NOT TO BE HAD.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4131, 18 October 1884, Page 6 (Supplement)

NOT TO BE HAD.

Tore Arkansaw Traveller of Little Rock lias a humorous correspondent at Austin, Texas, who contributes the following to the latest issuo of the Traveller : — Arkansawyors will be respected hero in Texas, and" Austin especially, henceforth. A wagon went down Congress avenue the other day, driven by a mildeyed stranger, and stopped at a water-ing-trough to.let his horses drink from the hydrant. As tho waggon stopped a dozen flaxen heads wero thrust out at unexpected places, and a smart Austinito, stand in"- on the sidewalk, winked at his friends and said he would show them some fun, as he'd bet the traveller was from Arkansas. So he said, addressing tho waggoner: * How's water in Arkansas ?' 'Wet. How's it hycr?' asked the Arkansawyer. Tho bystanders laughed, and the smart Austin man said : ' People over there ain't like they aro anywhere else, I've heard. Is that so ?' < Wall, of you're like they airo anywhere else, they is different in Arkansaw.' The Austin man turned red, and the Arkansawyer asked : 1 Stranger, you've been in Arkansaw, haven't you ?' ' Oh, yes., 'Thought you were the samo man. Changed mightily since then, haven't you?' ' Well, I don't knew. Did you sec mo there.' 'Reckon I did. It was at papa's house you fotched up that time ?' ' What timo!' asked the Austin man, thinking to humor the mistake. ' Why, the time you followed a waggon frum Texas into Arkansaw to sco the hind wheel catch up with the fore wheel ; and tho town constable j' took you and sent you to school, saying such a fool olighter to be taken keer of. Didn't leurn much, though, did ye ? Must'cr run away from school afore you got through.' , The Austin man had ' to set 'em up to his friends, aud invited the Arkansawyer in to drink. As they were waiting for their glasses to be set out, the Austin man said he'd get evon, and so said: ' Say, Arkansaw, sco this knife ? Well, I'll bet you twenty dollars that you can go into the back yard and stick this big blade into anything you choose, and when you come back, I'll tell you where the blade is sticking.' 'I'll take ther bet,' said Arkansaw, putting up twenty dollars, the bar-keeper holding stakes. Ho took tho knifo, went into tho back yard, and, returning in a few minutes, asked i ' Wall, stranger, where's the blade stickin' ?

'In the handle. I guess I'll take the money, said the smart Austin man, whilo everybody laughed. 'Hole on a minute!' said Arkansaw, I guess yer made a mistake. I'll take that money. Here's yer durnrd handle and I driv' the blade in the box out thero. Thought yer left school too quick over in Arkansaw,' and he took the slakes and left amid the roar of tho crowd. Arkansawyers are respected here now.