Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-11-20
The Arlransae Trnvelar-

The Arkansas Traveller.
There are few Of oar readers who have no
heard of the Arkansas Traveller on tha vic
lin. Its Composer, or rather its improvisa
trice, is Col. S. Q. Faulkner, OF Little Rock
who relates the following story as the founda.
tion for his bnrlesque inspiration:
In the earlier days Of the Territory OF Ar
kansas, when the settlements were few and
far between, an adventurous traveller from one
OF the old states, while traversing the swamps
OF that portion OF kedn'try gets lost, on a cold
rainy day. in the autumn Of the year. After
wandering till evening, and despAiring Of fin
ding habitation, while searching for place
to camp, strikes q trail which seems to lead
somewhere, and also hears in that direction the
noise Of fiddle. Accordingly be takes the
trail and soon discovers ahead Of him, rising
above the timber light column of smoke,
which he knows comes from the cabin Of q
squatter. As he approaches, he finds il to be
log cabbin, ten logs high, and about ten feet
square-one side being rooted, and the other
only half covered with boards. He also sees
the proprietor seated on an old whisky-bar-
rel near the door, sheltered BY few boards
which project from the caves playing tune,
or the snatch Of a tune, on an old fiddle.
After surveying the habitation and sur
roundings Of "cotton head" children, the tray
eler rides up to see if he can get lodging, when
the following dialogue ensues: -.afa07f
The Hoosier, however, still continues to play
the same part over and ever again, only stop
ping to give short, Indifferent replies to the
travellers queries. ~
Trav.-AGood evening sir"
Squatter-"H How dye do, SIR" p l1a s..
Trav.-"Can get to astay all night with
yOu?" ssr 10
Squat.-"No SIR"
Trav.-"C Can't you give me glass Of some
thing to drink ? Pm very wet and cold" /" q
Squat drank the last drop this morn
ing . ~ -s57-5ET -775z1f - sa.ai5
Trav.-"I am very hungry; amt had thing
to eat to-day. Will you let me have some
thing to eat?" ...r. ---.......-..
Squat" HAvn't a darned thing in the
house. " t@
90 Trav.-"Then can't you give nay horse some
thing?" -age-.. 30 81 'v rd5
Squat-"Got nOthin' to feed him on
Trav.-"HoW far is it to the next house p
Squat" stranger, I don't know. I've
never been there" @ 4 -oa7
Trav.-"W Well, where dOes this road got"
Squat.-"It's never been anywhere since
I've lived here. It's always here when l get
up in the morning" .--r.-.
Trav..--''AsI am not likely to get to any
other house tonight, can't you let me sleep
in yours, and I'll tie my horse t0sa tree and
do without anything to eat or drink?" va -aY
Ssuat-"My house leaks, there is only one
dry spot in it, and me and Sal sleeps on that" i"
Trav.-Why DON'T you finish covering your
house and stop the leaks?" sl47lio 77foo9
Squat.-"It's raining"
Trav.-"Well, why dOn'I you do it when IL
is not raining ?" ..-.......... as.o-a
Squat.-''It don't leak then"
Trav.-"Well, as you have nothing to eat
or drink in your house, and nothing alive
about your place but children, how do Tou
do here anyhow ?"
Squat.-"Putty well thank yOu. How'd
ye do yourself 2" --.-.-.---... s1Hd
Tra1.-"(AfIer trying in vain all sorts Of
ways to extract some satisfactory information
from him. "My friend, why don't you play
the whole Of that tune 2" ---,---FT
squat.-(stops playing and looks up for the
first time.) 81 did not know there was any
more to ii. Can you play the fiddle stran CERT"
Trav.-'1 play little sometimes"
Squat-"You don't look much like fid.
der (handing him the iddle.) Will yoq play
the balance Of that tune 2" aH
The traveller gets down and plays the tune.
Squat.-"Stranger come in. Take half a
dozen chars aud sit down. Sal, 60 round into
the boiler, where killed that buck this morn
ing. Cut off some Of the best pieces and fetch
it and cook it for me and this gentleman di-
rectIy. Raise up the board under the head
of the bed, afore you go, and get the old black
jug hid from Dick, and give US some whisky;
i know there's some left yet. Dick carry the
gentlemans horse round to the shed, and you
will find some fodder and corn there. Give
him as much as he can eat. Durn me Stran-
ger, if you can't stay as long as you please,
and I'll give you plenty to eat and drink
Hurry, old woman. If you can't find the
butcher knife, take the cob-hendle or grannyb
knife. Play away, stranger. You shall sleep
on the dry spot tonight" 81
After about two hours fddling. and 50 mo
conversation, in which the squatter shows his
characteristics, the stranger rstires 10 the "dry
spot" ,-....--- .-.-....- ..--- --.- ' .'a'-f