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2 ? ; # M15S 1 ^JwiLIIAM ? Frances B 'Copyright. by Ko | CHAPTER I. A Scandalized Virgin. The bus drove up to tho pate and 'stopped under the electric street light. Perched on the box by the big. black negro driver sat a little boy whose slender figure was swathed In a huge rata coat. i *.TIss Minerva was en the porch waiting to receive hiru. "Mercy on me, child,* the said, "what on earth made von ride nn there? Why didn't you get inside?" "1 Jest wanted to ride by Sain !.airb," replied the child as he was lifted down. "An' 1 see a nice fat little man name' Major?" "He jos' wouldn' ride inside, Miss Minerva." interrupted the driver, quickly, to pass over the blush that rose to the spinster's thin cheek at mention of the major. " 'Twan't no use fer ter try ter make him ride nowhars but jes' up by me. He Jes' 'fused an' 'fused an' 'sputed an' feputed; he jes' tuck ter me f'om de minute ho got off'm de train an' sot eyes on me: he am one easy chile ter git 'qualnted wid; so 1 jes' h'isted him up by mo. Here am his verlise. ma'am." "Good-by, Sam Damb," said the child as the negro got bock on the box and gathered up the reins. "I'll see you to-morrer." -*** Miss Minerva imprinted a thin, old maid kiss on the sweet, childish mouth. "I am your Aunt Minerva," she said, as she picked up his satchel. The little boy carelessly drew the back of his hand across his mouth. "What are you doing?" she asked. Are you wiping my kiss off?" "Naw'm," he replied, "I's Jest a?I's a-rubbtn* it in, I reckon." "Come In, Willi: -n." and his aunt led the way through the wide hall Into a big bedroom. "Hilly, ma'am," corrected her nephew. "William," firmly repeated Miss Minerva. "You may have been called Hilly on that plantation where you were allowed to run wild with the negroes, but your name Is William Green Hill, and I shall Insist upon your being called by it." She stooped to help him off with his coat, remarking as she did so: "What a big overcoat; it Is several 1 sizes too large for you." "Darned if 't ain't." agreed the child I promptly. i "Who taught you such a naughty word?" she Rskerl in rt hnrrlfl.i.1 I i "Don't you know it is wrong to i curse?" - - ] "You call that cussin'?" came In scornful tones from tho little boy. < You don t V%vjw cussin' when you see i it; you Joet oughter hear ole Uncle J1 inmy-J%wed Jijp'ter, Aunt Cindy's ' j husbair" - heTi show you Bora<T the I i prottios' cussin' yfcu e#er did hear." J "Who is Aunt flndy?" ; j colored 'oman what tends ' t to ever Wrioe me ?n' Wilkes Bocrfc ' ^inQoin's born, an' TTncle Jup'ter is I ^ hoJUtljiflban' an' he sho' is a stingeree on cuBSlnT T3 Yo' ?usban' much of a | j cusser?" ho inquired. ^ A palo pink dyed Miss Minerva's ! thin, sr.Mow, face. ti "T am not a married woman," she | s replied, curtly, "and 1 most, assuredly a would not. permit any oaths to be used c on my premises." "Well, Uncle Jimmy-Jawed Jup'ter i Is jest nach'elly boun' to cuss?he's i got a repertatlon to keep up," said , -v s ? He satlSwn in a chair in front of hunt, crossed his legs and smiled confidentially up into her face. "Hell an' damn is lest easy ev'y day words to that nip??er. I wish you could hear him cuss on a Sunday Jest one time. Aunt Minerva; he'd sho make you open yo' ey s an take in yo' sign. Rut Aunt Cindy don't 'low mo ! an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln to say notb in' 't all only jest 'darn' tell we gits i grown mens, an puts on long pants, j "Wilkes Booth Lincoln?" questioned his aunt. "Ain't you never hear teller him?" | asked tho child. "He's ole Aunt Rlue- j Oum Tempy's Peruny Pearllne's boy. j an' Peruny Peorline," he continued enthusiastically, "she ain't no ord- j *nary nigger, her hair ain't got nare kink an' aho's got the grnndea' clo'es. They ain't nothin' snide 'bout her. She got ten chlllens an' ev*y single one of 'era's got a dlff'unt pappy, she been married so much. They do aay be got Injun blood in her, too." Miss Minerva, who had been stand- j !ng prim, erect and stiff, fell limply into a convenient rocking chair, and i looked closely at this orphaned ' nephew who had come to live with her. * She saw a beautiful, bright, attractive, little face out of which big, saucy, gray eyes shaded by long curling black Irishes looked wlnnlngly at her; she saw a sweet, childish red mouth, a mass of short, yellow ourls, and a thin but graceful little figure. "I knows the names of aller ole Annt Blue-Oum Tempy's Peruny Pearline's Chilians," he was saying proudly: "Admiral Farragut Moses the Prophet Esquire, hefe the blggee*; ah' Att?e Ann Mads Dan Step-aif-fKk Fstcr, IL, she had to nuss all the res'; say fa#' as aha ?it th'oc % T1 wmA m nd ? I GREEN HllT ] oyd Calhoun Illy & Brlttun Co.) I breathin' spell here come another one ' an' she got to nuss it. An' the nex' 1 i Is Mount Sinai Tjlhornlelo ho nrimo fer the church where ol" Aunt Blue- ' ' Gum Tenipy's Peruny Pearline takes ( her sackerment; an' the nex' is First)' Thessalonians; Second Thessalonlans, 1 he's dead an' gone to the Bad Place : 'cause he skunt a cat?1 don't mean ' skin the cat on a actin' pole like me an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln does?he ' skunt a sho' 'nough cat what was a , black cat. what was a ole witch, an' ! ! she come back an' ha'nt him. an* he 1 growed thinner an' thinner an v.eas- , ler an' weasier, tell finely he wan't j 1 nothln' 'tall but a skel'ton. an* the | ' Bad Man won't 'Vow nobody 'tall to 1 give his parch tongue no water, an' he 1 got to, ever after amen, be toast on a 1 pitchfork. An' Oleander Magnolia Al- ( thea Is the nex'," he continued. | ; enumerating Peruny Pearline's off spring on his thin, well-molded fingers. "sho got the seven-year itch; an' 1 Gettysburg, an' Ptddle-A-Brothers- j ' Mercantile-Co.; he name fer the sto' ( where ole Aunt Blue-Gum Tempy'6 ' Peruny Pearline gits credit so she can .8 pay when she fetches in her cotton in the fall; an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln, : c him an' me's twins; we was horned the same day only I's horned to my 8 mamma an' he's b9med to hls'n an' ^ Doctor JenkijiB fetched mo an' Doctor 8 l3hacVlefoot fetched him. An' Declmus Ultimus."?the little boy trfumph- ^ antly put his right forefinger on his left little one, thus making the tenth, ^ "she's the baby an' she's got the colic v an* cries loud 'nough to wake up Is- 1 rael; Wilkes Booth Lincoln say he ^ wish the little devil would die. Per- I1 uny Pearline firs' name her 'Doctor ^ Shacklefoot' 'cause he fetches all her i ^ chlllens, but the doctor he say that ain't no name fer a girl, so he name 1 her Declmus Ultimus." Miss Minerva, sober, proper, .digni- ^ fled, religious old maid unused to children. listened in frozen amazement 1 and paralyzed silence She decided to s put the child to bed at once that she M might collect her thoughts, and lay U aon.e plans for the rearing of this sadly neglected, little orphaned nephew. n "William," 6he nald, "It is bedtime. i nnd I know you must be sleepy after your long ride on the cars. Would you 1 like something to eat before I put you j to bed? I saved you some supper." "Naw'm, I hain't hor.gry, the major } man what I talk to on the train tuck mo in the dinln'-room an' gimme all I could hoi'; I jest oat an' eat tell they wan't a wrinkle In me." waa the [ reply. "He axed me 'bout you, tools he name' Major Minerva?" She opened a door In considerable , confusion, and tliey entered a small, , teal room adjoining. "This Is your own little (room, Wll- ' lam," said she, "you see It opens mto nine. Have you a night-shirt?" "Naw'm, I don't need no night-shirt. Jest sleeps in my unions and somaImes In my veralls.'" "Well, you may sleep In your union iult -tonight." said th# scandalized relitive, "and I'll see what I can do for ou tomorrow. Cam you undress your;e!f?" Her smalt nephew vrinKiei uib lose, disdainfully. "Well, I reckon o," he scornfully made answer. "M? in' Wirkes Rooth Lincoln been unlr< ssin' usself everiscnce we's horn." "I'll come