The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-09
WHICH SIDE,
How the Traveller Got some rnforma,,o,

How the Traveller Got Some Tnformat,o,
and Criminal at the Same Time.
A traveller rode up to cabin not fa,
from the Mississippi river, and. calling
an old fellow, asked:
MY good sir, which side Of the rive,
am l on"
This SIDE" the old fellow answered.
"Thank you"
Tho traveller rode away. but about an
hour aftorward he came back.
Say he called, bccl,oning to the old
fellow, "como here a minute.'
Tho old fellow came out to the fence.
the traveller remarked:
81 came along hero just now and
asked which side Of the river was on. p
eyes"
"And you told me that 1 was on this
sidc?o
eyes"
Ged?"
Looked that way"
"Ah, hah, and now have come back
% tell you that you are a fool"
$50 are you"
Tho traveller rode away. About three
quarters Of an hour aftcrward he re-
turned.
"Sav."
"Woll, the old fellow answered, going
ont 20 the fence
"This morning ] asked you which side
Of the river ! was on.
"You did, fur a fack."
"And you said was on this sideYo
Eyes, and l amt took il back yet,
ruther."
"And rode away, and after awhile
came back and told you that you were a
fool"
"Thats what you done"
"And you said, so are YOU meaning
that was also q fooly"
eyes"
"Well, I have come back to tell you
that, after mature deliberation, have
decided that you are right. / might
have known that / was on this side, the
fact being that q man is always on the
side that he is on"
"Not always" the old fellow replied.
"fur sometimes the channel Of the river
changes an on o sudden, am then he's on
the other side"
ayes. that's so. Good-by."
Along toward night the traveller came
back. The old fellow met him at the
fence
"You remember me, do your the trav.
olcr asked.
eyes"
"You remember the drift Of a coBvor-
sation we once held, don't your
81 do"
"And you remember that we came to
the conclusion that man was always on
the side Of the river that he was on ex-
copt when the sudden changing of the
channel put him on the other side.
ayes, / remember"
"But there seems 20 be something
wrong with the conclusion, and I would
like TO call in the services Of a third
party. is there anybody in the housef'
"No."
"But is there not somebody you can
call TO our assistance. You may take
me TO be peculiar and perhaps / am, but
ia like to have this thing settled at any
rate. Suppose ] get down and stay all
night with YOU"
"Suthin' ! don't Tow foils ter do, but
MS YOU air the rankest fol ever seed ]
may have some fun outon you. Get
down.
The stranger tied his horse and accom-
panied the old fellow into the cabin.
''No one live here but you" the stran-
ger asked
ono"
"Got no wife5"
"Have not"
"Ought TO look round and pick up one.
Say, or-nevor mind, but (drawinga pis-
toll and pointing it at the old mani hold
up your hands Up. or I'll shoot you
That's it, Now, here, slip on these hand
cuffs, one at a time. Now you are all
right Sit down"
The old fellow sat down, and, after
elaring OF bis visitor. said:
"llay AK you TO explain these inter
estin' proceedin's.'
ooh. yes; you are wanted for stealing
ballot boxes and making mean whisky
Several smart men, as YOU may know
have tried at different times TO take you,
but have failed, so it was suggested that
a fool should be sent out after you
For some time the old fellow sat in
silence. At last be said: 81 wish you'd
lead me down to the river and let mo
jump in"
eyes. but which side are YOU onE
"1hats an right, podneri l knuckle.'
-f-.t.atr. 0rrnVaf.r