Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1880 — Badly Confused. [ARTICLE]

Badly Confused.

Nothing aan b« more comical than the ■cared anxiety of a “cornered” party who doe* not know which aide of the fence to get down on. *A Southern paper tells the following: Soon after .the battle of Prairie Grove, three Confederate officers of rank came into our army to negotiate for an exchange of prisoners. Three Union officers were detailed to negotiate with them. One day, while the commission was in session, an old, gray-headed, graybearded Arkansas fanner walked in and asked: “Es this the Provo’s offls?” Some one attempted to explain, but the old fellow being quite deaf, did not understand, and said: “Yes, I’m a good loyal citizen; I’ve got my protection papers; I’ve been and got' paid for my forage. Its all right. ” “Look here,” said Col. W—-, of the Union army, “you had better be careful about what you say about your loyalty; don’t you see those gentlemen over there?” pointing across the table to where the Confederate officers sat in their gray uniforms. The old man took out a pair of dilapidated spectacles, and fixing them on his nose, closely examined the gray uniforms with their velvet collars and brass stars. His hands trembled violently, and he seemed quite frightened, but collected himself and said to the Confederates: “Well, gentlemen, I meant no offence. I didn’t know—fact is, I’ve alius been a Southern man. I’ve jest got one son, and he’s with Marmaduke. The only other man grown in my family that’s fit for sarvis is my darter Sallie’s husband, and he’s with Rector, and—” “Hold on, old fellow,” cried Col. W—, “what about your being a loyal citizen?” He looked at the other side of the table. Then he readjusted bis spectacles, scanned the blue coats, took off his handkerchief from about his neck, blew his nose, leaned both hands on the table and said: “Well, gentlemen, this is a little mixed, but you jist go on and fight it out among yourselves. I can live under any government. ” c