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Smith, Jewell Ellen, 1915-1998

"Great Jehoshaphat and Gully Dirt"


See them big trees?"
We hurried down the hill toward the pine thicket, following
the road and the winding gully. After we had rounded the bend, we
slid down into the gully and walked along the bottom till we got
to the first of the pine trees. Straw was lying matted on the
ground, thick and deep. Easy to rake together in big wads,
Shoogie said.
She showed me how to hold my skirt out with both hands so she
could pile on a big armful of the dried straw. Then she heaped up
a bundle in her skirt, and we started back to our sticks and
peanuts.
Shoogie was walking in front, and I was being careful to step
in her tracks.
"Bandershanks, what's that roarin' racket I hears?"
"I don't hear no roaring. Yeah, I do too! I hear it! That's a
automobile motor coming, Shoogie!"
We dropped our straw and ran to the edge of the road.
"If you don't know what a motor sounds like, you're a silly
goose! Wiley said so!"
"Bandershanks, you knows I ain't no goose!"
"Ain't you seen one of them automobiles yet?"
"No."
"I have! My brother rode one! Shoogie, here it comes!"
Shoogie didn't say anything.


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