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Show page 210 MISS LILLIE Miss L i l l i e Harris, on the Rochelle road near our town, operated a large hay and cabbage farm her husband left her. Miss L i l l i e was a l i t t l e woman of a hundred and five pounds,but she was staunch in s p i r i t and in pride of our community. She was woman enough to be concerned about Willie Earl's escape from prison and the social value of an unconventional parrot, all on her mind at the same time. One afternoon in l a t e f a l l Miss L i l l i e came in from her south fields long before supper and said to Hutch Henderson her cook, "I'm going into town and see just where they think Willie Earl's headed. If Willie comes here, feed him and t e ll him I said to turn himself in and get deloused and get a bath." Hutch walked with her to her front veranda, watched her check her p i s t o l in and out of her h o l s t e r . The p i s t o l was s t r i c t l y for Willie Earl; he was known at times to be mean. He had formerly worked for Miss L i l l i e . Hutch was concerned about the parrot Salem Daylight, wasn't paying much mind to Willie Earl's problems. Miss L i l l i e read his mind. Her approach was stern. "You get with Songster McClain and get McClain to take that bird back," she said. "That bird is vulgar, like my cousin Dorsey who ran off to Texas after eating a l l Uncle Jack's smoked hams. The s i m i l a r i t y sets me against the bird. Get him back ^ . He doesn't contribute t o his keep here in any way." |
