Part 34 (2/2)

”Mister Shepherd, can I get-”

”Oh, sugar, I'd forgotten you! You can crawl out now.

Everything's all right. They'll take Ward to be locked up. Let's sing loud!”

We sang loud, but everything seemed all wrong.

Right in the middle of our song-at the part saying ”Come adore on bended knee”-Doctor Elton came back inside, his cigar gone, his mouth drooping down at the corners. He was coughing.

”We let the fool outsmart us!” he whispered to Mister Shepherd. ”He'd left his motor going. He made out like he wanted to raise the hood and show it to us. 'Stead of that, he jerked loose, jumped on the seat, and tore off down the road!”

”I hate to hear that!”

”Jodie and them are trying to head him off, but-” Doctor Elton started coughing again. ”They're trying to head him off before he gets to the bridge, but they'll never make it. Saddle horses just aren't a match for these automobiles! I'd 've tried to help, but me and my mares have-” The doctor took another coughing spell. ”We've simply had it for today.”

I pulled on the teacher's coat sleeve. ”Mister Shepherd, is Mister Ward gonna come back and steal me again?”

”Of course not! Come on, let's keep singing! Loud, Little Tree! Sing loud!”

In dreams that night I grew to be a great tree, tall and s.h.i.+ning, with ten arms instead of two, each a strong branch bent down by gifts of gold and precious things. I stood on the banks of Rocky Head Creek, not far from the bridge.

One low-hanging limb, heavy with blue silk ties, had been propped up with walking sticks, while at my roots lay Papa's good Sunday-go-to-meeting hat. It, too, was big, as big as a barrel.

In the middle of it a fat, fat goose had made her nest. And there she sat, hatching out popcorn b.a.l.l.s and pennies by the hatful.

Mister Ward came whizzing across the bridge, his new automobile loaded with guns and axes. He stopped to chop me down!

But Ginger came frisking along just then and barked so loud it scared him and his automobile away.

Old Mister Hawk came walking along the far bank of the creek, leading his mule to get water. She saw me and blinked her eyes and gave her tail a swish. Before I could say anything, though, Mister Hawk took her away without even looking up. All he said was, ”Let's go, Nellie.”

Then, three kings on bay horses came galloping by, their calico robes rippling in the wind, their laughter ringing through the woods.

”Pick some presents!” I called.

All whirled around and came back, and they gathered fine gifts from my boughs-enough to fill their saddlebags.

”Where are you going in such a rush?”

”To see the Holy Babe!” they cried.

”Why not take me?” I asked.

”Yeah! Let's take the whole tree!”

So, with merry shouts, they pulled me up and carried me away to the Holy Babe in the hay box.

Chapter 10

Every Preaching Sunday morning, right after services were finished and we were ready to leave the church grounds, Papa said two things, one to the mules, the other to Mama.

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