Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-10-30
SAVING THE LEVEE.


The levees above were gone for miles
and miles. and the mad waters had
swept over the banks, carrying for
tunes and even lives before them.
On one of the big plantations oppo-
site Shreveport every effort was being
made to withstand the flood Hands
were collected from every cabin and
recruited from all the adjoining places
10 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, di-
rected them and cheered them on to
the task 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 a big sand wagon. might
have been seen as he scurried away
around the curve in the embankment
He ran quickly along for full
quarter of 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 he became convinced
that no one was in pursuit OF him. and
as he did so he heard the loud CHEEKY
voice of Tom Aiken back at the break:
'All work together boys!"
Huh! ALI work together" the boy
said. ''Yessir, but you bet dis here
niger done tired err workin' togedder
lse gwine to sleep, l is. l an shet
my eyes for two whole days an nights,
an gwine round the pint to Aun'
Why's an 60 to sleep.
In his eagerness TO reach the COW
eted goal the little negro quickened
his pace again. 1t was now almost
dark, but his eyes had grown accus-
toned to the gloom. He could see the
curving line of the levee, which SEEM
ed to tremble with a premonition OF
its own inadequacy; he could see all
the waterpools in the road. HIS little
legs had measured perhaps a mile
more when the ominous roar of the
the levee at the rushing waters.
AS he scrambled up the slippery
bank clod of loosened earth fell heav-
lily into the road below, and through
the orifice which it left little stream
of muddy water trickled. The boy
caught his breath quickly when the
water ran over his hand.
'Lordym he exclaimed. "Dere's
gwlne to be a break right here.
Lordy! Lordy! what gwine do"
He stopped to consider. There was
still another mile before he could
reach the point and he knew there
were only few old women in the cab
ms there, and he could get no help
from that source. 1t 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 a moment to
lose; what was to be done? The boy
knew that great responsibility rested
upon him. II the LITTLE opening were
not stopped Immediately it was only
question of few moments before the
levee 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 pur-
pose he turned and sat down over the
little crevice through which the water
came. The soft earth yielded TO his
weight and with his hands and feet
he pressed it about him, patdng it to
make it firm.
The difficulty had been solved with
out his volition almost It was after
1t was done that he thought of the
consequences. He calculated in his
unreasoning way that it was o'clock.
How long would no have 10 renal
therep For aught no knew. till morn
ing. He began to suffer by and by
from his cramped position. but he
dared not move even the least bit lest
the crevasse would open again.
He began TO get drowsy; his limbs
were almost numb. He wondered
what would become OF him il he should
go to sleep. II the waters should rise
up over the levee and drown him and
ruin the cotton. would IL make any
difference then that he had tried to
save itP He was inadequate to the
problem. the like OF which has puz-
zled graver heads than his. The
hooting OF the owl grew less and less
frequent the swishing of the waters
fainter and fainter, and the pain in
his back easier.
He must have slept some time.
Suddenly he was awakened by the
gallop OF horse on the road below.
He was too weak to move. His voice
was almost gone but as the horse and
rider approached he cried out with all
the strength he could summon:
'Marse Tomp
Mr.. Aiken drew rein quickly and
turned his big lantern in the direction
OF the voice.
WHO is IT. and where are youP" he
asked, dismounting.
'Jts me. boss" answered the boy.