BLACK APRIL [Illustration] BLACK APRIL _by_ Julia Peterkin [Illustration] GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers by arrangement with_ THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1927 BY THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY _Printed in the United States of America_ _To_ JULIUS MOOD CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I APRIL’S FATHER 11 II APRIL’S SON 21 III COUSIN BIG SUE 40 IV JULIA 52 V BLUE BROOK 57 VI UNCLE BILL 66 VII A BIRTH-NIGHT SUPPER 73 VIII THE PREMISES 84 IX SATURDAY AFTERNOON 89 X THE BARNYARD 100 XI HUNTING ’POSSUMS AND TURKEYS 129 XII DUCK-HUNTING 138 XIII THE QUILTING 159 XIV CHURCH 180 XV FIELD WORK 199 XVI PLOWING 203 XVII HOG-KILLING 231 XVIII JOY AND APRIL 268 XIX AT APRIL’S HOUSE 287 XX SEEKING 308 BLACK APRIL BLACK APRIL I APRIL’S FATHER The cool spring dusk fell drowsy and soft over Sandy Island, all but blotting out a log cabin that nestled under great moss-hung oaks close to the river’s edge. The small drab weather-stained house would scarcely have shown except for the fire that burned inside, sending a bright glow through its wide-open door and showers of sparks up its short stick-and-clay chimney. A gaunt, elderly black man strode hastily toward it along the path leading up from the river and went inside, but in a few minutes he came to stand in the doorway, his bulk well-nigh filling it as one broad shoulder leaned dejectedly against the lintel. When a moan came from inside, his brawny hands clenched and buckled in a foolish helpless way, and a frown knitted his forehead as he cast a glance at the old black woman who pattered back and forth from the hearth to the bed in the corner with a cupful of root-tea or a bit of hot grease in a spoon or a pinch of salt in the palm of her hand. Once in a while she called to him that everything was going well. To-morrow this same girl would laugh at all these groans and tears. Birthing a child is tough work. He must have patience. Long patience. Nobody can hurry a slow-coming child.