Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-07-25
A Break In
the Levee.
THE DESPERATE REMEDY
, BY WHICH 1T WAS STOPPED
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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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 for
tunes and even lives before them. On
one Of the big plantations opposite
Shreveport every effort was being made
to Withstand the flood. Hands were col
lected from every cabin and recruited
from all the adjoining places to
strengthen the water soaked levees,
which shook on the pressure of a 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, direct
ed them and cheered them on to the
task which seemed so hopeless as the
water crept steadily and steadily high
err But for the fact that every one was
busy with his work. little negro boy.
who suddenly dropped his spade and
stole away between the wheels Of the
big sand wagon, might have been seen
as he scurried away around the curve
In the embankment.
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 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 to-
gether, boys"'
Huh? All work together" the boy
said. "Yessir, but you bet dis here mig
ger done tired er workin togedder. I'ze
gwine to sleep, is. | ain shet my eyes
fur two whole days an nights. an l
gwines 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. 1t was now almost dark, but his
eyes had grown accustomed to the
gloom. He could see the curying line of
the leyee, which seemed to tremble
with a premonition of its own made
quacy. He could see all the water pools
in the road. His little legs had meas
ured perhaps q mile more when the om-
inous 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 in
to the road below, and through the ori-
fee which it left little stream of mud
dy water trickled. The boy caught his
breath quickly when the water ran
over his hand.
"Lordy!" he exclaimed. "Dere's gwine
to be break right here. Lordy! Lordy.
What l gwine doT'
He stopped to reconsider There was
still another mile before he could reach
the point, and he knew there were only
q few old women in the cabins there,
and he could get no help from that
source. 1t was more than a mile back
to where the men were working, and he
was afraid to show himself there after
having run away. Besides there was
not 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 it was only a
question Of a few moments before the
whole 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 purpose 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 1t about him.
patting 1t to make it firm.
The difficulty had been solved with
out his yolition almost. 1t was only
after 1t was done that he thought Of
the consequences. He calculated in his
anreasoning way that it was O'clock.
How long would he have to remain
there? For aught he knew TIL morn
ing. He began to suffer by and by
from his cramped position. but he dar-
ed not move even the least bit lest the
crevice should open again.
He could not tell how time passed.
Every minute seemed an hour. He
could not hear the shouts of the men
below. There was only now and then
the loot Of an owl rising above the
roar Of the water or the swish as a
clod of earth was sucked into the mad
current. He wished he had not run
away from his work
He began to get drowsy; his limbs
were almost numb. He wondered what
would become of him If he should go to
sleep. If the waters should rise up
over the leyee and drown him and ruin
the cotton, would it make any differ
/