The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-05-23

I traveller reached the house it was raining very hard, and he was anxious to obtain shelter from the storm, although the house looked anything but shelter, as 1t was covered with clapboards, and the rain was leaking in at every crack. The old mans daughter seemed to be getting supper, while small boy was laying the table, and the old lady sat in the door. way near her husband admiring the music.
 The stranger on coming up, said: "How do you do ?" The man merely glanced at him, and, continuing to play, said, |" do as please"
 Lum Ii tum, lum Ii tum, ii.
 $. Is your name To Anderson?
 o. M. Plain old Joe. Plays lum ty Ii tum, ti, Ii lum ii ii ty]
 s. Are you the landlord here?
 O. M. Go and ask my wife.
 Lum Ii Ii ty lum Ii sy tum.
 s. Can stay here2
 O. M. don't want you.
 Lum ii ty, lum ii ty tum.
 5. Where did you learn that tune?
 O. M. or man in Arkansaw. Now go about your business.
 Lum ii te.
 s. What kind of man was he?
 O. M. Oh, an old fool. Come to think of 1t, he looked like you.
 Lum Ii ty, lum ti ty, lum Ii ty ii.
 5. How long have you been living here?
 O. M. Dye see that mountain there2 Well, that was there when came here.
 s. Can stay here to night? I n M No vr, etax, ha~A
 Lum u tum, lum ti tum, lum ti tum-
 s. How long will it take me to get to the next tavernp
 O. M. Well, you will not get thar at all if you stand thar foohn' with me all night.
 Lum ti tum, lum ii tum, lum Ii tum- ti.
 S. We'll, how far de you call it to the next tavern
 o. M. I reckon it's upward of some distance.
 Lum ii tum, lum ii tum-ti.
 s: am very dry; do you keep any spirits in your house?
 O. NJ: Do you think my house is haunted3 They say there's plenty of them down to the graveyard.
 Lum Ii tum, lum ii tum, lum ii lum, ti 5. How do they cross the river ahead
 O. M. The ducks swim across. l Lum ti tum, lum ii tum, lum ti tum, ii. | s. How far is it to the forks of the roadt
 O. M. I've been living here nigh onto twenty years, and thar ain't no road forked yit
 Lum ti tum, lum ii tum, lun Ii tum, ti
 s. Give me some satisfaction, if you please, sir; where does this road go to? 1 0. M. Well, it hain't moved a step since I've been here. 1 Lum u tum, lum ti tum, lum ti tum, u.
 S. Why don't you cover your house it leaks? O. M. Cause it's raining.
 5. Then why don't you cover it when it's not raining2
 o. M. Cause it don't leak.
 Lam u tum, lum Ii tum, lum ii tum, ii. 1 5. Why don't you play the second part of that tune?
 o. M: lfyou are a better player than l am, play it yourself. I'll bring the i'd. dle out to you. don't want you in here. Stranger plays the second part of the tune.)
 O. M. Git over the fence and come in and sit down. didn't know you could play. You can board here if you want to. Kick the dog off that stool and set down and play it over again. Stranger plays second part) o. M. Our supper is ready now; won't you have some with us2
 s. you please.
 O. M. What will you take, tea or cof. fee2
 5. A cup of tea, if you please.
 O: M. Sal, git the grubbin' hoe and go dig some sassafras, quickI
 (O.d man plays the first part-lum Ii tum, lum q tum, lum ii tum ti-)
 s. (ro the little boy.) Bub, give me knife and fork, if you please.
 Boy. We hain't got no knives and forks, sir.
 5. Then give me spoon.
 Boy. We hain't got no spoons, neither. 5. We'll, then, how do you do7
 Boy. Iolerable, thank you how do you do, sir.
 (Plays second part-lum Ii tum, lum Ii tum, lum d tum.)
 O. M. Take this mans horse into the kitchen and give him the best in the house; the tunes worth it.
 The dialogue varies with the wit of the narrator, much of it being impromptu. Old residents of Cincinnati who have heard Tosso play this need not be told how in his happier moods he was won't to make the dialogue sparkle like the music. It would be a graceful bit of re- venge for our old bachelors and benedicts to arrange benefit performance for this genial old musician, and let the younger and irreverent generation hear and see for themselves what giants there were in the old days.