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F N5S 1 Fj LIM Oy FANCES 1a (Copyright, by Utt CHAPTER I. A Scandalized Virgin. The bus drove up to the gate and .steppedl under the electric street light. Perched on the box by the big. black negro driver sat a lit tle boy whose isloder figure was swathed in a huge rain coat. mi.;-; mlmerva was on the porch waitinm. t receive him. "Mercy nml , I hid."sh said "wihat )n earth mate you ride utp there? Why diin't you go: inbde.'?' "I jesw waited to rile i Sani Lambl," repliod tle chil I as he Vas ltfted dO l. ".\ ; see a ice fat lit: te mnaunon Mato) b "He I es' wo:ild n' ride inside, Miss 'Airilerv:." into:-r pei Ilie ( river. quickly. to paa vrthe blush thlat rose to tie spinscr's thin chel at mantion of' t ho n a mr " 'Twarl t no uso for' ter try ter nwake him ride no whars bu1t jes up I by me. li jes' 'fused an' 'fused an' 'sputed an ' sput e;l he jes' tuck ter me 'oIm de Jmhilite hie got off'm de train an' sot Cyes oil me; he amin one easy chi lte ter git 'quainted wid; so I jesi' h'lstetl him -up by me. Itere am his vorlise, -Tna'am." "Good-by, Sam L-ainh," said the vcbild as the negro got back oil tit 'box and gatIh(,I'eri ip the rellis. "i'll 1see you to-Iorrer." Miss Mllnerva Imprinted a thin, old] mid kiss on the sweet, childish ,mouth. "I amt y-our Aunt Mlinerva." se said, as she picked up his satcelil. The littlo hjoy carelessly drew the back of ids hand across his nouti. "What aro yoi doing?" she asked. 'Are you wiping ry kiss off?" "Niw'n," he relided. "I's jest a-I's a-rubbin' it in, I roekon." "Come in, Villiam." and his aunt led the way through the wide hall into a big bedroom. "Billy, ma'am," corrected her seplew%. "William," firmly repeated Miss Mi nerva. "Vou may have been called 'Billy on that plantation where you were allowed to run wild with the ne groes, but your n1am1e is Wil 1itam Green 11111, and I shall insist upon your being called by it." She stooped to hell) him off with bis coat, remarking as she did so: 'What a big overcoat; it is several sizes too large for you." "Darned if 't ain't," agreed the child promptly. "Who taught you such a naughty word?" she asked in a horrified voice. "Don't you know it is wrong to curse?" "You call that cussin'?" came in seornful tones from the little boy. "You don't know cussin' when you see ,t; you Jest oughter hear ole Uncle Jimumy-Jawed Jupl't er, Aunt Cindy's 'husban'; he'll sho0w you somer~l the ipretties' Cussinl' you ever did hear." "Who is Aunt Cindy ?" "She's the coloredi 'omlan wvhat tends to mec over sence me all WIlkes liooth Lincoln's htorn, an' Uncle Jup'ter is her hutsbian' an' he sho' is a stingeree on cussin'. is yo' husban' much of a cusser?" lhe inquilred. A pal' ilnk dlyed Miss Minerva's thin, sallow, faco. "1 am not a mlarriedl womlan," shte rep~lied, curtly. "andI I most assuredly wold not perm'ilt aniy oaths to be used 0on my premlises." "Well, Uincle ~Jlmmy-Jawed Jup'ter is jest nach'eliy boun11' to cuss--he's got a1 repertatio to11L keep up," said( liilly. 1e sat down ill a chlair in front of b!. aunt, crossed is legs and smiled confidlenltally up into her' face. "liell aln' damn is jest easy ev'y day words to that nigger. I wish youI eouild hear' him1 etuSs on a Sunday jest one tIme, Aunt M iner va; he'd sho' mnake you open1 ye' ('y, 5 aill take in yo' :algn. llut Aunt t'indy don1't 'lowv me tin' Wllkes Ilooth I .lncoln to say 11oth in' 't all only jest 'darrl' tell we gits grown mlens, an' puts oin long pants.'" "Wilkes llooth I ,incolni?"' questioned his aunlt. "Ain't you nev'~er hear teiler hIm?" askedt the1 chIld. "'IIe's ol AuInt Blule Gutm Tremtpy 'sI Per'uny Pearline1's hoy; win' Peru ny Pearllne,"' lht continuedi enthuslasticnlly, "shte aint't Ill ordt "nary niggrr her hatir ain't got nlare kink an' tie's got the0 grandes5' cdo'es. She got ten chliliens anl' ev'y sIngle ono of 'em's got a diiiti lnt papp~ly, sil been marr 'lied so mnu ch. Tihey do say she got i njun blood ini herl too.'' MtIiss M lnerva, wilo nad beeni stanid ing prIm. erect and stiff, fell limply into a conlvenienlt rock ing chanir, anld looked closely at t his orpha ned 1)ephlew who had comeC to live W wih -her. She saw a beautiful, brIght, at tractive, little face out of which