The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-05-01
THE FISH FRY.

|
dew, yet sparkled on the grass. Inc
mists had not vanished from the lake.
Only a few bird songs, fresh and sweet,
set into vibration the still cool air.
The herdick reached our door. No
one could mistake showing that its
were school children. Their
wide awake interest in life, even at the
sunrise hour; their laughter. their
talking-all proclaimed the fact-and
no one could mistake the expedition
they were on.
Fishing canes by the dozen were fast
ened TO one side of the herdick. There
was huge pail of minnows; and each
oirl held her lunch basket. At first we
went to Jack Falls bayou. Here. IL
the green lit gloom of the forest we
tished, and fished, and tished, in the
shallow water, but in spite of the fact
that two or three had brought their
rabbits foot, "just for good luck" You
know, though we are not snperstitious'
and one, even had a four leaf clover as
q talismap, we caught pathetically few
| fish.
However. our stay at Jack Falls was
not without interest. When we grew
tired of admiring the scenery and OF
gazing, Narcissus-like, at our images
in TIE water, two conceited big
black snakes bethought them that
they would sally forth and give US to
understand whose premises we were
making ourselves so free and easy
with. and the killing of these
created quite a sensation. After
much adventurous crossing OF the
stream on the whitened blasted trunk
of a tree, which raised high above the
waters level, and resting one end on
! either side of the bank, formed ma
tural bridge, the girls donned their sur
bonnets. and the boys twined the lines
around the fishing rods so that every
F body's hook wouldn't catch in every
body elses clothes, and we were soor
off for Camp Lee. 1t was near thu
noon hour when we reached Baxte
BAYOU. Some of the party fished
some played games, one or two mad
a cruise down the stream in a hateau
q The day was in its zenith, but tn
a morning freshness fingered il the al
? and ths GIRLS and boys made the silen
, woods ring and echo with their mirtf
; At one O'Clock came lunch-when tn
: mystery of each basket was revealed
l and curiosity as well as hunger wa
appeased. After dinner, there wa
!, some more of running, of exploring
g of games and fishing.
D. Al four o'clock the crowd decided
9 wanted to GO home, by driving entir'
O w around the lake instead of comm
# directly from Baxter bayou. In ord'
to do this, they convinced the drive
g that beyond the shadow OF doubt
. straight line is the longest distance b
y tween two points and that The only We
II to shorten the trip to town was |
g. adding to it several miles.
Again all OF rs, girls, boys, lun'
e. baskets, fishing rods and little pet do
ut were settled in the herdlck. Late IN L
to afternoon we reached the Elton leve
re The herdick stopped and we went
he the embellishments to look at the waite
IL to look at the great, yellow, turb
IT. lent, Mississippi river, which for t
Id past month had been threatening
en- scorn our man-made barriers and
id uudate our little town. Now 1t
he quiet, and yet dangerous, potent. Il
id rible in its quietude. We stood
he the bags of sand and looked at
do water, as we would stand close to I
of iron cage in a menagerie and wal
IN a sleeping lion, which at any nome
Ter mioht awaken and shake his hea
lst name, aud roar and pace restlessly fu
so ouslv his narrow cell, and ouce mt
at. display all the fierce power which b
TX been absorbed into his beasts natl
at from the lightning, the tempest,
at sultry air and the hot sands OF
'ge desart.
-ho Probably it was the oppressive SCI
it. of helplessness which a view OF
are Mississippi brought to our min
md probably it was exhaustion from
ow DAYS hard playing that made US mi
on subdued in our merriment, but wi
we returned TO the herdick we w
all somewhat quiet and thoughtfui.
er- We had reached new town.
nee could see the crowds OF negroes on
ter, streets of Providence-the regular :
eet urday crowds. Several of the pa
put were talking of what jolly day it
ohn been and were planning another ]
tai mic, when in an instant, in the twi
rec ling of an eye. without nome
veil warming, the herdick collapsed.
ind wheels crashed like a glass that is 81
ern tered. The vehicle went down vii
spie tremendous noise. turning over on
cen side. QuickDas thought the two no
cen broke loose and ran through the to
inst For second everything was confus
OF The children on the side which tur
con- over were in a comparatively safe
the ton. Several of them were thrown
ritl- tirely out of the doors, but those on
lind opposite side were IN real dan
that There was possibility of their b.
asse. crushed by the others. and If the no
who had dragged the vehicle even
our feet, they could not by any means
nSas sxtricated themselves. However,
nearly tragically as our pi
=, ended, it proved itself only CT
'n@' dy. for no oneNAwas hurt, and ;
ire a little hystericaf> laughing and
and ing together on the part of