Shadows of Joshua

"The river flowed along, rippling gently over the rocks. The sound was very relaxing, and the trunk of the willow tree was a welcome support for her tired body. As Eliza Jane settled against the trunk of the weeping willow, she glanced at the footlog nearby. She had been told many times that she should not cross the river and had often wondered why.

Standing majestically on the far bank of the river stood a tall sycamore tree whose limbs called out for climbing. But Eliza Jane was obedient and had never crossed the river. Unknown to her, the majestic sycamore tree was the favorite climbing and resting place for a young lad whom she had never met.

Eliza Jane closed her eyes for a moment of prayer and let her eyes remain closed, relaxing into sleep. Suddenly she was awakened by a shower of sycamore balls from across the river. This bombardment was accompanied by laughter and a taunting call of "Sleepyhead, sleepyhead, under the tree; how you can sleep there is beyond me!"

Eliza Jane looked up in the sycamore tree to see a handsome young man eyeing her. She jumped up and headed for the footlog. "You stop that and come down from that tree right now!" she yelled.

A laughing, husky voice replied; "Why should I? The view is breathtaking and I need to practice my aim!" These words were accompanied by another shower of sycamore balls which fell all around Eliza Jane.

"Come down from there, you coward!" she shouted. By this time her temper was getting the best of her. She'd get even with this tormentor for sure! "Come down, I say!"

Again, the response was laughter and the taunt; "Who's going to make me? You? I bet you can't even walk the footlog, much less climb a tree!"

"I may not climb trees, but you just meet me in the middle of the footlog and I'll show you what's what!" Eliza Jane angrily replied as she approached the end of the footlog. "Unless you're a scaredy cat!"

Just as she hesitantly stepped onto the giant log which crossed the river, a thud sounded at the foot of the sycamore tree. She glanced up to see a strapping young lad with such black hair that it seemed to reflect the sun's rays. "Who in the world is that?" Eliza Jane thought briefly before shaking off her reaction to the handsome young man striding toward the far end of the log, still laughing as he approached.

"I'll show this cad!" thought Eliza Jane as she took a deep calming breath and gingerly walked toward the middle of the footlog. She tried to focused on where she placed her feet. The last thing she needed was to slip and fall into the river below!