Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08
AStOry Written by
One of America S Veil
Knoqvn Anthors-and
a Story to Hold You to
the Last WoYd.

T woman that lived by the river. He
had two Joys and they was the
river and his mother-and he had
one great sorrow, and that his size. For
his pa had been big man-6 feet in his
stoclin' feet-when the river took and drowned
him. But his little sparrow of q
woman smart as a whip-and Little Golightly
he took after her.
At first he thought he'd grow up like the rest
of the boys he played with. naturally. But
pretty soon they started to shoot up past him.
and he begun to worry. He did all kinds of
exercises to tougher hmself-and tougher him
helf he did. But he couldn't add an inch to
his growth And finally when the fuzz started
10 come on his cheeks, and there he was. still
a shorty, he blame near cried.
For the river was meat and drink to him
and he'd always meant to take on where his
pa left off, and get to be of the kings Of
the river, like Hell" Bender or "HardaXe" Be-
land But Bender was a lvin' mountain of q
man that could mighty near break the neck of
q yearlin' bull with his handS-and Boand
could crack open the top of -four barrel with
his clenched fist
All the same when Little Golightlys growed
as much as he ever will. he takes his courage in
both hands, and goes of one day to find Hell"
Bender. He finds him sittin' in q tavern.
drinkin' with his men. with the noise enough
to split your eardrums.
And when Little Go,ightly first sees Bender.
all the arguments he's been polishin' stick in
could be growed.
He stands in the tavern door, sort of frozen
and speechless. And Hell" Bender sees him
and lifts hand for Silence.
Look at what's bowed in through the door,
boysl" says Bender in voice Like north wind.
And tell me-is it hllyloo bird or Is it an
inseck in pants? It can't be q human bein'-
they don't create 'em that small"
present, and Little Golightly gets mad and
his words come back.
You don't judge cider by the barrel 1t comes
int" says he. And they say that little potatoes
are hard to peel. Anyhow, here I am. and
want to hire out to you and be river man."
$50 you want to join my crew." says Bender,
when he's through laughin'. WELL Little Go
lightly my crews made up of men Of power
and any man I hire has to show his power to
me before hire him. &c. suppose you just
step over here and lift up the end Of that
table-and if you can, Wen maybe talk turkey"
So Little Golightly steps over and takes holt
of the table. But the minute he does, his heart
sinks into his boots and he knows that Bender
is mockn him. for that table Is as big and
solid as Bender himself
Lift easy, Little Golightly," says Bender, very
polite and mockin'. Don't strain yourself
take your time" And Little Golightly sweatS
and strains. but he can't bulge the table an
inch
Then they all laugh again, and Bender gives
Little Golightly a back-handed push that sends
him spinnin' across the room and out Of the
DIOR
go somewhere and get some power to you,
before you start talkin' river talk, you Shrimpi"
he bellers after him. GO over to Hardaxe'
Boland-he may be taking on children hire
men"
Then the crew laughs some more-becauSe
there's always jealousy and hard feelin' be-
tween them and "Hardaxe" Boland's men. And
Little Golightly picks himself up-kind Of
shamed and sore, but spunky-and goes to find
"EIardaxe" Boland
mir. at Bender's place, it don't rain stick candy
and WOODEN comforters at Boland's And he
picks himself up from the dirt outside that
tavern with Just one new piece Of information.
He didn't think Natur' growed men as big and
servigerous as Hell" Bender. But she's growed
two of 'em-and the others name is "HardaKe"
BOfand
Well then he goes home to his mother and
tells his story. she listens TO him with .
sadness IN her eyes.
so you're bound to 30 on the river, SOM"
she says, at last
II am, Ma" says he
well" says she, when the BIRDS got IT'S
Wings-there'S no holdin' back the dyin', for the
) sake Of the empty nest. And I've borne you
and raised you, son-but now you're beyond me.
For you want q mans power and q mans place
In the woodland your mother can't give y0U
those. So you take your sack On your back
and 60 loolcin' for wise man. Maybe hsu
tell sS1u what the power is that you're BeecinP."
"IN do that, Ma, and thank you" says Little
Goiightly. And she gives him some provisions
and q little bag Of money, and on he goes.
PIE goes q while and another wl1ile-and one
day he's sittin' In the lee Of ran fence, eatin'