Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-08-28

tie Of the ancient buggy that Jake had
borrowed from the squire. and II was
coming faster than Jake Alders' old 4
mare mule had ever travelled that road 4
before. Jake was leaning over the /
dashboard in the effort TO hurry Old /
Mag along He shouted something
uaarsr-and Miss Josie stoud stock /
still The waters a-comini Levers /
broke AT Carriers end. Bend Niger |
Wool swamp's plum fun! She'll 6e
here 10y daylight
Jake tumhled out. and the parson. |
thin. active man. jumped 10 the ground 1
and began 10 unharness the mule.
Miss Josie started down the road In
q run. hut Jake yelled after her: Don't
be skeered. I'll he down there fore
mornln'. You amt got no men folks
TO Ice a-nailin' aud a-liftin' Them
shif'less nlggers will he a-lookin' out
for their own fool necks. I'll put your
chickens an things In the loft an
your stock on my mound an - But
the dark had swallowed Miss Josie.
Jake was reused from his careless
ease. Other years had left their les
son. Aided by the parson. he drove
his cattle into the field where the old
Indian mound afforded a refuge. A
dugout that had done duty as trough
In front OF the cabin was wrenched
from its posts and a pair OF paddles
hastily rived out. From under the
cabin Jake dragged out an old bateau
that with a little patching was made
passably safe. Then pile OF rough
blanks was transferred TO the front
gallery from the corner of the yard
where Jake had Flowed" TO build
crib in readiness for the building of
false door should the necessity arise
They piled frewood in every inch OF
available space, even upon the tiat part
of the roof. She'll be in the Barra-
claw by mornin'." said Jake as he
toiled In with the last load.
The hush Of dawn was in the air
when they ceased their labor. The
parson Strengthened up. ut is the
Sabbath morning, Brother Alders, but
truly the OK is In the ditch before us
Sister Derr needs our help"
"B'gosh!' Jake slapped his thigh
IF / didn't go and forget all about
that woman clear as whistle, an me
a-promisin' so big Come on. parson."
She was waiting for them. her prep
arations all made. She had collected
her cattle into the barnyard. tied the
chickens by the legs ready to be
transferred to the barn loft, and her
trunk stood locked and strapped.
How deep you reckon 1t will gof'
she questioned.
Jake scratched his chin. Cant say,
Miss Josie. Last water | had TO put
"a false floor in my house. an they do
say thisll beat that boiler"
Miss Josie collapsed helplessy into
the splint bottomed rocker. If Id the
sense God gave geese Id stayed back
In them old red hills of Georgy stead
of comm to live In a frog pond"
The parson shook his head. Now
my sister, you're tasking the Almighty
with shortcomings. Every country
has Its drawbacks. but the Barracla "
folks never failed stranger In trou
BILE yet. Here's Brother Alders willing
to take care OF you and Jake cough
ed and looked at the parson. and The
parson understood. He went to the
door and stood peerlng into the bright
ening east
Miss Josie"-Jake twirled the rag
ged hat between his fingers and moved
q step nearer to the sobbing woman II
the chair-"parson heah has jes' abou
put into words what ! been a-tryin' t
say all this week. I'm a-needin' vol
terrible bad me an the chlllun. an
Mandy was mighty fond of me- an
you know there never was nuthin
wouldn't do for Mandy. Miss Josie
this amt no time for woman TO b,
dvin' alone with God A'mightys ragin
foods comm over her head Can
with me?"
The sobs had hushed, but the aprol
still sheltered Miss Josie, when tn
parson turned. Brother Alders.
would suggest that you send Lem t
the station as soon as he gets bacl
and telegraph the clerk to issue tn
license. It's little irregular, but
can make the return next time go t
Grayson. Im here now, and 1t is no
Il time to stand on ceremony as to tn
manner of doing things"
Miss Josie jerked the apron down
You two men are a-fxln' the Who'll
thing an a-plannin' it out without m
gittin' word In. as If a woman. didn'
have the right to settle about her owl
, marryiI.' Go ahead. But there's on
time comes to see that Mandy's funer
goes off all right"
, "Thanky, Miss JOSIE There's com
fort In them words, am Jake
, mouth hung open and his eyes wild
, ened as he tore out the door. On
, look at the river whispering, bubblin
r and creeping visibly up the bank
"Shes here! Hustle with your traps
Miss Josie. There amt no time
lose" And he fell to work
, As an example of muscular Chris
, tianity the parson was no laggard an
, the gospel of works was fully demon
strated that March Sunday when h
, laid down rod and staff to help Jak
Alders rescue cattle and hogs.
r The sun was climbing over the cy
, press brakes when they arrived 8
= Jake's cabin. The children, breakfas
| bn1 ln1
>. the doorstep. At sight of Miss JOSH
and her leather trunk on Jake's shou
q der they came swarming about he
>. skirts. "Oh, goody. she's goin' to stay
- | announced Iemina. Iake'S eldest @