big, saucy, gray eyes shaded by long CurI' Ing black lashes looked winninlgly at bor; she saw a sweet. chIldIsh red mnouth, a mass of short, yellow curls and n thIn but graceful little figure. "I knows the names of aller o~t Aunt Ilhte-Gum Tempy's Peruny Pearl true's chilllens," lie was saying prou( 17.: "AdmIral Farragut Moses thi Prophet Itsquire, he's the bigges'; at Alice Ann Maria Dan Stejl-ani'-Gt Fetch-it, she had to ntuss all the res vhe any f as'. as she git th'oo nussil one. gn' 'low she goen' to have broadlin' spell here come another orl ad OYD CALHOUN illy & Britton Co.) an' she got to nuss it. An' the nex' is Mount Sinai Tabernicle, he name fer the church where ol' Aunt Blue Gum Temipy's Peruny Pearline takes her sackerment; an' the nex' is fVirst Thessalonians; Second Thessalonians, he's (lead an' gone to the Bad Place 'catise he skunt a cat-I don't mean skin the cat on a actin' pole like me an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln (1008-hie skunt a sho' 'nough cat what was a black cat, what was a ole witch, an' she conie back an' ha'nt him, an' ho growed thinner an' thinner an weas leir an' weasler, tell finely he wan't nothin' 'tall but a skel'ton, an' the H ad Man won't 'low nobody 'tall to give his parch tongue no water, an' he got to, ever after amen, be toast on a pitchlfoik. An' Oleander Magnolia Al thia i s the nex'," he continued, em:meriting Peruny Pearline's off spring on his thin, well-molded filn gers, "she got the seven-year Itch; an' Gettysburg, an' Biddle-&-Brothers Mei'cantilo'Co.; lie name for the sto' where ole Aunt Blue-Gum Tempy's IPeiuny Pearline gits credit so she can pay when i.she f'ches in ner cotton in the fall; an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln, him nt' me's- twins; we was borned the samie da~y only I's borned to miy mmman' hesorned to his'n an' t anlnis fetched me an' Doctor Sli:ck'w'(,ot fetched him. An' Decim us Ultims,"-the little boy trrumph antly put his right forefinger on his left little one, thus making the tenth, "she's the baby an' she's -got the colic an' cries loud 'nough to wake up is rael; Wilkes Booth Lincoln say he wish the little devil would die. Per uny Pearline firs' name her 'Doctor Shacklefoot' 'cause he fetches all her chillens, but the doctor he say that ain't no name fer a girl, so he name ier Decimus Ultimus." Miss Minerva, sober, proper, digni fied, religious old maid unused to cliil dren, listened in frozen amazement and paralyzed silence. She decided to put the child to bed at once that she miyht collect her thoughts, and lay sone plans for the rearing of this sad ly neglected, little orphaned nephew. "William," she i;aid, "it is bedtime, and I know you must be sleepy after your long ride on the cars. Would you like something to eat before I put you to bed? I saved you some supper." "Naw'i, I hain't hongry; the major man what I talk to on the train tuck me in the dinin'-roon an' gimme -all I could hol'; I jest eat an' eat tell I they wan't a wrinkle in me," was the Ireply. "He -axed me 'bout you, too. Is he name' Major Minerva?" She opened a door in considerable confusion, and they entered a small, neat room adjoining. "This is your own little room, Wil Hiam," said she, "you see it opens into minme. Ihave you a night-shirt?" "Naw'm, I dlon't need no night-shirt, I jest sleeps in my uinin and sonme times in my overalls." "Well, you may sleep in your uinion suit tonIght," said the scandalized rel ative, 'andl I'll see what I can do for you tomorrow, Can you undress your self?" 11er small nephewv wrinkled his nose, disdainfully. "WellI, I reckon so," he scornfully made answer. "Me an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln been uin dressin' usself ever sence we's horn." "I'll come in here after a wvhile and turn off the light, Good night, WViI "Good -night, Aunt Minerva," re Isponded the little b)oy. CHAPTER ii. The Rabbit's Left Hind Foot. A few minutes later, as Miss Mi nerv~a sat rocking andI thinking, the door' opened and a lean, graceful, little figure, clad in a skinny, gray union suit, came into the room, "Ain't I a-goin' to say no pi'ayers?" demanded a sweet childish voice, "Aunt Cindy hear me an' Wilkes 1.30oth Lincoln say us prayers ev'y night sence we's born," "Why, of course