Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-02-11
A1istellaueuns &eadiug.
THF ARKANSAW TRAVELLER.
As TOLD BY COLONEL "sANDY" FAULKNl

Lne OriSlu Vi GHe aIhduodW 1io'CiSt'
IColonel Sandy Faulkner, the original
Arkansw Traveller, was born in George
town, Scott county, Kentucky, March 3,
1903. He came to Arkansaw in 1920 and
settled in Chichot county on the Mississip-
pi River as cotton planter. In 1889, Col.
Faulkner, with his father, the late Nicho-
las Faulkner, Virginian by birth), took
up his residence in Little Rock where he
died August 4, 1874, at the age of seventy
one years.
1t is we'll known throughout the North
west that Colonel Faulkner was the origi-
nal personator of the "ArkansaW Traveller"
It was his pride to be known as such. The
story, it is said, was founded on a little Incl
dent which occurred in the campaign OF lS4O,
when he made the tour of the State in compa-
nv with the Hon. A. H. Server, Gov. t'ul-
ton, Chester Ashley, and Gov. Yell. One
day in the Boston mountain, the party ap-
preached squatter's for information OF the
route, and Col. SANDY" was made spokes-
man of the company, and it was upon his
witty responses the tune and story were
founded. On returning to Little Rock, a
great banquet was given in the famous
abar room'' which used to stand near the
Anthony House, and Colonel "Sandy" was
called upon to play the tune and tell the
story. Afterward it grew into popularity.
When he subsequently, went to New Or
leans, the fame of the "Arkansaw Traveller
had gone ahead of him, and at a banquet
amid clinking glasses and brilliant toasts, he
was handed a violin by the then Governor OF
Louisiana, and requested to favor them
with the favorite ArkansaW tune. At the
old st. Charles hotel a special room was de-
voted to his use bearing in gilt letters over
the door, "ArkansaW Traveler.'
DIALOGUE.
Traveler-Hello, stranger.
Stranger-Hello, yourself.
T.-Can get to stay all night with you?
S.-No, sir, you can't git TO-
T.-Have you got any spirits here:
S.-Lots NV 'em Sal seen one last night
by that ar ole holler gum, and it nearly
skeered her to death.
T.-You mistake my meaning ; have you
got any liquor?
S.-Had some yesterday, but old Bose,
he got in and Tapped all NV it out'n the pot.
T.-You don't understand; I don't mean
pot liquor. Pm wet and cold and want
some whisky. Have you got any?
S,-Oh, yes-Idrunk the last this mOrnln'
T.-I'm hungry; haven't had anything
since morning; can'tyou give me something
to eat?
S.-Hain't got a durn thing in the house:
Not a moufful of meat, nor dust NV meal
here.
T-Well, can't you give my horse some
thing?
Scot nothin' to feed him on.
T.-HoW far is it to the next house?
81 don't know, Ive never been thar.
T.-Well, do you know who lives here?
T.-As Pm so bold, then, what might
yO,,r nam mo ha 2O
Sit might be Dick, an it might be
Tom; but it lacks a right smart NV it.
T.-Sir! will you tell me where this road
goes to?
SITS never gone anywhar since I've
lived here; it's always thar when 1 git up
in the mornin'.
T.-Well, how far is it to where it forks?
SIT don't fork at all but it splits up
like the devil.
T.-As Pm not likely to get to any other
house tonight, can't you let me sleep in
yours; and I'll tie my horse to a tree, and
do without anything to eat or drink?
S.-My house leaks. Thar's only one dry
spot in it, and me and Sal sleeps nit. And
that thar tree is the ole woman's persim-
mon; you can't tie to it, cause she don't
want EN- shuk off, She lows to make beer
out'n 'em.
T.-Why don't you finish covering your
house and stop the leaks?
Sits been rainin' all day.
T.-Well, why don't you do it in dry
weather?
SIT don't leak then.
T.-As there seems to be nothing alive
about your place but children, how do you
do here, anyhow?
S.-Rurty we'll, I thank you, how do you
do yourself?
TT mean what do you do for living
here?
S.-Keep tavern and sell whisky.
T.-Well, l told you wanted some whis-
ky.
S.-Stranger, l bought bar'l morn'n a
week ago. You see, me and Sal went shars.
Arter we got it here, we only had bit
between US, and Sal she didn't want to use
hern fust, nor me mine. You see 1 had a
spiggen in one eend, and she in tother. So
she takes drink out'n my eend, and pays
me the bit for it; then I'd take one out'n
hern, and give her the bit. Well, wes
getting along fust-rate, till Dick, burned
skulkin' skunk, he bored hole in the bot
tom to suck at, and the next time l went to
buy drink, they want none thar.
T.-I'm sorry your whisky's all out but,
my friend, why don't you play the balance
of that tune?
S.-I'ts got no balance to it.
TT mean you don't play the whole Of it.
S.-Stranger, can you play the fiddul?
T.-Yes, little, sometimes.
S.-You don't look like a iddlur, but eff
you think you can play any more onto that
thar tune, you kin just try it.
The traveller takes the fiddle and plays
the whole of it..
S.-Stranger, tuck half ,luzen cheers and
cnf S0l cffn q IL
six-horse team in a mud hole. Go round
in the holler whar killed that buck this
mornin', cut off some ofthe best pieces, and
fotch it and cook it for me and this gentle
man, directly. Raise up the board under
the head of the bed, and git the old black
jug hid from Dick, and gin us some whiS-
ky /; l know thar is someleft yit. Til, drive
Ole Bose out'n the bread tray, and climb
up in the loft, and git the rag that's got the
sugar tied in it. Dick, carry the gentle
mans horse round under the shed, and give
him some fodder and corn much as he kin
eat.
Til-Dad, they amt knives enuff for to sot
the table.
S.-Whar's big butch, little butch, ole
case, cob-handle, granny's knife, and the
one 1 handled yesterday? That's nuff to
sot any gentleman's table, thout'n you've
lost um. Durn me stranger, eff you can't
stay as long as you please, and III give
you plenty to eat and drink. Will you
have coffee for supper?
T.-Yes, sir.
S.-I'll be hanged if you do, tho, we
don't have nothin' that way here, but Grub
Hyson, and reckon its mighty good with
sWeetenin'. Play away, stranger, you kin
sleep ON the dry spot tonight.
T.-(After two hours fddling.) My
friend, can't you tell me about the road Pm
to travel tomorrow
S.-To-morrow Stranger, you won't git
nut'n these diggin'S for six WeekSI But