communi.
catte; and if it's no offoncc, I'd like to know
what You do for living here %
Ark Artist" No. offence, on .yearth
stranger; we just keep a grocery.
Traveller; "A grocery! Where in tbg
name OF all that is mercantile do your cust6-
mcrs come from? Your nearest ncichbor
is ter G4iles distant" :"