in hero*after a while and urn off the light Good night Wlllam." "Oond-nlght, Aunt Mtnerva,"' responded the little boy. CHAPTER llfc The Rabbit's Left Hind Foot; A few minutes later, as Miss Mine, va sal rockiug and thinking. the i door opened and a lean, graceful little figure, clad In a skinny gray union j suit, came Into the roonu. |( "Ain't 1 a-g?in' to say no prayers?" , demanded a sweet, childish voice. "Aunt Cindy hear me an* Wtlkea?j1 * T'.oot"n Lincoln say us prayers ov'y night sence we's born." "Why. of courwe you must hsjt yourprayers," said his aurrc, blushing at; having to be reminded of her duty by'. j this young heathen, "knoel do^m hece> by me." I Hilly looked at hi? aunt's boajf , frame and thought at Aunt cmdyft j soft, fat. ample lap. W. wistful look ^ crossed hlB childish face as ba | dropped down in frootfof hor and teid (| his head agalnRt her knee, then the bright, beautiful Iittlb* face took on an , angelic expression as ho- closed! hi? onil iinfflir rKtintrw! I "Now I lays mo <own to aleeta I prays tho Lord my sool to keefe ! If I should die hefo' I wake, I prays the Lord my iwMl to Uka, "Keep 'way f'om me hoodoo an' witch, Lead my paf f'om the po'houso gate, I pines fer the golden harps an' etch, i Oh. Lord, I'll set an' pray an' wait. I "Oh, Lord, blesa ov'ybody; bleee me an' Aunt Cindy, an' Wilkes Tlooth Lincoln, an' Aunt Blue-Gum Tempy'a Per| uny Pearllne, an' Uncle Jimmy-Jawed Jup'ter, an' ev'ybody, an' 3am Lamb, an' Aunt Minerva, an' aller Aunt BlueOum Tempy's Peruny Pearllne's chll-1 f.ii, a. cive Ao-t a MMy _ goat or a little na; ,y li ah?td ruther. ~ -^a^aa , Major Ma JH Jfiakw mt' HE LANCASTER NEWS good boy like Sanctified Sophy. t?? Jesus' sake. Amen." "What !s that you have tied around your neck. William?" she asked, as the little boy rose to his feet. "That's my rabbit foot; you won't never have no 'sease 't all an' nofcndv can't never conjure you if you wears a rabbit foot. This here one is the lef' hin" foot; it was ketched by a redheaded nigger with cross-eyes in a graveyard at twelve o'clock on a Friday night, when they's a full moon. He give It to Aunt Cindy to tie 'roun' my nake when I's a baby. Ain't you got no rabbit foot?" he anxiously inquired. "No," she answerrd. :'I have nevo~ had one and I have never been conjured either. Give it to me. William; [ can't allow you to be superstitious," ind she held out her hand. "Please, Aunt Minerva, jest lenune wear it tonight," he pleaded. "Me an' j Wilkes Booth Lincoln's been wearin' ' us rabbit foots ever sence we s born." j "No," she said firmly; "I'll put a. 5top to such nonsense at oncc. Givo It to me. William." Billy looked up at his aunt's aus:ere countenance and lovingly tinkered his charm: he opened Ills mouth to say something, but hesiated; slowly he untied the ( string iround his neck and laid his treasure m her lap; then without looking up. | le ran into his own little room, clos- J ng the door behind him. Soon afterward Miss Minerva, hear- | ng a sound like a stifled sob coming , rom the adjoining room, opened the loor softly and looked into a sad, lit- ' le face with big, wide, open eyes i hining with tears. "What Is the matter, William?" she | :oldly asked. "I ain't never slop* by myself." he lobbed. "Wilkes Booth Lincoln always Blept on a pallet by my bed evor ence we's born an'?an' I wants kunt Cindy to tell me 'bout Uncle PHerk Peter." His aunt sat down on the bed by | lis side. She was not versed in the i yays of childhood, and could not know : hat the little boy wanted to pillow {a haoH nn A tint n H v*o m nf t uml rr> ile bosom, that he was homesick for is black friends, the only companions I e had ever known. "I'll tell you a Bible story." she emporlzed. "You must not be a baby, 'ou are not afraid, are you, William? k>d Is always with you." "I don't want no God." he sullenly lade reply; "I wants somebody with ho' 'nough sktn an' bones, an'?an' I 'ants to hear 'bout Uncle Plljerk Pear/" "I will tell yon a Bible story," | gain ^ suggested his aunt. "I will tell j ou about?" "I.don' want to heax uo Bible story, m ^| ! I II m ,> J S ill leither," he objected. "I wants to hear "ncle Jimmy-Jawed Jup'ter frlay bis corjun an' sing: ' 'Rabbit up the gum tree. Coon is In the holler tVake, snake; Juney-Iiug stole a bait a dollar.