Tar Heel TalesBryant, H. E. C. (Henry Edward Cowan)
General
Tar Heel Tales
Bryant, H. E. C. (Henry Edward Cowan)
African Americans -- Fiction; North Carolina -- Social life and customs -- Fiction; Short stories, American
“Yes,” declared Roark, “and if she doesn’t mind some of that hair will
drop to the floor. I have been watching it shake as the car rocks on.”
“I should laugh if it would,” declared Sanford.
At that juncture the upper end of a long, yellow curl broke from its
mooring, fell back and began to fly with the winds.
“Look at that,” said Roark.
The curl whirled around a time or two and fell to the floor.
The train moved on, crossing rough places in the road, and the sleeping
head went up and down. A second curl--what is known as a Minerva
knot--began to loosen in the east and the west.
“It’s a landslide this time,” said Sanford.
“It looks that way,” Roark acquiesced.
“But I shall not complain, no matter what comes.”
“I wish that lady would wake up,” said a female voice across the aisle.
“I fear her hair will lose its Grecian effect. But I will not arouse her;
it might make her mad.”
“I believe, without being able to say positively, Charlie, that she has
on fluffy ruffers,” said Roark, laughing.
“I have studied the combination and I can’t quite unlock it,” said
Sanford, “but I think she has what they call a transformation pompadour,
with coronet braid, zephyr curls, all of which is covered with a bunch of
real Grecian curls, but I must admit that I am not much on diagnosing a
case like this.”
“Make way, for the earth is giving,” said a citizen who had just arrived.
A section of hair, shaped like a shovel, such as the farmers use for
bursting out middles, or to go with a sweep, gave way and fell, inside up.
“That’s a loller-perlooler,” said Roark. “I wonder if we could get a
basket to put it in?”
The rain of ornaments had started. Everybody was expectant. Rats, rolls,
puffs, curls and knots were loosening. A bundle of wire, something akin
to a small mouse trap, came with the hair.
“Nope, it’s the Wire Trust in disguise,” declared Roark.
“Hold your tongue! It’s a summer hotel,” said the newcomer, who had
become thoroughly interested, as a bit of hair, done up in fine silk,
fell out. “Rats, rat traps and mosquito nets.”
The lady began to wiggle.
“Carry me away,” said Roark.
“It’s to the Land of Nod for me,” exclaimed Sanford.
“The baggage room for me,” said the third observer.
Ten more rats, six rolls, two curls and a small knot were the last to go
down. Piled on the floor, in the shape of a cone, was a peck measure full
of all sorts of hair dressing. Yellow prevailed, but there was anything
from a drab to a chemical blonde.
The owner, one time possessor, waked in the course of time, and, on
feeling curious about the head, ran her hand back to see if she had lost
anything.
“What about that?” said she to herself, realizing the extent of her loss.
“Ghnarr!” snorted Sanford, snoring.
“Whee-oo!” retorted Roark, who had fallen suddenly asleep in a seat, just
captured.
“I am so thankful that everybody is asleep,” said the blonde, aside.
“What a disgrace?”
“Spoo-it!” snored Sanford.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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