The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-10-29

you, Sam, tonight, on the levee. We
can take turns. You can watch till mid
night, and will watch till daylight.
don't mind sitting up at all, for I'm so
well and strong 1t won't hurt me O
bit"
The boy looked at her with surprise,
and then laughed outright.
why, mother, You must be crazy |
Do You suppose I'd let you do such q
thing? And you're awfully well and
strong, amt you, with chill and fever
every three days? No, l promised pa,
and he depends on me. What do YOU
think he'd say when he comes back to.
morrow il he found that | had let You
take my placer No, no, l cannot con-
sent to your doing 1t, mother. II I'm
not M strong as most boys, II won't kill
me TO promenade up and down the levee
for one night. Icln't understand what
you're scared about"
She was on the point Of telling him,
but she remembered what her husband
had said, and checked herself. "If you
see any persons on the levee, Sam,
you'll remember to do what your father
told you, and run to Blacks? Don't
stop to talk TO them"
"Oh, III remember. II You will give
me my supper now, I'll 60 on my watch
at once"
During the meal Sam chatted gayly.
He didn't believe anybody would be
mean enough to cut the levees. Oh, II
was impossible, and he thought his
father must be mistaken. Mrs. Dorsey,
in spite Of herself, caught something of
her sons bright hopefulness, and in some
degree was comiorled
am of now !" cried Sam, jumping
up, "I'll run ut once to Blacks II see
any one fooling around, so don't you feel
uneasy. ! won't be lonely either, .or /
have lots OF things to think about. |
tell you what I'll do, too. have my
whistle in my pocket, and every time |
get opposite the house III blow il SO you
will know I'm all right, and not asleep
on my post. But do go to bed and don't
SIT up.
There was no sleep 70. Mrs. Dorsey
that night. She sewed until her eyes
ached, aud then lay down on a lounge,
listening for the whistle which came at
almost regular intervals.
Meantime, Sam walked up and down,
his eyes fixed intently on the shadows
back and front Of the levee. But about
midnight, after the moon had risen,
Sam was startled by seeing dusky
figure at the base Of the levee rise sud.
denly from STOPPING posture. 1t was
30 unexpected that the boy, with his eyes
fixed on the figure, stood still minute,
but that time suiliced for him TO recog-
uize the man.
"Why, Webster, is that you?" he
cried, with laugh of relief. IL was
just about to clip it to Blacks, when l
saw II was you. Pa was afraid his levee
would be cut tonight, and told me to
give the alarm if saw any one skulk-
ing about. ] tell you what, l am glad
it turned out to be you. How is Phil q
"Phil's well, he answered sullenly.
80 you're the levee guard, is you2
Your pa left mighty puny somebody
TO watch his levee."
"Well, you see, don't really think
the lcvee needs Il guard. Now, Webster,
do you think that any body would be
mean enough to cut levee and ruin
people2 ?"
ayes, / does, and sarve 'em right,
too, the man muttered.
"You don't mean that" Sam said, his
voice full Of pain. al know you can't
mean it, for you wouldn't do such a
thing for the world. Phil used to tell
me what good daddy you were, and
when brought him things to eat he'd
put mp some for dad.
"You wor good TO him, the man said,
modify; staring ont over the water.
81 don't know about being good, Sam
answered, "for | like him, and he likes
me. He's to go on with his book when
this levec scare il over. Do you really
think the water will come over ?"
'Looks like your pas place mought
be drowned out. It's 80 low, and dcre's
II heap of crawiish holes in de levee."
Sam sighed deeply. "Well, if it does,
my father says he'll have to go away,
and it's too bad after he's worked 80
hard. Aud then | shall be obliged to
give up going to school. Thatll hurt
me terribly, for l wanted to learn all |
could. You see, my arm is 30 crippled
with rheumatism cant do hard work,
and have to makemy living by my head
If can't do it with my hands. I'd hate
to part with Phil, too, and he and |
would be very sorry"
The mans eyes softcned as the hoy
spoke. He was really fond of his own
little son, and he knew Sam had been n
kind friend to him. When he vindic-
lively determined to revenge himself on
Mr.. Dorsey, however thought of his being
the father OF the boy who had done 30
much for his poor little Phil. He wav-
cred for n moment in his dark project,
and Just then Sam said, -
1--WE stopped here chatting to you
longer than l ought, for pa told me to
keep walking up and down all the time.
My legs nre getting awful tired; but,
Webster, would You mind walking to
the south end of the levee while I'm ex.
aiming the north endp 1t will save
me one tramp at least
As Sam disappeared in his round, the
man actually laughed in his surprise.
"Ef dis amt de beatenest ting l eber
heard Of, and ef dat boy amt more like
one Of de 'Postles dan Twin folks He
can't tink harm oh ole Satan hisself.
Leavin' me to watch his pas levee, and
nebber suspicionin' / wor ready to cut
it l clar to gracious it's downright
funny. aint got it in my heart to hurt
dat little chap, and ef hurts his pa,
hurts him, and Of l hurts him, hurts
Phil. No, / can't do it, nohow. De
madness is all gone now, sure. Hi /!
wot's datp'
A little pool of water had gathered
around his feet. He struck match,
lighted lantern he carried, and saw n
small stream of water oozing from hole
about the middle Of the levee. In less
than an hour that hole would be Gre
vase. Without moments hesitation,
II ~ IN