The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-05-08
Written for The ArkGnsa0 Trurc5er.
 A TENNESSEE SKETCH.
By Ralph Chiffon.

IA1OSC UhO AAN v III bllC POI biOA Ok Tennessee, for a traveller who is willing to put up with the accommodations can always find food and shelter Although he may be fortunate enough to stay one night in white house with glass win dows," it is more than probable that he will spend the next in cabin. But whether he stops at a mansion or a cabin, he will be kindly treated, and never turned out into the storm.
 Driving up late one evening to a double log cabin, the writer inquired if he could stay all night.
 Wall, reckon you kin try Fur I tell you, mister we can't promise to give yer nuthin' more'n a little bread en meat"
 Having allayed the fears of mine host in regard to the question of provisions, proceeded to unhitch After putting the horse in pole stable and giving him generous supply of horse-weed" !" hay and sorghum seed, went to the house. With wave of his hand the gentleman of the house ushered me in. His wife bowed, the children gig gled the hound howled as 1 incau- tiously stepped on his caudal appendage, and amidst the confusion l sat down It would be hard to find two persons so different in their general appearance as this man and his wife He was tall and slab-sided," having the appearance of a man who had been sat down on v and fattened. His bushy, clay-colored whiskers stuck out on each side of his face, while his bushier hair seemed per fectly innocent of any knowledge of a comb. It might be possible that he was Dunkard, for, like Samson, it was very evident that neither his hair nor his beard had ever had more than a passing acquaintance with razor or scis- sors. His wife was low, stout woman, with face like full-moon. Her hair was black, and she wore it twisted in huge knot at the back of her head, and although they were so dissimilar as to their looks. they were perfectly matched as to education and social position. Ten children, whose ages ran from two years old up to fifteen, were occupying various positions about the room. Some standing in a corner, others under the bed, were peering out at the stranger, while the oldest, girl, stood before a broken piece of leoking-glass arranging her auburn-colored locks. After par taking of a very frugal supper, my host pulled out his cob pipe and prepared to enjoy himself The children by this time had become sufficiently acquainted with the traveller to not allow his pres ence to interrupt them in making all the noise it was possible for them to ex- tract from their lusty lungs. The father sat gazing placidly into the fire, the noise apparently having no effect upon him whatever. At last to the cary travellers great relief the mother as serted her authority, and in loud, screeching voice commanded silence.
 q never seed sich young 'uns in my life. Wy, would gist ez liv be in CT lions den. You rip en tar erround like you wuz gone mad. I believe every fetchtaked one uv you is dog bit, or wuz borned in the wrong time uv the moon, 1 don't know which. You Jim Dick, whut in ther thunderation air you CT draggin' that cat over this floor fur? Some uv ye go en git me CT switch en I'll put CT sweet taste in his mouth Wa'al, mister, did you ever see CT lot of gist sieh young uns?
 "They are inclined to be little noisy
 Noisy the mischief I would ruther hear CT yaller dog CT barkin, en hit in CT holler log, then ter be in all this fuss en upstirment. wuz sick all uv last fall with ther chills en didn't whup none uv ye en you air mighty nigh gone wild  From this on when 1 tell you ter go you he'd better march, en eff I tell yer to stop, it'll pay yer not ter go ernuther notch furder fur gist ez shore ez you air Twin en am CT Twin I'm gwinter lar rup ye"
 How much longer the old lady's har- angue would have lasted it is impossible to say but feeling that 1 was intruding upon the privacy of the family, I mod estly inquired where l would sleep Turning to her husband the old lady said
 Jeff, go with ther stranger en let him lie on thet pallet in the furderest cornder uv the loft.