The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-09-27

though one end had started down stream
about fifteen feet, or such matter"
Friend, you seem communi-
cative; and if it's no offense, I'd like to
know what you do for living here 2"
Arkansas Artist-"No offence on yearth,
stranger. We keep grocery"
Iraveler-"A grocery! Where, in the
name of all that is mercantile, do your Gus.
toners come from2 Your nearest neighbor
is ten miles distant !"
| Arkansas Artist 1.-THE fact is, me and
the ole woman is the best customers yet !;
| but we 'spect these diggins will improve,
and in course business will improve too.
liow'sever, we do suthin now even. Me
and the ole woman took the cart t'other
day, went to town; we bort bar1 of
whisky and arter we come home and gin
to count the balance on hand, we found
thar want but jist one solitary picayune
left, an as the ole woman ollus carries the
puss, in course she had it. Well, [ sot the
bar'l agin one side of the ROOM and short
ly arter the ole woman sez "Spozen YOU
tap your end of the bar'l," and did and
she bought drink, and paid me the
Plcayunc. Pretty soon l begun to get
dry, and SEE |: "Ole woman, spozen
did and then she sells me drink; and
the way that picuyune travelled bacls'ards
and tor'ards over the bung Of that bar'l is
caution to them as loves "red eye" But
stranger, losses is apt to come in every bus
mess and me and the ole woman has lost
some i'll the grocery line and I'll tell you
how twas That boy Bill, our oldest son,
ne sec how the Ticker was goin', and he
didn't have nary red to .jine in the retail
business so one mite he crawls under the
house, and taps the bar'l atwixt the cracks
IN the punchcon floor and | rally believe
hcs got more than me or the ole woman
either; the good for nothin' vagabond to
come the giraf over his material born par
ents it's cnuf to make man sour agin all
creation; that boy'll be the ruinaton of us
yet. lie takes to trickery jist as material as
hungry 'possum takes to henroost.-
Now, stranger, what on yearth am to do?
He beats me and the ole woman entirely"
Traveler-"It would be difficult to ad-
wise in regard to your son, as have no
family ofmy own. You say it's ten miles
to the next house the big creek is up; the
bridge is carried away; no possibility of
lordlnS IT. and seven miles through Il
swamp to the only bridge in the vicinity !
This is rather gloomy prospect, particu-
larly as the sun is just about down still
my curiosity is excited, and as you have
been playing only one part of the "Arkan-
sas Traveller" since my arrival, l would |
like to know, before l leave, why you don't |
play the tune through"
Arkansas Artist-"For one of the best |
reasons on yearth, old hoss-I can't do it, |
| huI lar l,f. t,,rn ,f tI,,,t t,1,
drat me if believe l ever shall.n
Traveler-"Give me yorr instrument, |
and I'll see il l can't play the turn for
YOU"
Arkansas Artist-"Look o. here, my
friend, do you play the turn of that
tchune ?"
Traveler--"I believe can"
Arkansas Artist-"Lite, lite, old boss I! ! |
we'll find u place for you in the cabin,
sure ! Ole woman! ole woman! "a "hallo!"
within the shanty was the first indication
the traveller had Of any other human being
on the premises,) the stranger plays the
turn of the "Rackensack Traveller" My |
friend, hitch your boss to the 'simmon tree,
or any where else you please. Billll be
here soon, and he'll take keer of him. Ole
you call Sal and Nance up from
the spring; tell Nance to 90 into the spring
house, and cut off good large piece OF bar
steak, to brile for tue strangers supper;
tell Sal to knock over Il chicken or two,
and get out some flour dons and chicken
ixens for the stranger. (Bill just heaves in
sight, twenty-tour hours earlier than was
half hour before.) Bill Bill |
there's stranger here, and he plays the turn
Of the "Rackensack Traveller" Go to the
corn crib and get big punlin and bring
it to the house, so the stranger can have
'uthing TO sit on and skin a later long with
me and the ole woman while the gals is
gettin' supper; and, Bill, take the boss aud
give him plenty of corn no nubbins, Bill;
then rub him down well and when you
come to the house, bring up dried hide
and bar skin for the stranger to sleep on;
md then, Bill, reckon he'll play the turn
Of the "Rackensack Traveller" for U.S.