National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-01-31
The Arkansas Traveller.

In the early settlement of Arkan-
sas traveller, after riding some
eight or ten miles without meeting
human being or seeing a human
laoitation, came at length by sud.
den turn of the road, to a miserable
''shanty," in the centre of a small
clearing of what had orr 1inally been
a "black jacket thicket,h whence the
only sound that proceeds is the dis
cordant music of a broken winded
fddlc, from the troubled bowels of
which the occupant is laboriously
eXtortlng the monotonous tune of
"The Arkansas Traveller" Our
traveller rides up to within a few feet
of tho doom, which was once the bed
frame Of a cart body, now covered
with bear skins, and hung upon two
big wooden hinges.
After much shouting the inmate
appears, fiddle in hand, and evident
~ wrathy at being interrupted iii
the exercise of his art. The follow
ing colloquy ensues, the indeiatiga-
bic fiddler still playing the first
strain of "The Arkansas Traveller"
which. in fact, he continues, at sud
den intervals. until the dialogue, as
will be seen, is brought to an uneX
pected conclusion. If this ne not
seeking lodgings gsunder difficulties" ="
We should like to know what might
be legitimately 50 considered
Traveler-''Eriend, can / obtain
accommodation tor the night w,th
YOU ~
Ark. Artist No sir-'nary com
mediation"
Traveler-"My dear sir, | have al
ready travelled thirty miles to-day,
and neither myself nor my horse has
had a mouthiul to eat why can't
you accommodate me for the night ~
Ark. Artist-."Jcst Gaze it can't
be did. We're plum out OF every
thing to eat i'll the house. Bill's
gone to mill with the Last nubbin OF
corn on these premises, and il will
be nigh onto the shank of to-mOr-
row evening alore he Gums home un-
less suthin uncommon happens"
Travelel-"Iou surely have some
thing that | can feed my horse even
few potatoes would be better than
no food
Ark. Artist-'Stranger, our eatin'
roots gin out about a week ago; so
your chance is slim thar
Traveler-'But, my friend, | must
remain with YOU, any way. can't
90 any farther whether | obtain any
thing to eat or not. You certainly
will allow Inc the shelter OF your
ro0ia'
Ark. Artist-It can't be did, cid
boss. You see we'1e got only one
dried hide on the premises, and me
and the ole woman always occupies
that; SO where's your chance p
TIaveler-"Allow me to hitch my
horse to that persimmon tree, and
with my saddle and blanket FL
make a bed in the fence corner"
Ark. Artist-"liitch your horse
TO tllct 'simmon tree9 In a horn
In Il horn. Why, YOU must be a
nat'ral fool stranger, Don't you
see that's m,~and The ole woman's
only chance for 'simmon beer in the
tall of the Near2 If Your horse Is 81
tarnal hungry as yon say he is, he'd
girdlc il as high up as he could reach
afore morning. Hitch your hoss to
that tree ! 'spects not: no. no.
stranger, you can't come nary such
a dodge as that"
Our traveller seeing that he had
an original to deal with, and being
himself IN amateur performer on the
instrument TO which the settler was
so ardcntly attached, thought he
wonld change his tactics, and draw
his determined not-to.be Ghost out
little before informing him OF the
fact that he, too, could play "Arkan-
sas Traveller which once being
known, he rightly njectured would
be passport TO his better graces.
Traveler-"Well, friend, if | cam
stay, how far is it othc next house |!
Ark. Artist--."Tcn miles; an,
you'll think they're mighty long ones
too, atore you git thar. | came nigl
onto forgettin' to tell you, the hi!
creek isup; the bridge is scarricd off
there's nary ycarthlN chance TO fore
it; and if your bound to cross il
yer'li have to 60 about seven mile
| up stream, to old Dave Lody's pun
cheon bridge. through one of tn
darndcst bamboo swamps ever Not
see. reckon the bridge is standing
yct---'twas yesterday morning; tho
one end has started down streai
about fifteen feet or sich matter"
Travcler-"Friend, YOU seem con
municative and if It's no oilens,
I'd like TO know what you do for
living here! "
Ark Artist--"No oiiense on ycart
stranger; we just keep grocery
Travelcr--"A grocery! Where i
the name of all that is mercantl,
do your customers come from You
nca est ntIpHboi lSttii IilllcS ulSldlil
Ark. Artist-'The fact is, me an
the ole woman is the best custom
ers yet Tut We 'spects these diI
gings will improve too. llowson
ever, we do suthing now, even. NJ
and the ole woman took the ca
the other day, and went to town
, we bort a 5arl whiskey; and aft,
. we come home and gin to count Il
= balance on hand, we found thel
. want but jist one solitary pickayur
i. left, and as the old woman allus ca
( ries the pus, in course she had it,