The Story
In the village of Ribber Bank, where Miss Hilda presides over everything, and the people seem content with the simple life, enter F. X. Sweet Mouth. He has a plan to develop the village, for tourism. Fact is, he's really in search of the Golden Table, which legend says, lies at the bottom of the river beneath the Cotton Tree

The promise of "freeniss" soon turns the villagers' heads and they begin to ignore Miss Hilda's message of hard work and honesty. Chief among those lured by F.X. Sweet Mouth is Miss Hilda's son, Lenny, who has dropped out of university because of "the cess". He joins F.X.'s development company and soon finds himself digging for the Golden Table despite his mother’s warnings and the history about the River Mumma who guards it.

Sonia Martin, a young school teacher also warns Lenny against the path he is taking— but he has his own way. The table is raised— River Mumma appears and in the train of events, young Babsie almost loses her life. River Mumma gives the village a second chance— and they give thanks as they promise to make a new start.