The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-04-07
THE "ARKANsAW TRAVELLER"

u somewhat reduced copy Of his clever
preserve the spirit of the original In the
errly settlement of Arkansas, Il traveller,
after riding some eight or ten miles with.
out meeting 4 human being, or Seeing i,
human l!tbltaton came ut length, hy Il
eullcn turn of the woodroad, to misera
Llc "shantv," the centre of small clear
Ing in what had originally been a" Black
Jack thicket," whence the only sound that
proceeds is the discordant music Of Il brok
en.windrd fiddle, from the troubled bowels
of which the occupant is laboriously ex
tortnG the monotonous tune known
"IHc .hktnsa,c, or Rockcnsuck TuceYer."
Our traveller rides up to within Il few feet
of the door, which was once the bcdframe
of q 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 "wratl,y" at
being interrupted in the exercise OF his art
The following colloqny cnsucs, the indie
fatigahlc fiddler still playing the first strain
of "Thc Arkansas Traveller" which in
fact lie continues, ut sudden intervals, TN
iii the dialogue, as will be seen, is brought
to IN unexpected conclusion. If this be
not "secking lodgings under dinicuIlies,''
We should like TO know What might he le
Ultimately SO considered:
Traveller: Friend, can obtain ac
commoiatior for the night with you?
Arkansas Artist No, Sir-'nary com
moda,ion.'
Traveller My dear SIR lave already
travelled thirty miles to day, and neither
myself nor my horse has had a moulhful
to cat why can't you accommodate me
for to night?'
Ark, Artist J ust case it can't be dd:
aFc are plum out Of everything TO eat i'll
the house Bill's gone to mill with the last
nubLin cf corn on these premises, and it'll
be nigh onto the shank Of tomorrow eve
min a fore he comes home, unless suthin
uncommon happens
Traveller: You suxcly have something
that I can feed to my horse; even Il
few potatoes would be better than no
food
AK. Artist stranger, our ca,iu'-
roots gin out about Il week ago so your
chance is slim Mur.
Traveller: But my friend must re.
main with you, any way. cant go any
farther, whether obtain anything to ca, or
not. You certainly will allow me the shcl
ter Of your roof!
Ark. Artist: 1t can't he did, old ho,s.
You see we've got only one cried hide
on the premises and me an.l the o.L oman
alIus occupies that; 50 whar's your
chance!
Traveller i" Allow me to bitch my horse
to that persimmon tree, and with my sad
die and blanket III make bed in the
fence oorncr."
Ark. Artist Hitch your hoss to
that 'smmon tree ?-in horn Why
you must be a natral fool stranger Don't
you see that's me and the ole woman's only
chance for 'simmon-bccr, in the fall Of The
year! Ii your hoss is SO tarna hongry as
you say lie is, he'd girdlc it as high up rs
nc could reach. fore mornin' Hitch
your hoss to that tree! | 'spcct not; no,
no, stranger, you can't come nary sich a
dodge rs that
Our traveller secingjhat he had an origi
'al to deal with, ga being himself a"
amateur performer .gpou'the instrument to
which the settler was so ardentIy attach
ed, thought he would change his tactics,
and draw his determined not to be host
out a little before iAtorming him Of the
fact, that he too could play the Arkansas
Traveller which once being known, he
rightly conjectured, would be passport to
his better graces:
Traveller We'll, friend, if can't stay,
how far is it to the next house 2
Ark. Artist Ten miles; and you'll
think they're mighty long ones, too, atore
You get thar. l came nigh onto for
g''tm to tell you, the big creek is up;
the bridge is carried off there's nary
yearthly chance to ford it, yer'Il have to
go about seven miles up stream, to ole
Dave hody's puncleon bridge, through one
OF the darnavst bamboo swamps ever you
seed. reckon the bridge is standin'
yet-twas Yesterday mornin': though
one end bad Started down stream about
fifteen feet, or SIGH ~ matter"
Traevllcr: Friend, you seem commu
NEGATIVE, and if its no offence, I'd like
to know what you do for n ]iyino
here?'
Ark. Artist : No offence on yearth
stranger; we Just keep agrocerp,