Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-11-12
HE DIDN'T INQUIRE.
And Hence He Obtained No Information
 Until It Was Too Late.

A Methodist circuit-rider travelling through Central Indiana on horseback came one day to a swollen stream, writes Ed R. Pritchard in the Arkansaw Traveller. While hesitating whether or not to venture into i.sA raging waters, he spied native seated oH log on the opposite bank; think ing to get some Information, he hailed him, and the following dialogue ensued:
 Hello, over therc!''
 Hello, yourself,'' was the answer
 "ls this stream fordablel"
 ''SonletlileS it Is, au' sometimes it taint."
 ''Ho.y Is it to-tlay!"
 "PU;ty well, I guess; hevent heard it comp!ainin' enny."
 "I ou don understand me, my friend. I mean, can 1 ford it now?"
 Kin if you want to; Ihev no objections"
 ''Wen, is it safe:''
 ''Is what safeln
 sThe water.n
 'It's a thunderin' sight safer'n red hcker''
 'Do you think my horse would carry me over!''
 Il How could tell better after I've seed him try it''
 My frlcnd,' said the traveller, little out of patience at this sort of badgering, ''you certainly ought to be able to tell me what want to know. Do you live along this stream!' |.
 "No, don't, you goggle-eyed old tramp, you! Think I'm a shilepoke an' live in the crick, do you? If had rock I'd knock you offen that critter''
 "My friend,' the minister hastened to ex-, plain, ''I meant no offense. What intend ed to ask was, do you live in this neighbor- hood2''
 ''Oh. that's nuther thing" answered the Hoosier. Yes, 1 live bout a mile on van side O the crich,' pointing towards the side on Which his interlocutor stood.
 "N ell, If undertake to cross over will you lend me hand if get into trouble3"
 "Don't see but what would"
 "All right, then, I'll try it."
 The minister urged his horse into the water, and d minute later had reached the opposite side safe and sound, but dripping wet. As hs horse scrambled up the bank he said to the Hoosier:
 ''l should think you'd have a bridge over this stream here's
 Well, 1 dunno,'' replied the fellow, cool ly, ''seein' as there's one only about half a mile up stream from here an a nuther'n less'n Q quarter jess below us It would be sticken' 'em in ruther thick, I'm thlnkin'; sides, We haint got OUT new iail and courthouse paid fer yit.''
 "Whst!' cried the vater-soaked traveller 'do you mean to say that by riding quar- ter of a mic down the stream could have found a good bridget"
 "Ies, low you'd a found it there, fer crossed it myself bout an hour ago.
 Why didn't you tell me that before swan my horse over!' asked the now thor oughly disgusted minister.
 "Well," answered the native, "you seemed so durned anxious ter find out whether you couli ford the crick or not that didn 'spose you d go to the bridge if I did tell you; sides, you didn't ask me, no- how. Yer jess like lots O fellers Eve met afore, that kin ask more fool questions in CT minute than jestus of the peace could answer in a week. If I wuz you, stranger" he continued, I'd kinder be movln'; it's two miles to the next house, but they'll probably take you in an give you some dry clothes an good supper. As for me, I've got sono mink traps sot up the crick hero an I'll have to be shovin' erlong. Nex' time you come this way you'd better take the bridge"