"The Wayfaring Stranger's Notebook" is a delightful compendium of cultural detritus Ives must have gathered in his travels:
Down in the Arkansas is one of my favorites:


Dr.Sam. How do you do stranger?
Mountaineer. Do pretty much as I please, sir.
Dr. Sam. Stranger, do you live about here?
Mountaineer. I reckon I don't live anywhere else!
Dr. Sam. Well, how long have you lived here?
Mountaineer. See that big tree there? Well, that was there when I come.
Dr. Sam. Well, you don't need to be so cross about it. I wasn't asking improper questions at all!
Mountaineer. I reckon there's nobody cross here except yourself!
Dr. Sam How did your potatoes turn out here last year?
Mountaineer. They didn't turn out at all; we dug 'em out!
Dr. Sam. Can I stay here all night?
Mountaineer. Yes you kin stay right were you air, out on the road.
Dr. Sam. How far is it to the next tavern?
Mountaineer. I reckon it's upwards of some distance.
Dr. Sam. How long will it take to get thre?
Mountaineer. You'll not get thre at all if ye stay here foolin' with me.
Dr. Sam. How far is it to the forks of the road?
Mountaineer. It ain't forked since I been here.
Dr. Sam. Where does this road go to?
Mountaineer. It ain't gone anywhere since I been here-jist stayed right here.
Dr. Sam. Why don't you put a new roof on your house?
Mountaineer. Because it's rainin and I can't.
Dr. Sam. Why don't you do it when it's not raining?
Mountaineer. It don't leak then.
Dr. Sam. Can i get across the branch down here?
Mountaineer. I reckin you kin, the duck's cross whenver they want to.