Prev | Current Page 211 | Next

Smith, Jewell Ellen, 1915-1998

"Great Jehoshaphat and Gully Dirt"

The last people I came to were Mister Wes and Miss
Lida Belle.
"You sure recited a nice little piece, hon," Miss Lida Belle
told me as I squeezed my way between her thick knees and the
bench behind me. She didn't drop any money in the hat, but as
soon as she turned her head the other way, Mister Wes slipped in
a whole silver dollar!
Leaning over close to me, he whispered, "Little lady, you see
the pretty blue tie up yonder on the tree?"
"Yes, sir."
"I bet you, if you ask her, Miss Vic will fasten that fine
tie on you and let you take it straight to the schoolteacher!"
Aunt Vic stopped calling out names long enough to pin the tie
on my shoulder.
"Hurry right back, hon," she told me. "There are more
presents for you to take."
"Where's Mister Shepherd at?"
"Right over yonder by the side door. Doctor Elton just got
here, and he's talking to him and Captain Jones."
"I see him!"
By weaving my way in and out between people I got through to
Mister Shepherd. I stopped and stood-straight as any tree-right
in front of him.


Pages:
199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223