Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-04-15
MI c Ell L A n Y.
ARKANSAS TRAVELLER.

cler, alter riding some eight or ten miles
Fithout meeting human being, or seeing a
uman habitation, came at length, by a sud-
en- turn Of the wood-road, to a miserable
hanty,' the centre Of a small clearing, in
hat had originally been Black, jack
Gods is the discordant music of a broken
inded fiddle, from tie troubled bowels of
1hich tho occupant is laboriously extorting
he monotonous tune known as The Arkan-
as, or Raekensdck Traveller Our traveller
fdes up within few feet Of the door, which
Fas once the bed frame Of cart-body, now
overed with bear-skins, and hung upon two
ig wooden hinges. After much shouting.
he inmate appears, fiddle in hand, and evil
emily 'wrathy' at beiug interrupted in the
xercise of his art The following coloquy
nsued, the indefatigable fiddler still playing
he first strain Of The Arkansas Trarcler,'
Fhich in fact he continues, at sudden inter-
ais, until the dialogue, as will be seen, is
brought to an unexpected conclusion. If
his Be not "seeking lodgings under difficult
les, We should like to know what might
be legitimately so considered
Traveller: Friend, can obtain accom-.
nodations for the night with you?'
Arkansas Artist; No, Sir-'nary
commodation.'
Traveller My dear Sir, have already
travelled thirty miles to-day. and neither my
elf nor my horse has had a mouthful to eat;
|Dhy can't you accommodate me for to-
hight"
lid. We'ro plum out Of every thing to eat
n the house: Eill's gone to mill with the
asst nubbin of corn on these premises. and IL
he nigh onto the shank of tomorrow evenn'
afore he Gums homo, unless sumthin uncom-
mon happens
Traveller You surely have something
that can feed to my horse even n few po-
tatoes would be better than no food
Ark Artist Stranger, our catin'-
roots gin out about a week ago so your
chance is slim thar
Traveller; But, my friend, must re-
main with you. any way. ! cant 60 any
further, whether obtain anything to eat or
not. You certainly will allow me the shelter
Of your root?'
Ark. Artist: 1t can't be did, old
hoss. You see, we've got only one dried
hide on the premises, and me and the ole
woman allus occupies that I; so ,Ohors your
chance?'
Traveller ALLOW me to hitch my horse
to that persimmon- tree, and with the saddle
and blanket III make bed in the fence
corner
Ark. Artist Hitch your horse to
that 'simmon-tree Pin n horn y Why,
you must be a nat'r fool, stranger Don't
you see that's me and the ole woman's only
chance for 'simmon beer, in the fall of the
year? If your hoss is so tarnal hungry as
you say he is, he'd girdle it as high up as he
could reach, afore mornin'. Hitch your
hoss to that tree l 'spect not; no, no
sxr spar az oh Jn1o
as that !"
Our traveller, seeing that he had an orig
nal to deal with, and being himself an ANA
teur performer upon the instrument to which
the settler was so ardently attached, though
he would change the tactics, and draw hi
determined not-to-be host out little, be
fore informing him of the fact, that he too
could play the Arkansas Traveller which
once being known, he rightly coniectured
would be passport for his better graces.
Traveller Well, friend, if can't stay
how far is it to the next house?'
Ark. Artist Ten miles; and you'll
think they are mighty long ones, too. afor
you get thar. came nigh unto forgettin
TO tell you, the big creek is up; the bridge
carried off; there's nary yearthly chance t
ford it; and if yer bound to cro.s it, yer'l
have TO 60 about seven miles up the stream
TO old Dave Lody's punchon-bridge, throug
one Of the biggest bamboo-swam ps..ever 20
see. reckon the bridge is standin' yet
twas yesterday mornin though. one end ha
started down stream about fifteen feet, c
sich a matter"
Traveller Friend, you seem commune;
tive, and if it's no offence, I d like to kno
what you do for a living?'
Ark. Artist "No offence on yearth
Traveller "A grocery Where in the nan
come from? Your nearest neighbor is t.
miles Distant
Ark Artist -" The fact is, me and Il
ole woman is the best customers yet; but v
'spect these dggins will improve, and
course business will improve too Hows 'ev
we do suthin nop, even. Me and the 0
woman took the cart t'other day, and we
to town; we bort bar'l of whiskey ai
arter we come home and gin to count I
balance on hand, we found thar warn't b
just one solitary picayune left, and as t
old woman allus carries the puss, in cour
she had it. Well, sot the bar'l agin o
side Of the room, and shortly arter the
woman sez Supposin' you tap your end
the bar'l,' and did and she bort a dri
and paid me picayune. Pretty soon !
gun to get dry, and says l 'Ole woInG
spo1en' you tap your end of the bar'l?' a
she did and then she sells me drink a
the way that picayune has Travelled back al
and Tor ards over the bung of that bar'l, i
caution TO them as love 'red-eye.' B
stranger, losses is apt to come with ey,
business; and me and the ole woman
lost some in the grocery line and III
you how twas. The boy Bill, our old
son, he see how the Ticker was goin', q
didn't have nary red to jine in the rel
bsiness; so one night he crawl under
the house and taps the bar'l atwixt
cracks in the puncheon-aoor and rally
lieve he's got more than me or the ole
man ither; the ood-for-nothin' vagab
to come the gaif over his material
IL q.