THE RIVER'S CHILDREN

The Mississippi was flaunting itself in the face of opposition along itssouthern banks. It had carried much before it in its downward path ereit reached New Orleans. A plantation here, a low-lying settlement there,a cotton-field in bloom under its brim, had challenged its waters andbeen taken in, and there was desolation in its wake.

In certain weak places above and below the city, gangs of men—negroesmostly—worked day and night, reinforcing suspicious danger-points withpickax and spade. At one place an imminent crevasse threatened life andproperty to such a degree that the workers were conscripted and held totheir posts by promises of high wages, abetted by periodical passagealong the line of a bucket and gourd dipper.

"Gangs of men, reinforcing suspicious danger points withpickax and spade"

There was apparently nothing worse than mirth and song in the bucket.Concocted to appeal to the festive instinct of the dark laborers as muchas to steady their hands and sustain courage, it was colored a fine pinkand floated ice lumps and bits of lemon when served. Yet there was aquality in it which warmed as it went, and spurred pickax and spade todo their best—spurred their wielders often to jest and song, too, forthere was scarcely a

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THE RIVER'S CHILDREN

AN IDYL OF THE MISSISSIPPI

By RUTH McENERY STUART

AUTHOR OF "SONNY," "HOLLY AND PIZEN," "MORIAH'S MOURNING,"
"NAPOLEONJACKSON," ETC.

With Pictures by
Barry C. Edwards

NEW YORK
THE CENTURY CO.
1904

Copyright, 1904, by
The Century Co.

Copyright, 1903, by
Phelps Publishing Co.

Published October, 1904

The De Vinne Press

"Upon the brow of the levee"

CONTENTS

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS