Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1891-09-16
SAVED THE LEVEE.

For days the river had been rising.
The levees above were gone for miles
and miles, and the mad waters had
swept over the banks, carrying fortunes
and even lives before them. On one Of
the big plantations opposite Shreveport
every effort was being made to with
stand the flood. lands were collected
ON every cabin and recruited from all
the adjoining places to strengthen the
water soaked levees, which shook on the
pressure of mans foot.
1t was almost dusk, but the men who
had not rested for days worked with
the strength Of fresh vigor as the voice
of Tom Aiken, the planter, directed
which seemed SO hopeless as the water
crept steadily and steadily higher But
for the fact that every one was busy
with his work, little negro boy, who
suddenly dropped his spade and stole
away betwixt the wheels of the big sand
wagon, might have been seen as he sour
ried away around the curve in the en-
bankment.
He ran quickly along for full quar-
ter of a mile without looking back, down
the narrow, slippery road that was left
between the cotton rows and the levee
The boy slackened his pace when no be-
came convinced that no one was in pur-
suit of him, and as he did so he heard
the loud, CHEEKY voice Of Tom Aiken
back at the break, "All worl, together,
boys!'
"Huh? All work together" the boy
said. "Yessir, but you bet dis here Mig
ger done tired er workin togedder. Jso
gwine to sleep, is. an shet my eyes
fur two whole days an nights, an gwine
round tho pint to Aunt Why's an go to
Sleep"
In his eagerness to reach the coveted
goal the little negro quickened his pace
again. 1t was now almost dark, but his
eyes had grown accustomed to tho
gloom. He could see the curving line of
tho levee, which seemed to tremble with
q premonition of its own inadequacy.
He could see all the water pools in the
road. His little legs had measured per-
haps q mile more when the ominous roar
of the river made him stop and peer over
the levee at the rushing waters.
AS he scrambled up the slippery bank
a clod of loosened earth fell heavily into
the road below, and through the orifce
which it left q little stream Of muddy
water trickled. The boy caught his
breath quickly when the water run over
his hand.
"Lordy" no exclaimed. "Dere's gwine
to DO n break right here. Lordy! Lordy!
what I gwine do?" :
He stopped to reconsider. There was
still another milo before no could reach
tho Point, and he knew there were only
few old women In the cabins there,
and he could get no help from that
source. It was moro than mile back
TO where the men were working, and he
was afraid to show himself there after
having run away. Besides there was
not n moment to lose. What was to be
done must be done at once. The boy
knew that great responsibility rested
upon him. If the little opening were
not stopped Immediately 1t was only q
question of few moments before the
whole leveo would be swept away.
He stood up and looked about him.
There was no one in sight. He thought
he might find bag Of sand dropped by
passing wagon, but there was none.
With sudden purpose he turned and sat
down over the little crevice through
which the water came. The soft earth
yielded tohis weight, and with his hands
and feet depressed it about him, patting
it TO make ii firm.
The difficulty had been solved without
his volition almost. IL was only after IL
was done that he thought Of the conse-
quences. He calculated In his unreason-
ing way that IL was 8 o'clock. How long
wculd he have TO remain therei For