Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-11-12
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 food Hands were collected
from 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
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. a little negro boy, who
suddenly dropped his spade and stole
away hetwixt 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 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 be-
came convinced that no one was in pur-
suit of hlmi, and as he did so he heard
the loud CHEEKY voice of Tom Aiken
back at the break, "All work together.
hoysl"
"Huht All work together" the boy
said 'Yesslr, but you bet dis here mig
ger done tired er wOrkin tugedder Lse
gwine to sleep, is an shet my eyes
fur two whole daysan nights. an gwine
round the pint to Aunt why's an go to
sleep
In his eagerness to reach the coveted
goal the little negro quickened his pace
again II was now almost dark, but his
eyes had grown accustomed to the
gloom He could see the curving line OF
the Ievpe. which seemed to tremble with
a premonition of its own inadequacy.
He could see all the water pools in the
road His little legs had measured per
haps a mile more when the olnlnous roar
of the river made him stop and peer over
the levee at the rushing waters
As he scrambled up the slippery bank
clod of loosened earth fell heavily 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 run ovel
his hand
''Lordyr' he exclaimed. "Deres gwint
to be break right here Lordyl Lordy
what gwine doY
He stopped to reconsider There wal
still another mile before he could reacl
the Point, and he knew there were onl.
few old women in the cabins there
and he could get no help from tina
source. 1t was more than mile bacl
to where the men were working, and h
was afraid to show himself there afte
having run away Besides there wa
not "A moment to lose What was to b
done must be done at once The DO
knew that great responsibility reste
upon him IF the little opening wer
not stopped immediately 1t was only
question of a few moments before Tn
whole levee would be swept away
He stood up and looked about hin
There was no one in sight de though
he might find bag Of sand dropped D
a passing wagon. but there was nom
With sudden purpose he turned ana 81
down over the little crevlce throue
which the water came The soft earl
yielded tohis weight, and with his han'
and feet he pressed it about him, pattlr
it to make it firm
The difficulty had been solved witno'
his volition almost. II was only after
was done that he Thought u the cons
quences He calculated in iIls unreaso
ing way that it was q o'clock How 10
wnnld be have 10 REMAIN, therh =