The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-05-10
The ArKansas Trnveler.

There are few OF our readers who
have not heard the Arkansas Traveller
on the violin. It's composer, or rather {
its improvisa'rice, is Col s. G Faulk
rer, Of Little Rock, WHO relates the fol-
lawing story as the foundation Of his bur-
lesque inspiration:
In tne early days Of the territory Of
Arkansas, when the settlements were lew
and far between. an adventurous traveller
from the old states, while travers ug the
swamps Of that portion Of counry, go
lost on a cold ani rainy day in the au-
tumu OF the year. Ali-r wandering I'll
evening, AMI despairing Of finding hab,
itation, while searching for place 10 H
camp. strikes a rsil which seems to lead
somewhere, and also hears the sound Of a
fiddle in that direction. Accordingly lie
takes lhe trail, and soon dis osered ahead .
Of him, rising above the timber. light
column of smoke, which he knows comes
from the cabin Of a sQuatter. !
AS he approaches, he finds it to be a
log cabin. ten logs high and about ten /
feet square-one side bling -oofsd and
The other only half covered with boards.
He also sees the proprietor seated on an
Old whiskey barr-l. near the door. shell (
tered by few boards which projected
from the caves. playinga tune, or rather
the first snatches oil a tune, OIL an old I'D
die. ... ....
Traveller evening. SIR
How eye do, sir
T-'Can 1 get to stay sl night with
you?'
S--'No, sir
T--'Can't you give me glsas ofsome
thing to drink? I'm very wet and cold
S-.I drank the last op this morn
ing
! I'm very hungry. / amt had thing
to eat to day. Willyvulst me have some
thing To eal?'
s1Haven'ta a durud thing in the
house ..
T--'Thcn can't you give my horse
something?
S.--'Got nothing to feed him.
: How far is it to the mex! house"
e S-'Sanger, l don't know--l have
), never bsen thar.
D T--.Well, where does this road 60"
e Sits never been anywhere since I've
r been here. It's always here when git
d up in the morning.
3 T-'As I'm not likely 10 get to any
n other house tonight. cOn't you let me
5 sleep in youl's, AID II tie my hcrse 10 d
;, tree, and do without anything to ca! OF
u drink?
n S--'My house leaks--thcre's only one
e dry spo, in it. aud me and Sal lay OIL that?
l.. .T--'Why don't you finish covering
5 yonr house?
y Sits raining. e..
re T--'WeIl, why don't you do it whe'
D, it's not raining?
e. Sit don't leak them
ct T--Well, as you have nothing TO eat 0
5, drink in your house, and nothing allv
ut in your house but children, how DO yo1
ht do here anyhow
he S-'Putty well, 1 thank you. Ho'
it dye do yourselfH
to T-(Aiter trying in vain all SORTS
lg ways 10 extract some satisfactory informna
e, lion from bim) My friend, why don
sy you play the whole OF that time?
og S--'Stops PLAYING and looks up for ii
n, first time Il did no. know there WI
fr: any more to it. Can you play the fddl
cs stranger? g..
its I'll play little sometimes.
10 S--.You don't lock much like fiddle
he (handing him the fdl.e.) VIII you pla
ter the ba, ,nce Of that tuneY
The traveller gets down and plays
ue tune.
|, it S--"Stranger come in. Take halfa do
II en- chairs and sit down. Sal. you !
len round INTO the holIer. where | killed tn
ace buck this morning. Cut of some OF t
the best pieces, and fetch and cook it for
lat and this gentleman directly. Raise
inc the board under the head Of the BID be'o
but vcu 20, and get the jug l hid from Die
and give us some whiskey; know :her'
/ TO some !elt yet. Dick, carry the gentleima'
re. horse around to the shed, and you'll II
9th some fodder and corn there. Give h
all as much as he can eat. Durn me, str;
hey ger, if you cant stay as long as
the please, and III give you plenty to eat a
that drink. Hurry, old woman. If you ca
t. find the butcher knife, lake the cob'h
reat die or granny's knie. Play away, ST
here ger. You shall sleep oil the dry spot
TIA night r.. ,,r.;
The After about two hours 6ddling ana c
one versation in whi9h the squatter shows
'mer characteristics, the sranscr rre'ires 10
ass dry spot
nds, - = = 49,
cave WAS ONcE loUNd'i' ."