In Amelia Island's VELVET UNDERTOW, what does young Jack Patrick Dunnigan hang from the trees?
Excerpt:
"Do
you know what your son has done this time?” Mrs. Ickles hollered in Miss Ella's face.
"Good day
to you, too."
"Apparently, you don't. So, let me enlighten
you. ... I go into
town to learn he and those other savages have been hanging dead snakes from the
tree branches across South 3rd and Broome. When the ladies pass underneath in
their buggies, why, I myself have seen two faint dead away! And one of them was
driving alone! Her horse saw the snakes, bolted, and ran the whole rig into the
iceman’s wagon, spilling huge chunks all over the street. What with the
screaming and whinnying, it was one disagreeable agitation, I can tell you. It
was so bad, we've had to cancel this morning's meeting of the Literary League,
and we have our annual Buy a Book sale in two weeks' time! Frankly, Miss Ella,
that boy of yours is the meanest white child in Fernandina!"
