The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1884-12-13
.oLD AMAzIN' eRAcEp
[Opie P. Read, in Courier Journal.


The country advances; the light of
new ideas dawn; machinery lessons the
toll of m an-but the Arkansaw squatter
sees no turn of the wheel, hears not the
new hum of growing industry. Cities
and large towns have sprung into exis-
tence, but rather than become identined
with their civilization, he follows the
track of the retreating bear, and again
builds his rude cabin in a domain tree
from hurry and shove, where, at evening,
when he sits under the green tree that
shades his door, he can hear the howl of
the wolf and listen to the scream Of the
inspiring panther. He does no, often
change the scene of his primeval habi-
tation, for civilization is not race-horse,
nor does enlightenment sneak up and
surprise community.
A few months ago, Colonel w. P.
Grace, one of the most prominent lawyers
of the state, had occasion to make a
horseback journey into a Wild district
lying between two great mountains Of the
Ozark range. One day, while the heat
was intense, he came upon small log
house surrounded by fence of poles.
An old fellow with long yellow whiskers,
like the dead silk on an ear of corn, sat
on the fence, engaged, it seems, in the
work of killing buffalo gnats.
4" How are you 2" said the colonel,
refining up his horse.
=" Little pearer than wuz, but | amt
SO powerful peart yit," slapping at gnat.
viii you be so kind as to bring me
dipper of water?"
:" Dpper p he repeated contemptu-
ously. 81 amt seed dipper sense
went down ter take a look at the legi.-
latur. Eff yer drink here, stranger, yer'll
halter dunk outen gourd. Want it z"
Yes; am thirsty enough to drink
out of straw hat"
The old fellow went into the cabin and
soon returned with a gourd, dripping
with water. The colonel took the vege-
table vessel. turned it up, but only for
moment. Splitting out the water, he re-
turned the gourd and said:
Put Thermometer in that water and
it would run up to hundred and fifty"
Don't know bout that, cap'n but
put wiggletail in it an he'd caper
round nightly"
when did you draw it ?"
"Wa'n't drawed; it was fotch."
when did you bring it from the
spring?"
Day afore yistiddy."
Why haven't you brought some
since Z"
"'Cause this amt give out yit, an
anuther reason is, wife she's down with
the chills."
Cant you leave her long enough to
get waterl'
"rain't that She amt able to go
airter it. She tends ter the water"
" How far is the spring."
Bout three miles"
(Which direction?'
Fust one an then luther. Paths
powerful crooked
why don't you dig a well ?"
Weather's too hot"
Why don't you dig one when it's
csld?"
"Cause the grounds friz"
How far is it to the next house 2"
"Thar amt none"
whats your name, my friend ?"
Patterson. What's your namer'
"My name is.Grace."
"What ?" exclaimed the squatter,
dropping the gourd. "Air yer the Teller
they sings about at church? Yer amt
old Amazin' Grace, air yer? Well, dog
my cats. Git down. I've been wantin'
ter meet yer ever sense heard 'em sing
about yer so much. | reckon yer air
powerful hand at rasslin', hain't yer?
Jis' git off an fling me down once.
never wur flung yit, an daddy he told
me fore he died that Grace would come
long arter a while an fling me. Yer wus
mighty long time comm, but yer air
here at last. What, yer amt gwine ter
leave? Don't reckon daddy knowed
what a man I'd be agin yer got here.
Wall, er good-by, Grace, don't reckon I'll