Moose County Legends

She taught school. She enjoyed writing. Shelived to be ninety and left bundles of schoolnotebooks filled with thoughts and experiences.

—JMQ

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When I started teaching in a one-room schoolhouse near Black Creek, I lived with a farm family and had to walk three miles to school in all kinds of weather. I always went early because I had to make a fire in the wood-stove and trim the lamps and wash the glass chimneys and sweep the floor.

One day in late November before snow had started to turn the brown landscape white, I set out for school in pitch-darkness. There was a covered bridge over the creek, and oh! how I dreaded crossing that bridge in the dark! On this particular day, as I entered the dark tunnel, I saw something that made my knees shake. There was a white object at the far end—small and round and white and floating in the air. I stood stock-still with my mouth open as it came closer, bobbing gently. I wanted to turn around and run, but my feet were rooted to the ground. And then I realized it 쑽쑽쑽

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Lilian Jackson Braun was a face—no body, just a white face! It stated to make noises: “U-u-ugh! U-u-ugh!”

I tried to scream, but no sound came from my mouth.

Then two white hands reached for me. “U-u-ugh! U-u-ugh!”

As the white face came close to mine, I was about to faint, but then I recognized it. I recognized a pale young girl from our church. She was wearing black garments and a black shawl over her head, and she was trying to tell me not to be afraid. She was a deaf-mute.

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21.

A Cat Tale: Holy Terror

and the Bishop

Told by a Retired Clergyman,

the Reverend Arledge Harding

Mr. and Mrs. Harding were vacationing at abed-and-breakfast on an offshore island, andthey were sitting in a porch swing when he toldthis tale. He was tall and dignified and alwayswore a French beret, indoors and out. Therewas a twinkle in his one good eye when he recalled the memorable incident.

—JMQ

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Ican hardly say that we had a Siamese cat, but there was one who accepted bed and board from us—a strong-willed but fascinating creature whom we named Holy Terror. At the time I was vicar of a church in a small town in Indiana, and the parishioners were flattered to hear that the Bishop would be gracing us with his presence in the very near future. Plans were being made to welcome him, and it seemed that an appropriate event would be a private luncheon at the vicarage. Mrs. Harding can serve a charm-ing luncheon, but she always inquires if the guest of honor has likes or dislikes—and how he or she feels about cats.

The Bishop’s office assured us that he was very fond of cats—and also a Bloody Mary before lunch. Unaccustomed as I was to serving drinks, I consulted all available experts and decided on the perfect recipe, after which I took pains to assemble the correct ingredients.

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Lilian Jackson Braun On the appointed day the distinguished guest arrived and was duly greeted, after which I repaired to the kitchen to mix the concoction myself. As I carried the tray into the living room, Holy Terror went into one of his Siamese tizzies, flying up and down stairs and around the house at great speed, until he swooped over my shoulder and landed in the tray. Glasses catapulted into space and the Bloody Mary sprayed tomato juice over the walls, carpet, ceiling, and the august person of the Bishop.

It so happened that our guest was blessed with a con-genial sense of humor, and he has been telling the story all over creation for the last thirty years.

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22.

Those Pushy Moose

County Blueberries

They Seem to Be Saying,

“We Were Here First”

Food editor Mildred Riker of the Moose County Something is on their side. This champion of the blueberry even has a “blueberry rake” on her desk, serving as a letter-file. Here’s what she had to say for Short & Tall Tales.

—JMQ

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