The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-21

N VEIN Tiuke Anu swamp ant
along the reaches of the Bar
raclaw the buds were swellin,
on the topmost branches o.
eak and cypress, and the lush grasses
that stand up straight and tall in tn,
aark red pools later on In the year be
gan 10 send their FIRST green shoots I,
herald the spring. There was trou
hlesome rumor going the rounds, onii
nous and dread. Men said that the
new ievee was treacherous, that Il
might hold. but all knew that a mighty
river was sweeping down from ths
AoFth, Jealous Of Its ancient preroga
tivee over the valley. Would the mar
,scw line Of earth hold out against It,
Jake Alders heard the news when he
was doing his trading down at Wash
K,vans' store. On the way home he
fell In with little groups OF men who
logged along discussing the probability
Of an overflow, not that II was new
thing on the Barraclaw. for many
times and often had the Father Of
Waters swept his royal way across the
land, but their little holdings had been
heavily taxed to build the levee that
was to protect them, and now, thanks
to the gods OF red tape. Father Mes
sasable had challenged ii and the levee
was not
Jake rode along slowly. He was
turningsa 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 10 have her fu-
neral preached in the spring when the
woods is a-gittin' green an things Is q
little mile more cheerful" Jake had
Just made arrangements for the fu-
neral and that day had received a
message from the parson to the effect
that be 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 bluehird OF
the year fiuttered ahead Of him into
nearby cotton field. Over his head
robin wheeled. chattering to his mate.
Against the dark gray green OF the
winter woods the red bud blazed its
crimson banners and the nipping wind
Yufaed the brown breast Of the river TO
scales OF golden armor He gathered
himself together, gave the mule
sharp cut and began to whistle he
had made up his mind.
Miss Josie Derr whisked the broom
sharply over the steps, shook out her
starched purple calico skirt and 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 and the lean-to kitchen at the
back, its well fenced yard and clap
boarded outbuildings. Miss Josie her
seh, spare, gray haired and active as a
well intentioned hornet. was known
throughout the Barraclaw as a "hus-
tin woman. II she is an old maid"
Her sixty acres Of land were well man
aged, and, though contrary to custom,
Ehe never worked in the cotton her
sef. at the end of the year she was
usually ahead of those who did.
AS Jake Alders came in sight, limp
and detected figure astride Of the pa
tent mule, she stood up and peered
under her hand. "Why don't the fool
straighten up and use the back his God
give him? He'd be right decent lookin'
IL It want for his slouchy ways" And
Miss Josie pulled her own shoulders a
trife straighter as she walked slowly
down the path.
'Hywdy, Jake? How's the children
and what's the news from the water"
The mule came to a halt. ''Well,
AoW, Miss Josie, / was jes' a-gayin' to
myself as how l was a-goin' to ask
Jour advice this very mornin' along of
the children. You heard tell how Man
dy was wantin' her funer'l preached
In the spring? Sorter foolish. Lord.
WimIaen folks has their notions, an
Pm 8 man what believes in humorin'
Fem, dead or alive. Parson Arms, he
'lewed he'd get here a-Sunday, an we
was a-layin' of to have the funer'l
preached down at the bayou; but, Miss
Josie them kids amt got one rag
what's decent to wear to their mas
funefl, an what I'm a-goin' to do
'tWGt now an then God knowsw
Jake paused and looked hopefully at
Miss Josie; then he went on, "Seein'
rs you be such fine manager, | was
a-thihkin' you might kinder help me
put, and if''-
Nov, see here, Jake Alders! Do
y0u think I'm a woman or Christ
mas tree? How do you reckon can /
make clothes grow on them six kids
tyi1t now an Sunday, an this heah's
Tuesday? Man, you've plum lost your
Ienses."
jake fdgeted with his rope bride.
! dian't know but what you was"-
HSEut I'M lake ldprS YOI1 know
'ou'fe been plannin' all along the road
IS how you was a-goin' to dump them
lids an their ixin's on my conscience,
M now you've been an gone an done
!. Yes, Pm fool for meddIin', but
II gHt 'em ready, but don't you ask
ne nethin' more, cause / amt goin' to
10 It. Miss Josie trailed this last oyer
ler shoulder as she disappeared into