The Sweetwater forerunner. [volume] (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1867-1869, 1868-08-13

have never read this amusing sketch, and
we know there are many who have, who
will enjoy laugh over it again-proba-
bly, for the twentieth time.-ED. Fore
RUNNER.
In the earlier days of Arkansas, when
houses were few and far between, an ad-
venturOus traveller from one Of the old
States got lost one cold, rainy day, in the
falPof the year. After wandering until
evening, and despairing of finding habi-
tation, while looking for place to camp,
he struck trail which he thought led
somewhere, and also heard in that direc-
tion the sound of music. Accordingly he
took the trail which soon led him to log
cabin about ten feet square-one side be-
ing rooted, and the other only half coy-
cred with boards. He also saw the pro-
prietor, seated on an old whisky barrel
near the door-sheltered by few boards
which projected from the eaves-playinga
tune, or rather the first snatch of tune,
on an old fiddle. After surveying the
habitation and surroundings of cotton
head children, the traveller rode up to ask
if he could get lodgings. The following
dialogue ensued:
Traveler-Good evening, sir
Squatter, Continuing to play and not
looking up)-How dye do, sirl
Traveler-Can | get to stay all night
with you9
Squatter-No, sir
Traveler-Can't you give me glass of
something to drink2 | am very wet and
cold.
Squatter-I drank the last drop this
morning.
Traveller am very hungry haven't
had thing to eat to-day. Will you let
me have something to eat :
Squatter-There amt darned thing in
the house
Traveler-Then can't you give my horse
something's
Squatter--Got nothin' to feed him on.
Traveler-How far is it to the next
house
Squatter-Stranger, I don't know, Pye
never been there.
Trayeler-Well, where does this road
go to?
Squatter It's never been anywhere
since I've been here-it's always here
when | get up in the morning.
Traveler-As l am not likely to get to
any other house tonight, can't you let
me sleep in yours, and Pll tie my horse to
tree, and do without anything to eat or
drink.
Squatter-My house leaks; there's on
ly one dry spot in it, and me and Sal
sleeps on that.
Traveler-Why don't you finish cover
ing the house and stop the leaks2
Squatter-It's raining.
Traveler-Well, why don't you do it
when it stops raining?
Squatter-lt don't leak then.
Traveler-Well, as you have nothing
to eat or drink in the house, and nothing
alive about your place but children, how
do 20 you do here, anyhow2
Spuatter-Pretty well, I thank you,
how do you do, yourself7
Traveler-(A After trying all sorts of
ways to extract some sort of satisfactory
information from him)--My friend, why
don't you play the whole of that tune
Squatter-(Stops playing and looks up
for the first time)- didn't know there
was any more to it. Stranger, can you
play the fiddle
Traveller play little sometimes.
Squatter-You don't look much like a
fiddler, (handing him the fddle.) Will
you play the balance of that tunel
The traveller gets down and plays the
tune.
Squatter-Stranger, come in Take
half dozen chairs and sit down. Sal,
go round into the holler where / killed
that buck this morning; cut off some Of
the best pieces and fetch them and cook
them for me and the gentleman, directly.
Raise up the board under the head of the
bed afore you go, and get the old black
jar | hid from Dick, and give us some
whisky. | know there's some there yet.
Dick, carry the gentleman's horse round
to the shed; you will find some fodder
and corn there. Give him as much as he
can eat. Darn me, stranger, if you can't
stay as long as you please, and Pll give
you as much as you can eat and drink
Hurry up, old woman! If you can't find
the butcher knife, take granny's cob ham
die knife. Play away, stranger! you can
sleep on the dry spot to might.
After about two hours fiddling, and
some conversation, in which the squatter
shows his character, the stranger retired