Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-09-02
! TALE 'OF THE FLOOD,
HOW A SOUTHERN WOMAN
SAVED HER FRIENDS.
A Fiendisk Plan to Cut the Levce on the
Rcd Eiver Fooled by the Daring
OF - Wife and Mother-Her
Threat to XIII.

OrlmIuJ. IN JnOSe uayS leNeoS WoTo
levees, asse Is the Philadelphia
Times There were no marching and
countermarching armies to trample
them down or cut through them for
their own convenience. and there
were gangs of negroes TO work on
them and keep them up. They were
the planters salvation from the de-
vastating food and he valued them
accordingly.
My home was large two. story
house, built OF heavy timbers on solid
brick pillars so might reasonably
hope it would stand. But it WAS
periously near the bank. Standing
on the up stairs gallery, could easily
toss a biscuit into the turbid red
stream sweeping past at race horse
speed and bearing vast masses OF
driftwood on its resistless course.
Should the levee give way just OPP
posite. il was but too probable that
the house. staunch as it was might
not stand the shock. Nevertheless
it was considered about the safest
place in town. and as | had many
friends living in low small houses,
certain 90 be overlooked. il not swept
away, / issued a general invitation
to all who would feel safer with me
TO make my house a re uge. And
they came! Mercy! what gathering
of the clans there was. Fifty people,
old and young. black and white.
sheltered under my roof Every lady
had to bring at least one servant to
wait on the whose name
was legion-and had made my SER
wants move up stairs and camp on the
back gallery. because their cabins
were low on the ground.
My husband was away strengthening
the levees on his plantation which he
considered in more danger than the
town house. and the stronger halves
of all the ladies with me were absent
for some such purpose-one. mer-
chant busy moving the goods from
his store; another an editor looking
after the safety of his plant others |
foYget where. But there was not n
man in ,i,s house. nor anywhere get
at. able. wnen O Disy. my cook.
came to me at night with her
wrinkled black face asny with fright
and her eyes rolling as none but a ne
gro's eyes can roll
so de Lawd. mistess. wat yer
reckin' dem men doin'out dar on de
lebee? Dey's des er waitin' twel NC
all gone ter bald n day gwine cut dat
lebee right smack open n let we dem
all wash out en- de riber."
This was fearful news if true. but l
knew Dilsy's tendency 10 magnify
calamity. ard hoped she might prove
mistaken. But | must be sure To
rest in doubt on such point was i'm
possible.
Come with me- Dilsy." l said
and went straight out on the levee.
There was fire burning on top TO
give light for the work as | supposed.
and by its rays l saw a group of four
or five men. three of whom | recog-
nized as the proprietor clerk and
bartender of the hotel. They looked
rather astonished when / walked into
their midst and demanded
/ What is this gentlemen. that
Dilsy tells me? Can it be possible
that you intend cutting the levee here
at the risk of sweeping my house
into the river?"
We'll. you see Mrs Carleton. the
weakest point in the levee is just OPP
posite the upper corner OF the ex-
change. The wall is badly cracked
there; in fact that whole side is
shaky. and If the river breaks in
there the hotel will be wrecked not a
doubt of it."
That may be so; but what right
have you to destroy my property in
order TO preserve your own?'
I'VE consider madame that your
house can stand the shock better and.
for that matter every body has a
right to look out for himself"
do you know that there are fifty
women and children in my house
whose lives are in danger il the levee
is cutp While in yours there are none
but men: for you have ho family. and
all your lady boarders left two days
ago. Surely, IL you are men. you will
have some regard for the safety oil
these unprotected women"
II am sorry. Mrs Carleton. that il
can't be SO; but you see. the case is
this: Your house nay stand. but mine
is sure to go and must look out for
myself"
Very we'll. sir then so must /. II
you have a right to protect your prop.
erty. l have an A3ual right to protect
mine and l shah do it.
turned and marched down the
levee and back to the house leaving
them. no doubt wondering greatly
what could do to protect my house.
! did not leave them long in doubt.
| had been an only daughter.
brought up in house full OF brothers
and / bad learned TO copy their WAYS
and share in their sports. For in.
stance. had always been fond Of
shooting. and being encouraged IN Il
by my father who held that a woman
should learn 10 defend herself in case
OF need i had become as good shot
as my brothers. l had rife made
for my use small and light but il
carried as true ball as Leatherstock.
ing's own.
got this aud taking also my hus.