Transcriber's Notes: Underscores "_" before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_ in the original text. Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals. Old or antiquated spellings have been preserved. Typographical errors have been silently corrected but other variations in spelling and punctuation remain unaltered. In TOC, page no. for "Bob Munn of Cape Cod" was corrected from 14 to 16. Tar-Heel Tales IN VERNACULAR VERSE. [Illustration] BY _MAJOR JEP JOSLYNN_. NEW YORK: M. DOOLADY, 98 NASSAU STREET. 1873. “LITTLE BOOTS.” MY RERLIGION. THE BUZZIN’ BEES OF BERKS. BOB MUNN OF CAPE COD. Tar-Heel Tales IN VERNACULAR VERSE. [Illustration] _BY MAJOR JEP JOSLYNN_. ILLUSTRATED BY BONAR. NEW YORK: M. DOOLADY, 98 Nassau Street. 1873. Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1873, BY J. E. P. DOYLE, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. AUTHOR’S PREFACE. The author of this little volume, in presenting it for the amusement of the reader, and the criticism of his co-laborers on the press, feels it proper that he should state the circumstances of its production. While serving as a staff officer with Sherman’s army in North Carolina, often has he listened for hours to the recitals of adventures on the part of the Tar-Heel refugees from the pineries, who crowded our camps in search of food. Having studied with interest the habits and quaint dialect of this poor, but honest class, the author has created Major Jep Joslynn, and permitted him to weave some of these “Tales” into verse. The incident described in “The Buzzin’ Bees of Berks” were actually witnessed by him while on the advance of Hambright’s brigade of the Fourteenth corps, assisting in the prevention of pillage. Two or three of these Tales have been published in the press over Major Joslynn’s signature. With these explanations the author will take a back seat and request silence from pit to dome while the veracious Tar-Heel entertains you with his Vernacular Verses. HORACE GREELEY. BY JEP JOSLYNN. Hush! a nation’s pulse stands still! Through it is flashed a thrill Of genuine grief! Grief for the Great and Good— Grief for the one who stood In strong relief, And half a century braved Opinion for the enslaved, To find his name engraved On Life’s clear leaf!