*" "I'll sing you a hymn," said Miss viiuci vn I'uijriiiij. "I don't want to hear you sing no lymn," said Billy impolitely. "I wants x) see Sanctified Sophy shout." As his aunt could think ef no substitute with which to tempt him In lieu of Sanctified Sophy Is shouting, she remained silent. "An' I wants Wilkes Booth Lincoln to d&ncw a clog," persisted her nephew. Miss Minerva remained silent She felt un&hle to' cope with the situation till she had adjusted her thoughts and made her plans. Presently Billy, looking at her shrewdly, said: "Gtmme my rabbit foot, Aunt Minerva. an" I'll go right off to sleep." When she again - looked in on him he was fast asleep, a rosy flush on ills babyish, tear-stained cheek, hln red Hps half parted, his curly head pillowed on his arm, and close against his soft, young throat there nestled the left hind foot of a rabbit Miss Minerva's bed time was half after nine o'clock, summer or winter. She had hardly varied a second in the thr- w ' ''"-.-td since the run. __ v.. lc rtlve, IPRIL'27, 1915. the young sister whoso child had now come to live with her. Hut on the night of Dllly's arrival the stern, narrow woman sat for hours in her rocking chair, her mind busy with thoughts of that pretty young sister, dead since the boy's birth. And now the wild, reckless, dissipated brother-in-law was doad, too, and the child had bepn sent to her; to the aunt who did not want him, who did not care for children, who had never forgiven her sister her unfortunate marriage. "If he had only been a girl," she sighed. What she believed to be a happy thought entered her brain. "I shall rear hlin," she promised herself, "just aa if he were a little girl; then he will be both a pleasure and a comfort to me, and a compan| Ion for my loneliness." Miss Minerva was strictly methodical; she worked ever by the clock, so many hours for this, so many for that. William, she now resolved, for the first time becoming really Tnterested In him, should grow up to be a model young man, a splendid and wonderful piece of mechanism, a fine, practical, machine-like individual, moral, upright, religious. She was glad that he was young; she would begin his training on the morrow. She would teach him to sew. to sweep, to churn, to cook, and when he was older he should be educated for tne ministry. "Yes." said Miss Minerva; "i shall be very strict with him Just at first, and punish him for the slightest disobedience or misdemeanor, and he will soon learn that my authority is not to be questioned." And the little boy who had never had a restraining hand laid upon him In his short life? He slept sweetly and Innocently In the next room, dreaming of the care-free existence on the plantation and of his idle, happy, negro companions. CHAPTER III. The Willing Worker. "Get up. William," said Miss Minerva, "and come with me to the bathroom; I have fixed your bath." The child's sleepy eyes popped wide open at this astounding command. "AlnT thls-here Wednesday?*' he asked sharply. "Yes; today is Wednesday. Hurry up or the water will get cold." "Well, me an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln Jest washed las' Sat'day. Wo ain't got to wash no mo' till nci' Sat'day," be argued. "Oh. yes," tald his relative; "you must bathe every day." "Me an' Wtlkee Uooth Lincoln ain't never wash on a Wednesday sence we's born," he protested indignantly. ssL-' lf% r l Billy's idea of & bath was taken from the sever? weekly scrubbing which Aunt Cindy gave him with a hard washrag, and he felt that he'd rather die at once than have to bathe j every day. He followed his aunt dolefully to the bathroom at the end of the long back porch of the old-fashioned, one; story house; but once In the big white tub he was delighted. In fact, be