Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-09

houses. plain pine boards, cut round, with
others about six inches smaller that re-
volve On top. on which were placed the
few dishes, that contained the grub"
which consisted of corn bread, fat meat,
and molasses. We were hungary, and
SO We ate rather hearty meal. as the
supply seemed to DC inexhaustibie. All
were seated around the table, except the
eldest boy, who sat near the outer door
with Sis rife in his hands seemingly
cleaning it, but could tell from his quick.
nervous glance at Brown and myself
that cleaning the weapon was q bluff.
a happy thought was suggested to me
by banjo, which hung on the wall
Now, | thought, someone must be a
performer. 1 will just get them TO ~
a few tunes, and then 1 will show them
what banjo playing is because I was
raised on a Nirginia rplanta ton, So after
supper, [ suggested a little music. Our
host, whose name proved to be Martin
said he liked a little tune '.wunst on a
Wills, but was sorry that the strings
was bruck.''
Then was Browns chance to get in the
first word of the evening III YOU will
get my sample-case.' he said. 81 will fur
nish the strings That seemed to please
me Old man. so out he went and soon
returned. The strings We're produced, and
soon ne was playing for all he was worth.
Alter some little time, he stopped sud
oeenlE, looked up at me- and said,
stranger, amt you'ns some kinder play
l told him I could strike few chords.
SO he handed me the instrument
struck up Chicken in De Bread Tray
and Leather Breaches followed The
old man began to look pleased, his lower
Jaw dropped about four inches, and staid
down till I struck up The Arkansas
L a ont 1y- -a1
tor ne made me sing it over three or
four times. Then the aforementioned.
bl,le-eyed rudy complexioned girl whis-
pered something to ST. and ST in like man
ner transmitted it TO old man Martin
and finally it reached me in this shape
say, stranger. our little sal seq kin
you rs sing er luv sonS?''
Well, he hit my frock suit chat is, my
long suit, you know. Could /? Well, you
bet your buttons 7 could. and would; so [
sang. Tell Me With Your Eyes and
Finally. | sung Just Break the News
to Mother Well if l had not sung thar
song, l might have been out in Ashe
county s now It seems that they had a
and the old lady thought | made the song
UP as I went along.
Now, this is how the song saved me.
When I finished the first verse, the old
Wus you'ns in de war;"
Here an idea struck mel
Yes, marm," / replied.
Did you'ns ever know'd Ter boy named
Martini
Why, yes, of course I did,
We'll. we'uns lost 'er son in de war"
Why, bless my soul. my dear woman
twas your son the one that | saw take
that flag on that hot July day. and then
| wrote the song: I've just sung, His
nafe was Martini
My trump was led. and my jack was
made ] owned the place in less than
two minutes. We spent a very pleasant
night except for the .sobs that came from
the broken heart OF Il rough ignorant,
mountain woman.
The next morning they wanted us to
spend week. but We declined with
thanks, and that night, when We reached
little country depot, it looked as big as
New York in a fog.
After sending the following telegram to
my house. l went to a thankful sleep:
Roads heavy. Can't work Ashe coun-
ty.''
Note-The dead son came home about
two months later SO | heard; but you can
rest assured neither Brown nor myself
ever worked Ashe county again.