3

Alabama 3

Bony's brother was a religious fanatic, as it could easily be seen,
from the first word he said. He began to talk about religious things, mak-
ing statements about heaven. He was a smiling chap, anyway; and everybody
was polite enough to stop and let him talk; for everybody believed in re-
ligion even if they didn't obey and sometimes said damn.

The dogs took a couch on the floor, leaning their backs to a couple
of short-logs of fire wood. The flies settled down everybody's arms, legs,
and face, and tried their best to get on everybody's lips.

"Heaven must be a fine place. The Bible says that everyday will be a
new and better day," said the fanatic. "The Bible says there will be harp-
music in heaven," he said mysteriously and fervently: "music on golden
harps. Now, I never heard any music on golden harps, but I bet it is a
mighty sweet sound."

"Might be like the clinking of golden coins," said a visitor, but
no one paid any attention to that.

"I know heaven will be a wonderful place."

"He seems to be a religious person?" asked a visitor over by Bony.
"Is he a preacher?"

"No, but he is a might good man. He's my brother. I never knowed

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