Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-08-29
-. A..
Postponed
Funeral.
By Curran Richard Greenley.
Copyright. ies by Currau r.
Gregnipy

- WEIR ridge and swamp and
~ IA along the reaches OF the Bar
" ~ raolaw the buds were swelling
on the topmoSt branches OF
oak AMI cypress. and the lush grasses
that stand up straig ht and tall In the
dark red pools later on In the year he.
gam u send their first green shoots 10
herald the spring There was trou-
hicsoulc rumOr going the rounds, Oml-
nous aud dread Men said that the
new lcvee was treacherous. that 1t
might hold. but all knew that a mighty
river was sweeping down from the
north. jealous OF its ancient preroga-
lives over the valley Would the mar
row line OF earth hold out against IL:
Jake Aldcrs heard the news when he
WAS doing his trading down at Wash
Evans store ON the way home he
fell in with little groups Of men who
logged along discussing the probability
of au overflow. not that 1t was a new
thing ON the Barraclaw, for many
times aud often had the Father OF
Waters swept his royal way across the
lad, but their little holdings had been
heavily taxed 10 build the levee that
WIS t. protect them. and now thanks
a. the gods of red tape, Father Mes
sasablc had challenged IL and the lcvee
WAS not.
Jake rode along slowly. He was
turning problem over In his mind.
Amanda. his wife, had been one Of the
annual victims to the dread swamp
fever. dying In the early winter She
had made him promise TO have her fu-
neral preached In the spring when the
woods is a. gittin' green m things is 4
little mite more cheerful" Jake had
just made arrangements for the fu-
neral and that day had received
message from the parson to the effect
that he would be on hand the follow
ing sunday. and now. II the water
came. there was no telling when the
funeral could be preached.
Jake swung along the yellow ribbon
of road. around the big bend and
across the long bridge over the bayou
thinking deeply The first blueblrd OF
the year tluttcred ahead of him into
nearby cotton field. over his head a
robin wheeled. chatterlng To his mate
Against the dark gray green OF the
winter woods the red bud blaZed It's
crimson banners and the npping wind
ruilied the brown breast of the river to
scales of golden armor He gathered
himself together gave the mule
sharp cut ana began TO whistle he
had made up his mind
Miss Josie Derr whsked the broom
sharply over the steps, shook out her
stlrchcd purple calico skirt ana settled
herself on the gallery to enjoy the
morning sunshine There was some
little appearance Of thrift around the
comfortable little log cabin Of two
rooms aud the leant kitchen mt the
back its well fenced yard and clap
boarded outbuildings Miss Josie her
self. spare, gray haired and active AS a
wen luteniioncd hornet, was known
throughout the Barraclaw as "hus-
tllu' woman if She Is an old maid.
Her sixty acres OF land were well man
aged. and. though contrary TO custom.
She ucvur worked In the cotton her.
self. at the end of the wear she was
usually ahead of those who did.
IS Jake Alders came in sight. limp
ai.d detected figure astride of the pa
lcut mule. she stood up aud peered
under her hand WHY don't the fool
,in.i.ltcn tp and use the back his cod
give hiu.t lIe'd be- right decent lookin'
Il It want for his slouchy ways" Aud
Miss Josie pulled her own shoulders Il
tribe ,traighter us She walked slowly
down the path
eIIowdv. Jake How's the children
ana what's tho news from the waterY''
The mule came 10 halt We'll.
noW. Miss Josie. was les sayIn' to
fl.sru MS hoy was n-.,oin' Ia ask
ypar advice this VERY mornln' along of
the children You heard tell how Alal,
lv was ID wantln' her funer'l preached
NJ tbr syringe >orter foolish Lord.
Wmlucu folks na, their notions mn