stayed In it so long 1 Miss Minerva had to knock on the I door and tell him to hurry up and get ready for breakfast. "Say," he yelled out to her, "I likes tbis-here; IV s mot' as fine as Johnny's Wash Hole, where me an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln goes In swlmmln' evei Bene? wo'b born." When he cam? Into the dining-room he was a sight to gladden ewen a prim , oid maid's heart. The water had I curled bis hair into riotous yellow , ringlets, his.bright eyes gleamed, hit j beautiful, expressive little faoe shorn . happily, and every movement of hit | agile, lithe figure was grace Itself. "I sho* is hongry," be remarked, ai he took his seat at the breakfast ta ble. Miss Minerva realised that now wai the time to begin her small nephew'i , training; if she was ever to teach hln I to speak correctly she must begin a once. "William." she said sternly, "yot must hot talk so much like a negro 'nstead of saying 'I sho' 1s hongry, )U '! ?:'d : r;\ 'I tery hungry. I n'ii sWiftS I I Listen to me and try to speak more I correctly." "Don't! don't!" she screamed aB he helped himself to the meat and gravy, leaving a little brown river on her fresh white tablecloth. "Walt nntll I ask a blessing; then I will help you to what you want." Billy enjoyed his Breakfast very much. "These muffins sho' is?n he began; catching his aunt's eye he corrected himself: "These muffins am very good." "These muffins are very good," said Miss Minerva patiently. "Did you ever eat any bobbyeued rabbit?"" he asked. "Me an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln been eatln' chlt'llns, an' sweet 'taters, an' 'possum, an' squirrel. an' hoe-cake, an' Brunswick stew ever sence ve'i born," was his proud, announcement. "Use your napkin," commanded she, "and don't fin your mouth so full." The little boy flooded his plate with, sirup. "These-here Hasses sho' is?" he began, but instantly remembering that : u? niuBL i>? more particular in Dis speech, he stammered out: "These-here sho* Is?am?are a nice messer'lasses. I ain't never eat sech a good bait. They sho' is?I aimed to Bay?these 'lasses sho' are a bird: they's 'nother sight tastler'n sorghum, an' Aunt Cindy 'lows that sorghum is the very penurity of a nigger." She did not again correct him. * "I must bo very patient," she thought, "and go very slowly. I must not expect too much of him at first." After breakfast Miss Minerva, who would not keep a servant, preferring to do her own work, tied a big cookapron around the little boy's neck, and told him to churn while she washed the dishes. This arrangement did not suit Billy. "Boys don't churn," he said sullenly; "me an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln don' never have to churn sence we's born; 'omans has to churn an' I ain't a-going to. Major Minerva?ho ain't never churn," he began belligerently, but his relative turned an uncompromising and rather perturbed back upon him. Realizing that be was beaten, he submitted to his fate, clutched the dasher angrily, and began his weary work. He was glad his little black friend did not witness his disgrace. As ho thought of Wilkes Booth Lincoln the big tears came into his eyes , and rolled down his cheeks; he leaned way over the churn and the great glistening tears splashed right into the hole made for the dasher, and rolled into the milk. . Billy grew interested at onco and laughed aloud; he puckered up his face and tried to weep again, for he wanted more tears to fall Into the churn; but the tears refused to come and he couldn't squeeze another one out of his eyes. "Aunt Minerva," he said mischievously. "I done mint yo' buttermilk." "What have you done?" she Inquired. "It's done rulnt," he replied, "you'll hafter th'ow It away; 'tain't fltten fer notbln.' I done cried 'bout a bucket- I ; ful in It." "Why did you cry?" asked Miss Mi> nerva calmly. "Don't you like to , work?" [ "Yes'm, I Jes' loves to work; I wish : I had time to work all the time. But , it makes my belly ache to churn--I , got a awful pain right