Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1860-03-24
THE ARKANSAS TRAVELLER.

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There are few Of cur readers who have
not heard the "Arkansas Traveller" on
the violin. It's composer, or rather its
improvisa,rice, is Col. s. G. Faulkner, OF
Little Rock. who relates the following
story as the foundation for his buriesque
inspiration: tr' ,.H
In the earlier days Of tho Territory Of
Arksnsas, when the settlements were few
aud far between, AZ adventurous traveller
from one OF the old States, while travers.
ing the s~amps OF tina. portion OF ksdntr
gets lost, on = cold rainy day, in the su-
tumn Of the year. After wandering ill
evening, and despairi"g Of finding a hab-
ta,ion, while searching for place to camp,
strikes a trail which seems to lead some
where, and also hears in that direction the
noise Of fiddle. Accordingly he takes
the trail and soon discovers ahead Of him.
rising above the timber, light column OF
smoke, which be knows comes from the
cabin Of . squattsr. As he approaches,
hs finds it to be log cabin, ten logs high
aud about ten feet quare--ons side being
rooted. aud the only half covered with
boards. He also sees the proprietor seated
ON al old whiskey barrel near the door,
sheltered by few boards which project
from the caves playing = tune, or rather
the first snatch Of tunc. on an old fiddle
After surveying the habitation and sur
roundings OF " "cot,en head" children, the
traveller rides up to see it he can get lodg
ing, when the following dialogue ensues.
The Hoosisr, however, still continues to
play the same part over and over again.
only stopping TO give short. Indifferent re
plies to the travellers queries.
Traveller" Good evening, rir!'
Squstter-" How dye do siri'' 4s.
Trav.-"Can | gc, to stay oil night with
YOU iEa aa
Squa,.-"No sir" vaa aa an.
Trav. Cant you give me . glass Of
something to drink? I'm very wet aud
cold tz
Squat drank the las, drop ,bi.
morning
TrAv-" am very hungry; amt had
= thing to eat to day. Will you let me
have something to cst?"
Squat" Havnt a darned thing in the
house
Trav.-" Then cant you give my horse
some,hing?'' ~
Trav Yellow fAris il to the next hou,e?''
Squat" Stranger, I don't know. I've
never been there.
Trav.- Well where does this road 70
top
Squat. i.-"It'sn never been anywhere since
I've lived here. It's always here when |
sc. up in the morning
Trav.-" As / am not likely to get to
any other hous. Tonight. cant you let
me sleep in yours. and IN tie my horse to
n tree and do without anything to eat or
drink?'
SQUAT" Nv house leaks, there is only
one dry spot in it, and me and Sal sleeps
on that"
Trnv.-"Why don't you finish covering
your house aud stop the leaks?"
Squat" It's raini ,g"
Trav.-" Well, why don't you do j, when
It ia not rsining?'
Squat" II doa't leak them
Tsav-"Weit, MS you have nothing to
eat or drink in your house, and nothing
alive about your place but children, how
do yaa do here anyhow?"
Squat" Putty we'll l thank you. How
dye do yourself?'
Trav.-(After trying in vain all sorts of
ways to extract some satisfactory iuforma-
ton from him. My friend. why DON,
YOU play the whole Of tha, tuner
Sqast-(Stcps playing and looks up for
the FIRST time. IL did not know there
was mny n ore 10 it. Can you play the I'D
die stranger?"
Trav.-"l play = little, sometime
Squat" You don't look much like I'd
dler (handiny him the 6ddl.) Will you
play the balance of that tuner
The traveller gets down aud plays the
tune.
Squat" Stranger. come in. fake half
. dozen chairs and sit down. Sal. 20
round into the h"ller, where killed that
buck this morning. Cut off some of the
best pieces and fetch it and cook It for me
and this gentleman directly. Raise up
the board under the head Of the bed. sforc
you 70, and get the old black jug l hid
from Dick, asd give us some whisky; !
know there some left jet. Dick. carry
the gentlemsn's horse round 70 the shed,
and you'll End some fodder and cora there.
Give him ~ much - he can est. Durn
me, stranger, if you can's stay - long -
you please. and I'll give you plenty to eat
and drink. Hurry, old woman. II you
cant find The butcher knife, take the cob
handle or granny's knife. PLAY away.
stranger. You shall sleep on the dry spo,
tonight
After about two hours fiddllng, and some
conversation in which the squatter shows
bis characteristics. the stranger retires to
the "dry spot"