Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 July 1884 — Didn’t Know Jim. [ARTICLE]

Didn’t Know Jim.

Some time ago a prominent Northern gentleman was in the mountains of western North Carolina, with a view of purchasing some mineral lands. One night just at sundown he came upon a mountain hut. A venerable tar-heel met him at the door with customary, “lite, stranger. ” He asked if he could stay there that night, and being answered in the affirmative he “lit,” went in and took a seat by the fire while the old man went to put up his hoijse. Presently he returned and took a seat beside the stranger. Then taking a chew of long green tobacco, he looked the stranger over and asked: “And what mout be your name, stranger?” Being told, he spit and continued : “And whar are ye from ?” “The city of New York,” replied the gentleman. “Radical, I reckon?” spitting and looking up at the gentleman. “Yes, sir; I have always voted the Republican ticket.” “Were you in the war?” “Yes, sir, I served about four years in the late war.” “In the Yankee army, was you?” “Yes, sir.” “Well, by golly, my boy Jim was in the Yankee army; you know’d him I reckon?” “No, sir; I don’t remember of having met him’” “What! you in the Yankee army and didn’t know Jim Miller ?” “I don’t think I ever heard of him before,” answered the stranger. The old man gave him a good look all over, then got up and went over to a corner of the cabin where his wife and daughter were, and said in a low voice: “You 'uns keep your eyes skinned to-niglit; that fellow says he was in the Yankee army; and he didn’t know Jim. I’ll be a mule he’s one of them darned revenue fellers, and I’ll just step over and tell the Tompkins boys to lay low for a day or two.” — Peck’s Sun.