River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-03-03
THECONVERSION
OF BIG SIX


THE big meeting" at the school
/ house up the creek" was getting
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 most
reckless among the young negroes
wept and trembled in their seats, ex-
element ran high, ard the conversions
were many and real
Jordon Dangerfeld, the ring leader
Of the reckless, was a conspicuous eX-
ample Of the unconyerted among the
men. No word of argument, no appear
Of song, had yet brought him to the
+'mourneg'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
boosted she could do the work of half
dozen women, she was more often called
by the appellation of Big Six" than by
her rightful name. Jordon was the
beau 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 hand's-in corn cutting time he
could cut more corn by day and dance
longer by night than any other.
Many a wistful eye was turned toward
Jordon, but his heart inclined toward
Judy Gates-goOd little Judy, whose
eyes spoke perpetual worship and APP
peal She did not care for Jordon' S
money-making abiity-it was Jordon
himself, big, black and Swapping, that
Judy loved as a creature HeaVen-sent.
Latterly, however, Rachel Curd had
concluded that combination of Jor-
dons financial ability and her own
would be fine thing, and she proceeded
to "cut out" poor Judy.
She joined herself to the crowd of
young people who nightly passed by
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 flatter 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
Greer humbly to ''meetin in the wake
of the gay crowd, with no other escort
than pap" or nanny"
The meeting went on--while Judy
wept and prayed for the salvation of
her recreaEt lover, Rachel further in
stalled herself in Jordon's favor by
agreeing with him in his rejection of
the Good Tidings. If he Knocked the
converted, she Knocked harder; if he
laughed at their entreaties, she laughed
louder Gentle, shrinking Judy, soft
voiced and patient, was no match for
Rachel's buster, and Jordon seemingly
entirely won away, was no longer to be
sought by Six. He did the seeking now.
and accompanied her to the meeting
every evening.
The Dotys, Judy's white folks" had
company at the house" Thus it han
pened that one Saturday morning when
the meeting was well on toward it's
twentieth night, big wash" was set
down at Judy's mothers door When
Jordon Dangerfield, EN- route to the
Doty hay fields, passed the cabin, a
sound of mighty rubbing fell on his
ears. Some memory OF the happy
times he had passed under the little
'leanto," before Rachel Curd had lured
him away, came to him, and he paused
to look through the hollyhocks at the
small woman bent over the tubs
AS he surreptitiously watched the
tears that now and then fell on the
Doty baby's lace trimmed white dress.
and noted how thin poor Judys small
face had become since the meeting had
begun. his heart burned with shame
and presently he was standing by the
wash bench with the words: Judy,
kin | hab de honuh O. scortin' you tub
de meetin' tonight" on his lips
Judy looked up with a start.
-why-Jordon. she STAN
mered, I'll Does you ralely want
me go wild your"
The chains with which Rachel Curd
had bound Jordon fell away under the
power of Judy's look of reproachful
love, and when he found himself tread
ing the dusty road again. his thoughts
were as far from Rachel as they were
from the hay fork on his shoulder.
suppressed litter went round that
evening, as, accompanied by a female
friend only, Big Six. in secondhand
finery of wine-colored silk and white
plumed leghorn. came in the school
house and took seat just behind Jor-