The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1904-04-02
THECONVERSION
OF BIG SIX
BY s. b. HACKLEY
Copyright. 1903. by Daily Story Pub. Co.,

HE big meeting" at the school
house up the creek" was gettin
In full swing-the preacher, or preach
ers, for there were volunteer Gospel ex
Founders in plenty, every night exhort
ed loud and long-the widest and mos
reckless among the young negroe
wept and trembled in their seats, ex
citement ran high, ard the conversion
were many and real.
Jordon Dangerfield, the ring leader
of the reckless, was a conspicuous ex
ample OF the unconverted among tn,
men. No word of argument, no appea
OF song, had yet brought him to the
mourner's bench" big Six" whose
real name was Rachel Curd, was the one
woman against whom stones of persua.
sion and pleading were thrown in vain
Rachel weighed 300 pounds, and as she
boasted she could do the work OF hall
dozen women, she was more often called
py the appellation of big Six than by
ner rightful name. Jordon was the
Deau OF the county; he was not only
the most fascinating among the negro
youth, but his ability to make money
was greatest. In the hemp-breaking
season his nightly bale outweighed any
other hands-in corn cutting time he
could cut more corn by day and dance
longer by night than any other.
Many wistful eye was turned toward
Jordon, but his heart inclined toward
Judy Gates-good little Judy, whose
eyes spoke perpetual worship and ap-
peal. She did not care for Jordon's
money-making ability-it was Jordon
himself, big, black and strapping. that
Judy loved as a creature Heayen-sent
Latterly. however, Rachel Curd had
concluded that combination of Jor-
don's financial ability and her own
would be fine thing, and she proceeded
to cut out" poor Judy.
She Joined herself to the crowd NJ
young people who nightly passed bv
Judy's humble home on their way To
the "meetin'," and she contrived to get
Jordon's arm within her own before
they reached the cabin. and to rush him
along SO rapidly, and so fiatter his mind
with her willy compliments that he for
got even to glance toward the window
where Judy was waiting, and there was
nothing for poor Judy to do but to |
creep humbly to "meetin' in the wake
d the gay crowd, with no other escort
han pap" or nanny"
The meeting went en--while Indy
Vept and prayed for the salvation of
Ter recreant lover. Rachel further in
stalled herself in Jordon's favor bv
'greeing with him In his rejection Of
he Good Tidings. II he Knocked the
onverted, she Knocked harder. n no
aughed at their entreaties, she laughed
ouder. Gentle, shrinking Judy. soft
DICED and patient, was no match for |
tacheis buster, and Jordon seemingly
ntirely won away, was no longer to be ,
ought by Six. He did the seeking now S
nd accompanied her to the meeting
very evening. r
The Dotys. Judy's white folks" had |
'mpany at the house" Thus it han b
ened that one Saturday morning when t
re meeting was well on toward its Il
Ventieth night, a big wash" was SET t
own at Judy's mothers door. When d
ordon Dangerfield, en- route IN tho b
oty hay fields. passed the cabin. "
'und OF mighty rubbing fell on his
RS. Some memory of the hspnv W
mes he had passed under the little Il
eanto," before Rachel Curd had hired d
m away, came to him, and he pausad IL
look through the hollyhocks at the T
1all woman bent over the tubs. I
AS he surreptitiously watched the D,
ars that now and then fell on the 10
'ty baby's lace-trimmed white dress OF
d noted how thin poor Judy's small
&c had become since the meeting had o.
gun. his heart burned with shame to
d presently he was standing by tbe
Ish bench with the words: "Judv DIR
hab de honuh o. 'scortin' you tub
meetin' tonight" on his lips. sid
Judy looked up with start. an
NATURALIZATION" she stam-
red. Il Does you raleIy want fu
go wild your" he
The chains with which Rachel Curd els
d bound Jordon fell away under the
yer OF Judy's look of reproacbfuI of
e. and when he found himself tread
the dusty road again. his thoughts 20
re as far from Rachel as they were sol
m the hay fork on his shoulder. :
! suppressed litter went round TIM, I'd
ming, as, accompanied by a female wit
md only, Big Six. in secondhand q
ny of wine-colored silk and white me
med ieghorn, came in the school, A
Use and took seat just behind Jor- kin