The Volcano lubricator. (Volcano, W. Va.) 1871-1879, 1873-12-09
The Actors Travelling Companion

was IN the West, but yet not so tar
towards the setting sun but that the
people, echoing the advice Of the dead
Sage of Chappaqua, could properly
say, Go west, young man; so west"
In short, | was near the centre of this
great and growing country. had
been travelling in the cars for a couple
of days; and, having arrived at small
town in Illinois, on my way to visit an
acquaintance who resided about SIX
miles Of the line Of railroad, hired
young fellow to carry me in his "rig"
to my destination. He was green
looking, good-natured honest sort OF
fellow, and I saw at once that / had
fallen afoul of real Western charac-
ter. He drove a pair of black horses
hitched to small buggy, all the bolts
and other iron-work Of which latter
ratified like chime OF bells, minus the
melody-or perhaps the sound was
more like that of tine variety Of bells
tangled on the average New York rag
cart; while as for the harness, it was a
sight-all the ends were hang ing loose,
and the leather displayed white rings
innumerable.
We had journeyed but short dis
lance when Jehu wanted to know II l
was acquainted in those parts. l ans
wered him: mo; not much" "Where
be you frum?" "New England" /
replied. "The deuce you be-" "4es."
"What business mought yer be imp
I told him I "mought" be in the shoe
business, but wasn't was an actor.
"Thunderatienw he exclaimed, staring
opened -mouthed at me, and taking me
in from top to toe. "Y-e-w don't say
so, Not an acter?" eyes" 81 swan
never shud have thunk it; and you
SO small! A little Teller like you to
act OH the staging! l s'pose yer've
bin about all over this ERE State, and
New England inter Their bargain, ain t
ycr?" Eyes" answered; Il have
seen some Of the country" "Wall'
now, s'pose yer've bin tew Ner York,
amt yer?" ooh, yes; frequently
"Philerdelfy?" Eyes, Philadelphia"
"But yer amt bin ter St. LOUISE" "Oh,
yes" "By COLL! Yer amt bin ter ST.
Louis, now, have-whoa, Jen" he
suddenly shouted to his nigh horse,
who SHE'D at a lot OF black pigs on one
side OF the road. "By COLL! Now, l
alters thought I'd like to be an acter
Teller. an go round that ERE way. But
say, now, yer amt bin in Orleans'"-,
"Yes, indeed" "Oh, yer don't mean
it. Not in Orlcens?" reproachfully
this. eyes" "Well, by COLL, I'll stick
yer now. Yer've never halted in Salt
Lake City," "Once" Thunder!
Wall, give it up. No, I won't nuth-
erl I know a place yer ncOer WIS
It's little darned hole way down in
Maine 'mongst the hills. No railr Dad
nor nuthin', an bout the only way yer
kin git ter it is ter git right over it an
drap down ont like henhawk." 81
have been to such places. Which one
do you refer to-" "Dixield, Maine,
Oxford County, by thunder! Now,
; have yer ever bin thar" "My friend,
/ was born in that same Dixfeld. -
Thunder and guns! Wall, III be goll-
darned eff yew don't beat me! Why,
my old man wus born down thar. BY
COLL, never see nuthin' like it! Thun-
der an lightnin'! what's yer name?-
III be goll-darned eff ever l thought l
shud run cross a Teller from Dixfeld,
Maine, agin! Give US yer hand
What'd yer say yer name wus? I be
darnedw
told him my name, and that SEEM
ed to astonish him even more than
my birthplace had.
"Wall. blast my pictur'! Ell this
don't beat all mater, then I wouldn't
say so. Why, my ole dad lived thar
till I wus six years old, and then he
up stakes and cum out}rere. My dads
names Hezekiah Hopkins. Darn it
all! you used ter drive dads COWS when
yer wus down in Dixfeld, didn't yeri"
I nodded assent.
~ remembur all about it now," he
continued. "By COLL, yes; an l re-
..S,l,. ,l>or +;,,>a ,popte5 RI horror