The Bass Family 93 



shanty boat in which to float down to sunnier 

 dimes for the winter, as the man was " nigh 

 gone " with consumption. One morning I was 

 out early fishing for yellow-bass after a rainy 

 night. As I was landing a fish I saw the woman 

 at the top of the bluff, looking for a way down to 

 the yacht. She was quite a fresh and comely- 

 looking woman, too. She started down very 

 carefully, for the wet clay was quite slippery. I 

 became interested to see how she would succeed. 

 Suddenly her bare feet slipped from under her, 

 and she came down with a rush, her one garment, 

 as I soon discovered, an old calico gown, slipping 

 back over her head, disclosing her nude form, 

 which appeared very white in contrast to the red 

 clay. Then I looked the other way just as she 

 flopped over from a prone to a supine position. 

 When she reached the river side she looked like 

 a sculptor's model in clay. She quietly adjusted 

 her gown as if nothing unusual had occurred, 

 and asked : " Has you-uns got any matches ? 

 We-uns' matches all got wet in the drizzle last 

 night, and I want to cook my old man's break- 

 fus." I pulled ashore and handed her my match- 

 box, and scarcely knowing what to say, I remarked, 

 " You had better change your dress before you 



