Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-03-05
Arkansas Traveller

q
den turn Of the WoOd-road, to a miserable
'shanty,' the centre Of small clearing, in
what had originally been q Black jack thick
et' whence the only sound that proceeds is
the discordant music Of a broken fiddle, from
the troubled bowels of which the occupant is
laboriously extorting the monotonous tune
known as The Arkansas or RGckensack Trap
eLsr.' Our traveller Tidet up within few feet
of the door, which was once the bed frame Of
a cartbody, now covered with bear skins, and
hung upon two big wooden hinges. After
much shouting, the inmate appears, fiddle in
hand, and evidently very 'wrathy' at
being interrupted in the exercise of his art
The following colloquy ensues, the indefatiga-
BILE fiddler still playing the first strain Of
The Arkansas TTGpeler,' which in fact he con-
tinues, at sudden intervals, until the dialogue,
as will be seen, is brought to an unexpected
conclusion. If this be not seeking lodgings
under difficulties, we should like to know
what might be legitmately so considered;
Traveller: Friend, can obtain accommoda-
tions for the night with your
tArkansaW ARTIST No. Sir-nary tcom-
modation'
Traveller: My dear Sir, 1 have already trav-
eled thirty miles to-day and neither myself
can't you accommodate me for to-night?'
Ark. Artist Just case it can't be did
We're plum out Of everything to eat in the
house: Bills gone to mill with the last nub-
bin Of corn on these premises, and III be nigh
onto the shank Of tomorrow eYenin' sfore he
cum a home, unless sumthin uncommon hap
pens.'
Traveller: You surely have something that
I a. Ia, g.
would be better than no food
Ark. Artist Stranger, our estin'-roots'
gin out about week ago. SO your chance is
slim thar.
Traveller: But, my friend, I must remain
with you, any way. can't go any further,
whether l obtain anything to eat or not
You certainly will allow me the shelter Of
your roef2
ARK. Artist 1T canFt be did, old hoss.-
You see, we've got one dried hide on the pre-
misses, and me and the ole woman allus Oc-
oupies that so lchar's your ehanceP
Traveller: Allow me to hitch my horse to
TO that persimmon tree, and with my saddle
and blanket I'll make q bed in the fenee.cor-
ner"
ark. Artist! Hitch your horse to that
'simmon-tree2-'in hornP Why you must
be nafral fool, strangerl Don't you see
that's me and the ole Womsn's only chance for
simmon-beer, in the fall of the year2 Ifyour
boss is so tarnal hungry as you say he is, he'd
gridle it as high up as he could reach afore
Ornin.'-Hitch your boss to that tree! 1
spect not; no, no, stranger you can't come
nary sich dodge as that"
Our traveller seeing that he had an original
to deal with, and being himself an amateur
Al.
settler was so ardently attached, thought he
would change his tactics, and draw his deter
mined not-to-be 'host'out little, before in
forming 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; well, friend if can't stay, how
far is it to the next houseP
Ark. Artist Ten miles; and you'll think
they're mighty long ones, too, afore you get
thar. l came nigh onto. .forgettin' to tell you,
this big creek is up; the bridfe is carried off
there's nary yearthly chance to ford it; and if
yer bound to cross it, yer'n have to 90 about
seven miles up the stream, to ole Dave Lody's
puncheon-bridge, through one Of the biggest
bamboo-sWamps ever you see. l reckon the
bridge is standin' yet-twas yesterday morn
about fifteen feet, or sich natter
Traveller: Friend. you seem communicative:
and if it's no offence, I'd like to know what
you do for a liVing?'
Ark. Artist No offence on yearth, strang.
er: We just keep grocery
Traveller; "A grocery! Where in the name of
all that is mercantile do your customers come
from! Your nearest neighbOr is ten miles dis
tantp
Ark Artist The fact is, me and the ole
woman is the beat customers yet; but we 'spect
these diggins will improve, and in course busi.
nese will improve too. How sever, we do
snthin RotU, even Ne and the ole woman took
the cart t'other day, and went to town; we bort
a baT'l of whisky; and arter we come home and
gin to count the balance on hand, wei found
thar want but Just one solitary picayune left,
and as the ole woman allus carries the puss, in
course she hadi it. Well, sot the bsr'l agin
one side Of the room, and shortly arteT, the ole
woman sez: 'Supposin' you tap your end Ofths
bar'l,' and did; and she bough ght q drink, and
paid me pieayune. Pretty soon, begun to
get dry, and says /: '0le woman spo-
zen you tap your end of the barli'-
and she did; and then she sells me
drink; ard the way that piesyune has travelled
back ards and for ards over the hung of that
bar'l, is a caution to them as love red. eye
But stranger, losses is apt to come with every
business; and me AMI the ole woman has lost
some in the grocery line: and I'll tell how it was
The boy, BIZ, our oldest son, he see how the
Ticker was eoin', and he didn't have nary red to
jine in the retail business; so one night be crawl
under the house, and taps the bsr'l atwixt the
cracks in the puncheon-foor: and rally believe
he's got mora than me and the ole woman ither;
the good for-nothin' vagabon, to come the 'gaiff
over his material born parents: it's 'enuffto make
a man sour agin all creation; that boy II be the
ruination of US yet He takes to trickerv list
as nateral as a hungry 'possum takes to a hen |
rOost. Now, stranger, what on yearth am / to |
DO! He beats me and the ole woman entirely |
Traveller: 1T would be difficult for me to ad- |
wise in regard to your son, as / have.no family |
Of my own. You say it is ten miles 70 the next |
house; the big creekis up; the bridge carried |
away; no possibility Of fording it, and seven |
miles through a sWymp to the only bridge in |
The vicinity! This rather gloomy prospect. !
particularly as the sun is just down; still, nv |
curiosity is excited, and as you have been olav.
ing only one part of the Arkansas TrayeIcr,
sver since my arrival should like to know. he. |
fore leave why you don't play the tune
ihrough!"
ARK. Artist: For one ofthe best reasons on
yearth, old hoss-I can't do it. haint lsrnt
The turn of that tchune, and drat me if believe
ever shall.'
Traveller: Give me your instrument, and III
zee if l can't play the turn for you.'
ARK. Artist; Look o'here my friend, do you
play the turn Of that tchune!'
Traveller; Il believe can"
Ark Artist Lite, lite, old hossl-weIl
ind place tor you in the cabin, sure. Ole wo
nan! "a 'halloH within the shanty was the frat
Indication the traveller had of any other human