Sparrows
1
The Devil's share in the world's
creation was a certain
southern swampland --- a
masterpiece of horror. And
the Lord appreciating a good
job, let it stand.
2
Then the Devil went
himself one better - and
had Mr. Grimes live
in the swamp.
3
"Lord, our other kite
done no good 'cause I
guess Your angel had
his mind on his harp.
Couldn't You 'tend to
this one personal?"
4
But He, in His infinite
wisdom, had other plans.
5
"The bell! The bell!
Hide!"
6
"Molly, why do us always
have to hide when that
bell rings?"
7
"Because that old
alligator Grimes
don't want nobody
to know we're here."
8
"A whole month ago you
said the Lord would help
us get away. What's He
been doin' all month?"
9
"He'll help us -- if we
keep on prayin'. He's
pretty busy - watchin'
every sparrow that
falls --"
10
"How come them sparrows
got such a pull
with Him?"
11
"Hey - you Molly!"
12
"Git them brats
back to work!"
13
"Them veg-tables is wuth
money. Quit a-tramplin'
'em or I'll run the lot
of yer into the swamp!"
14
"Don't let old Grimes hear
you, Amy. He don't like
babies nohow."
15
"That son of your'n don't
do nothin' but lallygag
around loadin' up with
food."
16
"PA--MA--PA!"
17
"That Molly's been a
trouble-maker ever
since she come here.
I'm goin' to shove her
in the swamp."
18
"Some day you'll shove
one too many in the
swamp."
19
"Thought you was goin'
to steer clear of this."
20
"It means money -
a lot of money!"
21
"Money ain't goin' to
help you none if you
land in jail."
22
"He c-c-called me
Sp-Sp-Splutters
again!"
23
"You kids kiss an' make up.
Remember what the Bible
says - 'Let not thy right
cheek know what thy left
cheek getteth'."
24
"Then you'll have
to kiss me ---"
25
"M-M-Molly!"
26
"Am-Am-Ambrose w-w-won't
lemme in!"
27
"Please let him in,
Ambrose dear.
Your pa'll half
murder us ---"
28
"Let him in - you red-
headed, pussy-footin'
cat-fish!"
29
"There ain't no bottom
to them danged bog
holes!"
30
"That your young-un?"
31
"He's - he's - a - a orphant.
I been giving him
a home."
32
"I could shore use one
on my place to pick
pertater bugs."
33
"How much money would
yer give fer him?"
34
"He'd ought ter be
wuth half as much
as the hawg."
35
"Oh - he's takin'
Splutters away!"
36
"How come his prayers
git answered? He ain't
no sparrow."
37
"It's Splutters turn. The
Bible says, 'Blessed are
the tongue-tied -- for they
cannot ask -- therefore
they shall receive."
38
"Aw, hop-toads!"
39
"Been swipin' pertaters
again, eh?"
40
"PA -- MA -- PA!"
41
"Well, it was here
a minute ago."
42
"Just fer that, none
of yer don't git no
supper tonight!"
43
"Please Ma'am - the kids
don't git enough to eat -
an' the little baby's
awful sick --"
44
"---- if I go without
for two nights, couldn't
the rest have a little
somethin'?"
45
Under cover of the same
storm, the partners of
Mr. Grimes had worked
swiftly and thoroughly
46
"I'm awful empty, Molly."
47
"I bet I'm emptier."
48
"I'm twice as emptier
than everybody --
lookit!"
49
"None of your business
who she is! You're
gettin' your cut!"
50
"Molly, was He cold
an' hungry like us?"
51
"--- an' He was
born in a barn -
just like this."
52
"Are you sure He ain't
forgot about us?"
53
"He never forgets.
He keeps a list of
everything in His
big book."
54
"I'll betcha turtles to
frogs my toothache
is last on that list."
55
"Hey - you Molly!"
56
"Do you honest mean
I can have her --
for keeps?"
57
"Come an' see the
new baby."
58
"Aw, when you see one,
you've seen 'em all!"
59
Police Headquarters.
60
"Here's the man we're
after. The boys ought
to bring him in before
tomorrow."
61
"I can't stand this, Chief -
I'll pay them anything -
I want my baby --"
62
For many mornings old
Grimes had counted his
money contentedly and
scoffed at his wife's
repeated warnings.
But now --
63
"Didn't I tell yer; didn't I?
Now we're in fer it!"
64
"Shut yer mouth! They
won't never find her -
I'll chuck her in the
swamp tonight."
65
"Brakfhg - Mama Molly!"
66
"I'm goin' to chuck
her in the swamp.
Pa was aimin' to do
it tonight anyways."
67
"Get Walter - quick!"
68
"I'll git her away
from that Molly -
an' when it gits
dark enough --"
69
"Give me that baby!"
70
"You can't have her!
I know what you're
goin' to do!"
71
"Don't talk crazy! I was
goin' to let her sleep
in the kitchen -----
but now --"
72
"Aw, chase yerself -
y' big bum!"
73
"That Molly knows too
much - it would save us
a heap of trouble if
she disappeared, too."
74
Meanwhile, the Law was
sure it had cut off every
road of escape for the
kidnappers --------
But the kidnappers
didn't need roads.
75
"I'm licked - I've sent
them word I'll pay
the ransom."
76
"They'll never get it -
we're hot on their
trail!"
77
"Here's the kid one of
the search parties
rounded up. He says
there's a baby farm
down in the swamps."
78
"is there a little
baby girl there -
about so big --?"
79
"S-s-sure! They g-g-got
'em in all s-s-sizes."
80
"Better bring that rope!"
81
"Go on, little fools --
you're savin' me a lot
of trouble!"
82
"They're makin' fer the
Moss Creek Road. If
the mud don't git 'em,
they'll make a good
meal fer the alligators!"
83
"Where's the kid?"
84
"You fool - her father's
comin' through with
the money. We've got
to get her back!"
85
"It's one chance in
a million -- but if
they do git out,
we can catch 'em
at the Creek Road!"
86
"I'm afraid it's too
deep!"
87
"Give me that rope."
88
"Tree 'em, boy -
tree 'em!"
89
"Grab that rope,
scared-cat, 'fore
I smack you one!"
90
"Oh Lord! This is
us again!"
91
"Leave go my pants!"
92
"Thanks, Lord, we won't
never forget your
kindness."
93
Harbor Police.
94
"They're mine - all of 'em!"
95
"Where's your husband?"
96
"I ain't never got
married - there's
just me an' the
kids!"
97
Out of the swamps --
and into the morass
of the Law.
98
"You can't have her --
she's mine!"
99
"It's all right - this is
the baby's father!"
100
Morning --- and a very
discontented baby.
101
"Xdhfgty - Ma - Ma - Mol-ly!"
102
"Zkdtbl - Ma - Ma - Mol-ly!"
103
"It's nothing serious.
She'll be all right as
soon as this Mama
Molly gets here."
104
"Why, she's all empty!
She needs about a
gallon of milk!"
105
"She don't know nothin'
about babies."
106
"How would you like
to live here ----
and take care of
the baby?"
107
"You mean -- to
sleep an' eat -
an' everything?"
108
"I can't 'cause I got
my own kids to take
care of -------
but maybe you'd like
us all to come."
109
"How many are there?"
110
"Only ten - countin' me
an' Splutters."
111
"Ten children living
in this house? Why,
they'd wreck it!"
112
"Oh, no, they wouldn't -
they're perfect little
angels --"
113
"Say, Molly, them
sparrows ain't got
nothin' on us now."
114
"You win, Mama Molly --"
115
"-- and we'll build
a new wing on the
house --"
The End
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