now.'" , "Churn on!" she commanded un . | sympathetically. He grabbed tbe dasher and churned j I vigorously for one minute. ! "I reckon the butter's done come,**' I he announced, resting from his labors. , ' "It hasn't begun to come yet," re( plied the exasperated woman. "Don't , < waste so much time, William." , The child churned In silence for the space of two minutes, and suggested: > I 'It's time to put hot water In It; Aunt . Cindy always puts hot water In It. Ismme git some fer you." ! "I never put hot water In my milk," i said she, "It makes the butter puffy. x Work more and talk less, William." I Again there was a brief stlenoe, broken only by the sopnd of the i dasher thumping against the bottom , of the chum, and the rattle of thh . dishes. "I sho' Is tired," he presently remarked, heaving a deep sigh. "Mjj =fp\ ' 1 * / 1 arms Is 'bout give out. Aunt Minerva. Olo Aunt Blue-Gum Tempy's Peruny Pearllne see a man churn with hlaj toes; lemme git a chair an' see if I can't churn with my toes." "Indeed you shall not," responded U his annoyed relatiwe positively. ' "Sanctified Sophy knowed a colored j 'omiin what had a little dog went roun' an* roun' an' churn fer he remarked Hilly after a short panse. "If you had a billy boat or a little nanny I could hitch him to the churn fer you ev'ry day." i "William." commanded his aunt, "don't say another word untQ you i have finished your work." "Can I sing?" he asked. She nodded permission as she went through the open door into the dtntngroom. i Returning a few minutes later she found him sitting astride the churn, using the dasher so vigorously that buttermilk was splashing in every direction. and singing In a clear, sweet voice: "He'll feed you when you's naked. i no orpnans tear uo'U dry. Hell clothe you when you's hongry An' take you when you die." Miss Minerva jerked him off with no gentle hand. "What I done now?" asked the boy innocently. " Taln't no harm aa I can see Jes' to straddle a churn." "Go out in the front yard," commanded his aunt, "and sit in the swing till 1 call you. I'll finish the work without your assistance. And, William," she called after him, "there Is a very bad little boy who lives next door; I want you to have as little to do with him as possible." (Continued in Next Issue.) NOTICE. The time for the payment of taxes expires March 31. The comptroller general has directed me to issue the executions immediately after this time. If any taxes are received after March 31 and before the executions can be turned over to the sheriff, a penalty of 5 per cent, will be added to the same. Much taxes are yet to be paid, so I want to ask the people not to put the matter off until the last day. T. L. HILTON, 1 County Treasurer. I J Citation for Letters of A<liuinistra4 Hon. State of South Carolina, County oh I .ftltPQclnr ^ j By J. E. Stewmah, Judge of Pro bate. Whereas J. S. ^Barton has mad< suit to me to grant him letters o administration of the estate and ef foots of Mary Barton, deceased; These are, therefore, to cite ant admonish all and singular the kin <lred and creditors of the said de ceased, that they be and appear be fore me, in the Court of Probate, t be held at Lancaster on the 27th o April, next, after publication hereol at 11 o'clock In the forenoon, t show cause, If any they have, wh the said Administration should nc be granted. Given under my hand, this 9t day of April, Anno Domini 1915. J. E. STEWMAN. Probate Judge. Lancaster & Chester By. C< Schedule in Effect Dec. 27, 1914 ' Eastern Time. WE8TBOUND. Lv. Lancaster ...6:00am?3:30p Lv. Fort Lawn ..6:30am?4;08p' Lv. Bascomville .6:47am?4:28p Lv. Rtchburg ...,6:68am?4:43p Ar. Chester 7:40am?5:23p ? EA8TBOUND. Lv. Chester ...; 9:00am?6:46p Lv. Rlchburg ... 9:46am?7;27p Lv. Bascomville .10:00am?7:38p Lv. Fort Lawn ..10:30am?7:56p Ar. Lancaster ... 11:00am?8:26p Connections?Chester with Soul ern, Seaboard and Carolina 4k Nori western Railways. Fort Lawn, with Seaboard i L ienRallway. Lancaster ,wth Sou the?. T>M'w A P. Mi LI'RE. Supt g ot. juu