American Ballads and Folk Songs: page - 0368

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	American Ballads and Folk Songs
	the guise of the Arkansas Traveller, and make his way up to the front part of the circle around the player, who would stop a litde, maybe to tighten a string, . . . when the stranger asks him a question. Of course I do not remember the entire dialogue—I do not know if it was ever given twice the same way. It was a matter of improvisation, depending on the skill and ability of the players, the humor they were in, the time at their command, and the extent to which the audience could arouse them to enthusiasm. The first question was by the traveller: Traveller: How do you do, stranger? Squatter: Do pretty much as I please, sir. {Plays first fart.) Traveller: Stranger, do you live about here? Squatter: I reckon I don't live anywheres else! (Plays first fart otdy.) Traveller: Well, how long have you lived here? Squatter: See that big tree there? Well, that was there when Iconic {Plays first fart.) [268]