The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1961-04-21
STORY AND SEQUEL
OF FINEST EASTER
IN CATFISH CORNER
Much Finery. Many Gifts And A
Sensational Wedding Came
Out of One Young Mans
Ingenious Planning
BY MISS PINKIE PERRY

Dy MlOS 11NhlE TENN
Easter Sunday last, was the fin
est known in Catfish Corner, so
everybody says. Most every woman
and girl had a new suit, hat, o: a
dress. 1t all came about of a sud-
den, because fishing has been so
poor this season, that the men who
hold the pocketbooks in this place,
hadn't been encouraging their wo-
menfolk to do much snending.
A rather strange spirit overcame
the community Friday night, and
Saturday here was a general exc
dus of women to all the nearby
towns to their shopping. One young
lady was given a new automobile
by her father.
Dilbury Dixon, our sewing ma
chine agent had a lot to do with
the change of heart that made the
men turn loose their money. Mr..
Dixon is a widower without guile,
and every door is open to him and
people sympathise with him be-
cause he is lonely, and both women
and men respect him.
Now it is a long story how all
this came about, but a year ago
there was a fish buyer who operat-
ed in this community by the name
of Abe Abel, and he stuck every
fisherman with a bad check. Some
of our fishermen are carrying bad
checks year or more old.
When he operated in this COM
munity, he was great friend of Dill
bury Dixon, because Mr.. Dixon
knew everybody and he and Mr..
Dixon went around together. Mr..
Dixon was of a trusting nature
and always said that Abe Abel was
all right, even when all other peo-
pie cussed him out for owing the
fishermen of Catfish Corner $40
900 in bad checks. But he never
got into the Gar Checkers, for they
always demand they be paid in
coin.
Well, here is how the women got
so much on Easter Sunday. Mr..
Dilbury Dixon himself is respon-
sible. Here is what Mr.. Dixon said,
when he came down to the store
Friday night:
"Boys, l feel mighty cool; guess
who called me up on the phone
from Baltimore? Why nobody but
old Abe Able himself, and what did
he say?"
"Dixon, old boy, l know l haven't
been around in a long time, but
don't worry, l am coming in there
Monday, and l am going to pay off
everybody for them checks, and
nobody in Catfish Corner will
never lose a cent by me. 1t only
happened because l had bad part
ner who drew all my money out Of
the bank and skipped, but ever
since last year, l have been saving
my money, and l will be there
Easter Monday with cash.
"And l said, Abe Old Boy, l
knew you'd do the right thing, l
always stuck by you, and am go
ing to let the folks know you are
coming"
So all the men sitting around the
store went home, and they told
their wives what had happened, and
how they did conclude Dilbury Dix
on was right, and Abe Abel must
be a good fellow after all, and how
much they appreciated it they were
going to get their money. And Mr..
Dixon, not satisfied with telling it
at the stores, went to number
of houses not represented at the
store that night, to spread the good
word.
What do you think happened?
Why every woman in Catfish Cor
ner knew her husband was going to
get from one hundred to thous-
and dollars they had long ago kiss
ed goodbye. This is like mamma
from heaven. And with the old
mems hearts mellowed up, they
worked on 'em that night, and they
got permission to go to town and
dixie out for Easter; which they
couldn't have done on account of
the poor fishing season this year.
There never were so MANY peo-
pie to go away shopping as did go
Saturday. Nearly all the men let
down the bars, and them that were
not willing had to give in, for the
news got around quickly in a small
place like Catfish Corner, and what