The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-08-30
FOR POsT-MORTEM USE.
why a Meuntafneer Would Not Sell
His Crop of Walnuss.

AS 1 pulled up out of the steepest part
of the Cumberland Mountain road and
drove along the bench of the mountain,
with a beautiful view off down the val
ley, I stopped a moment to gaze upon the
loneliness of nature and to breath in deep
~draughts of the invigorating mountain
air.
At a turn into a little recessed vale I'M
der the crag stood a vine-clad cabin, much
better in appearance than any l had seen
since crossing over to the Tennessee side
of the mountain. About it was a thrifty
little mountain farm, and on the woodpile
in front sat a solemn specimen of the
male mountaineer.
GOOD mcrning," I said to this, 'tcan
| you tell me where William Skaggs 1ives?'
What do you want NV him, Stranger"
he replied.
There was no use of contending a point
on the ground that it was none of his
business what / wanted with Mr.. SkaggS,
because | was sure to gain nothing by 1t,
SO l submitted.
ri understand he has some walnut trees
for SALE" / said.
"He haint got any ow.'
How do you know?" l asked, in some
surprise, for the usual mountaineer was
not so communicative
Gaze I'm William Skaggs, an I reckon
I ought to know what Bills got"
"Oh, l beg your pardon l fastened to
explain. .'Of course, I did not know who
you were. They told me at Gray's Mill
last night that you had a lot of walnut"
.WelI, they wuz about half right, stran-
ger, but since day before yiStiddy things
has changed. The Skaggs has had a scrim-
mage with the Hankins n there's likely
to be war fer the next six months or a
year. Thar's about forty-six men on our
side to about fifty on t'other side. But
they air por white trash Twin in hogpens,
kinder, while we has places Xix this"
| sweeping his land coward his house and
farm, .and we air proud NV ourselves and
| amt goin' 10 git below the level that We
| air useter. That's why there amt no wal
nut trees fer sale. Every one NV them
| Hankins that we air goin' to do away with
is goin' to his last rest in a yaller poplar
| box, but when a Skaggs has a funeral
you'll see him goin' down to the last
restin' place in a walnu coffin. Thats
| what. and them trees NV mine'll furnish
tn timber. That's why they amt fer
sale, mister, just at present."-Washing-
ton Star.
Long Service.
On August IS, Justice Stephen johnson.
Field broke the record for length OF SER
vice as a member of the United States
Supreme Court. Chief Justice Marshall.
whose appointment by President Adams
was confirmed on December 81, 1901, SER
we'd until his death on July +, 1850 JUS
tice Field was appointed by President
Lincoln on May 8, 1863, but he was not
sworn in until May 20. and for record pur-
poses the lapse of time seems to COM
| puted from that date.
Justice Field was eighty years. old last
| November. yet there is no reason to believe
| that he considers his strength as yet uii-
equal to his day. His reverend father
lived to be e~ighty-six; his elder brother.
David Dudley. lived to see his ninetieth
wear: his brother Cyrus sunk under a
weight of misfortune at seventy-three,
! and his brother Henry is still, at seventy
| FIVE. the vigorous editor of the "Evangel-
jst.'s-Harper's Weekly.