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Smith, Jewell Ellen, 1915-1998

"Great Jehoshaphat and Gully Dirt"

He can handle justice for all kinds of creatures: black
coons, red squirrels, white men, black men-any kind, any color.
Your pa used to preach that."
"Yeah. Pa got it outta the Bible. It says He takes note when
a sparrow falls."
Chapter 12
"Bandershanks, wake up! Wake up, hon!"
I could feel Mama shaking my arm.
"Time to get up!"
"I'm sleepy."
"I know. But you have to get up early this morning. You're
going to the store with Papa."
"He needs me?"
"Well, yes-in a way. See, I've gotta go back over to Miss
Ophelia's to help Aunt Vic get all those young'uns' clothes ready
for the funeral."
"Where's Papa at?"
"He went on out to saddle Jake. Now, soon as you eat your
biscuits, hunt up that old mail-order catalogue I let you and
Mierd have. You can cut out paper dolls this morning while you're
up at the store."
"When you gonna come get me?"
"I ought'a be back before dinner."

I played paper dolls a long time. Papa let me spread them out
on the floor, right under the candy counter. Along about the
middle of the morning, he even said they could have some lemon
drops.


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