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Chapter 28
ShechantedmournfullyaboutMaycombCountybeingolderthanthestate,thatitwasapartoftheMississippiandAlabamaTerritories,thatthefirstwhitemantosetfootintheforestswastheProbateJudge’sgreat-grandfatherfivetimesremoved,whowasneverheardofagain.ThencamethefearlessColonelMaycomb,forwhomthecountywasnamed.
AndrewJacksonappointedhimtoapositionofauthority,andColonelMaycomb’smisplacedself-confidenceandslendersenseofdirectionbroughtdisastertoallwhorodewithhimintheCreekIndianWars.ColonelMaycombperseveredinhiseffortstomaketheregionsafefordemocracy,buthisfirstcampaignwashislast.Hisorders,relayedtohimbyafriendlyIndianrunner,weretomovesouth.Afterconsultingatreetoascertainfromitslichenwhichwaywassouth,andtakingnolipfromthesubordinateswhoventuredtocorrecthim,ColonelMaycombsetoutonapurposefuljourneytorouttheenemyandentangledhistroopssofarnorthwestintheforestprimevalthattheywereeventuallyrescuedbysettlersmovinginland.
Mrs.Merriweathergaveathirty-minutedescriptionofColonelMaycomb’sexploits.IdiscoveredthatifIbentmykneesIcouldtuckthemundermycostumeandmoreorlesssit.Isatdown,listenedtoMrs.Merriweather’sdroneandthebassdrum’sboomandwassoonfastasleep.
TheysaidlaterthatMrs.Merriweatherwasputtingherallintothegrandfinale,thatshehadcrooned,"Po-ork,"withaconfidencebornofpinetreesandbutterbeansenteringoncue.
