Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1909-06-11
THE NAME OF
DAVE POWELL

Uncle Dave" had reached the
age Of 20 years. and his chief con-
sern, after the religious ardor which
Is Characteristic Of his race was that
he had never learned to read and
write.
He was full Of song and story with
which he held the eager attention OF
the children Of the nelgnbssrhood,
the most fascinating and popular
being OF DE time dc levee broke in
Mississippi" but he longed for the
accomplishments Of the three RS"
III could only write my name an
read my Scriptures, / could die hap
Dy," he would say every day to
Miss Mamie" the little daughter Of
the big house In the back yard
Of which he lived.
Miss Mamie was q blue-eyed, rosy
faced child. whose tender heart
yearned over all that was weak or
helpless or old.
She was 30 touched by his long
ing to read and write, and 80 haunt
ed by the fear that he could not "die
happy" that she undertook to
teach him. beginning the task by
writing his name, Dave Powell" on
a slate and having him copy It over
and over. He kept the copy on the
slate. and At every spare moment he
worked at It.
At last, after many days, he was
able to write II from memory-Daye
Powell-Wlthout the copy, and after
repeating II q few times ut Miss
Nantes command to make sure, he
wept with pride and gratitude that
his hearts desire was fulfilled, and
he could write his name.
with confidence and courage now
began the task Of learning to read.
Miss Mamie patiently and tenderly
pointed out the letters, and Uncle
Dave as patiently and anxiously con-
ned them over. But it was slow,
and the old man began to think there
were many difficulties to be sur
mounted before he could read the
Scriptures. It was not SO easy as
writing Dave Powell"
Miss Mamie's tender heart and In
senuity at last devised the plan Of
teaching him some favorlte passages
by memory, and marking the places
for him in the Bible so that he could
read" these while he was COM
pietinE tts arduous task Of learning
his letters.
He learned these texts readily, and
then the book changed hands. Miss
Mamie sat on the steps to listen
while Uncle Dave read to her, the
hook more often than not upside
down, The Lord is my shepherd, 1
shall not want: "suffer little chill
dren to come unto me, for Of such
ia the kingdom of heaven; Yea.
though I walk through the valley of
the shadow Of death, will fear no
evil," and others which the little
girl had selected as particularly COM
fortins to the old man.
When he had read over the whole
lot he would close the book and say,
"There's many a true word in that
little book, Miss Mamie"
Meanwhile the work Of learning
to spell was slow. and the summer
waned; and before the primer was
half-learned the little teacher was
stricken unto death with a fever.
Through all tho anxious days and
nights Uncle Dave hung about the
windows OF her room. praying and
reciting his texts with an aching
heart: and when at last all was over,
and the funeral cortege left the
house. bearing the little form away
from him forever, Uncle Dave fell
upon the ground and wept aloud.
Loving hands had covered the lit
tie mound with flowers. and It was
bsthed in the tender light Of the
setting sun, when late that evening
the old man made a pilgrimage out
there alone. He stood for a moment
lifting his hands and eyes to the sky,
and then sat down beside the little
grave. took out his Bible and read
aloud all the old familiar verses.
Then his memory turning to chapters
she had read to him in the past, he
cried. ''It is we'll with the child"
Over and over again he repeated
his. little store Of verses. but even
this could not satisfy his lonEfng to
pour out his love and sorrow. and as
a last tribute he smeothed a place
in the earth at the foot OF the little
mound. and With a trembling fngeI
traced there on the ground his name
san~u. p~uar Vaukhf. Nor.1arf1p