Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-10-26

~ OR days the river had been
II 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, La, every effort was be-
Ing made to withstand the flood.
Hands We're collected from every cab
In and recruited from all the adjoin.
Ing 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 higher and higher.
But for the fact that every one was
busy with his work, little colored
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 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"'
In his eagerness to reach the coveted
goal the boy quickened his pace again.
1t was now almost dark, but his eyes
had grown accustomed to the gloom.
He could see the curving line of the
levee which seemed to trcmble with q
premonition Of its own inadequacy.
He could see all the water pools in
the road. His little legs had measured
perhaps mile more when the Omin-
GUS roar Of the river made him stop
and peer over the levee at the rushing
waters.
AS he scrambled up the slippery bank
a clod Of loosencd earth fell heavily
into the road below, and through the
oritice which it left a little stream of
muddy water trickled. The boy caught
his breath quickly when the water
ran over his hand.
He exclaimed: "Dere's gwine to be
a break right here. What l gwine
doy'
He stopped to reconsider. There
was still another mile before he could
reach the point, and he knew there
was only a few old Women in the cab
ins 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 q moment to
lose. What was to be done must be
done at once. The boy knew that a
great responsibility rested upon him.
If the little opening We're not stopped
Immediately it was only 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 it
about him, patting it to make it firm.
The difficulty had been solved with
out his volition almost. 1t was only
after 1t was done that he thought of
the consequences. He calculated in
his unreasoning way that it was s
o'clock. How long would he have to
remain there? For aught he knew till
morning. He began to suffer by and
by from his cramped position, but he
dared not move even the least bit lest
the crevice should open again.
He could not tell how time passed.
He could not hear the shouts of the
men below. There was only now and
then the boot 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 II he
should 80 to sleep. II the waters