kle of repressed merriment dancing in eyes that were kindlier
and more tolerant than Jimmy dreamed.

Just because shantyboat folk had no right to insult the riverboats Jimmy
had collected forty empty tobacco tins, a down-at-heels shoe, a Sears
Roebuck catalogue and--more rolled up newspapers than Jimmy could ever
read.

Jimmy could read, of course. No matter how badly Uncle Al needed a new
pair of shoes, Jimmy's education came first. So Jimmy had spent six
winters ashore in a first-class grammar school, his books paid for out
of Uncle Al's "New Orleans" money.

Uncle Al, blowing on a vinegar jug and making sweet music, the holes in
his socks much bigger than the holes in Jimmy's socks. Uncle Al shaking
his head and saying sadly, "Some day, young fella, I ain't gonna sit
here harmonizing. No siree! I'm gonna buy myself a brand new store suit,
trade in this here jig jug for a big round banjo, and hie myself off to
the Mardi Gras. Ain't too old thataway to git a little fun out of life,
young fella!"

Poor old Uncle Al. The money he'd saved up for the Mardi Gras never
seemed to stretch far enough. There was enough kindness in him to
stretch like a rainbow over the bayous and the river forests of sweet,
rustling pine for as far as the eye could see. Enough kindness to wrap
all of Jimmy's life in a glow, and the life of Jimmy's sister as well.

Jimmy's parents had died of winter pneumonia too soon to appreciate
Uncle Al. But up and down the river everyone knew that Uncle Al was a
great man.

* * * * *

Enemies? Well, sure, all great men made enemies, didn't they?

The Harmon brothers were downright sinful about carrying their feuding
meanness right up to the doorstep of Uncle Al, if it could be said that
a man living in a shantyboat had a doorstep.

Uncle Al made big catches and the Harmon brothers never seemed to have
any luck. So, long before Jimmy was old enough to understand how
corrosive envy could be the Harmon brothers had started feuding with
Uncle Al.

"Jimmy, here comes the _Natchez Belle_! Uncle Al says for you to get him
a newspaper. The newspaper you got him yesterday he couldn't read
no-ways. It was soaking wet!"

Jimmy turned to glower at his sister. Up and down the river Pigtail Anne
was known as a tomboy, but she wasn't--no-ways. She was Jimmy's little
sister. That meant Jimmy was the man in the family, and wore the pants,
and nothing Pigtail said or did could chan