you must say your prayers," said his aunt, blushing at having to be reminded of her duty by this young heathen; "kneel down here by mie" 1Billy looked( at his aunt's bony frame and thought of Aunt Cindy's soft, fat, ample lap, A wistful look cirossed his childish face as he driop~pedl down in front of her and laid his head against her knee, then the bright, beautiful little face took on an angelic expression as he closed his eyes and softly chanted: "Now I layg me dlown to sleep, I prays5 the Lord my soul to keep, if I should die bofo' I wvake, I prays the Lord my soul to take. "Keep 'way t'om me hoodoo an' witch, Lead my paf f'om the po'house gate, 1 pines for the goldlen harps an' sich, Oh, Lord, I'll set an' pray an' wait. "Oh, Lord, bless ov'ybody; bless me an' Aunt Cindy, an' Wilkes Booth lin coln, an' Aunt Blue-Gum Tempy's Per - tny Pearline, aun' Uncle Jimmy-Jawed - Ju'te-", an' ey'ybody, an' Sam Lamb, Ban' Atnt Minerva, an' aller Aunt Blue 'Gum Tempy's Peruny Pearlino's cnul eIns, an' alye Aunt Minerva a billy ,goat or a. little nannny if she'd ruthor, u' an' bless Major Minerva, an' miake mie' a a good boy like Sanotifled Sophy, for * .IJesus' sake.A om. " "What tn thaou Wave t your neck, William?" she a the little boy rose to his feet. "That's my rabbit foot; you never have no 'sease 't all an' nobodi can't never conjure you if you WeIra a rabbit foot. This here one is the lef' hin' foot; it was ketched by a red headed nigger with cross-eyes In a graveyard at twelve o'clock on a i day night, when they's a full Ino 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 in qirh'ed. "No," she answered. "I have never had one and I have never been con jured either. Give it to me. William; I can't allow -you to be superstitious," and she held out her hand. "Please, Aunt Minerva, jest lemnme wear It tonight," be pleadied. "Me an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln's been wearin' us rabbit foots ever sence we's born." "No," she said firmly; "I'll put a stop to such nonsense at once. Give it to me, Villihm." Billy looked up at his aunt's aus lore countenance and lovingly fin g ered his charni; he opened his mouth to say something, but hest tated; slowly ho untied the string tround his neck and laid his treasure )n her lap; then without looking up. no ran into his own little room, clos ng the door behind him. Soon afterward Miss Minerva, hear jng a sound like a stifled sob coming roin the adjoining room, opened the loor softly and looked into a sad, lit le face with big, wide, open eyes rhining with tears. "What is the matter, William?" she :oldly asked. "I ain't never slep' by myself," he robbed. "Wilkes Booth Lincolh al vays slept on a pallet by my bed ever rence we's born an'-an' I wants tunt Cindy to tell me 'bout Uncle Pit erk Peter." Ills aunt sat down on the bed by its side. She was not versed in the .ays of childhood, and could not know hat the little boy wanted to pillow ils head on Aunt Cindy's soft and am )le bosom, that he was homesick for its black friends, the only companions le had ever known. "I'll tell you a Bible story," she emporized. "You must not be a baby. You are not afraid, are you, William? 3od is always with you." "I don't want no God," he sullenly nade reply; "I wants somebody with ;ho' 'nough skin an' bones, an'-an' I wvants to hear 'bout Uncle PilIjerk Pe Ler." "I will tell you a Bible story," Rgain suggested his aunt. "I will tell you about-" "I don' want to hear no Bible story, neither," he objected. "I wants to hear IL/A He Chanted "Now I L Uncle Jimmy-Jawed Jup'ter play his 'corjun an' sing: 'Rabbit up the gum tree. Coon is in the holler Wake, snake; Juney-IBug stole a half a dollar.'" "I'll sing you a hymn," said Miss Minerva patiently. "I dlon't want to hear you sing no hymn," said Hilly impolitely. "I wants to see Sanctified Sophy shout." As his aunt could think of no sub stitute with which to tempt him in lieu of Sanctified 'Sophy's shouting, she r'emainedl silent. "An' I wants Wilkes Booth Lincoln to dance a clog," persisted her ephenw. Miss Minerva remained silent. She feit unable to cope with the situation tiII she had adjusted her thoughts and made her plans. Presently Hilly, 'coking at her shrewvdly, said: "Gimme my rabbit foot, Aunt Mi nerva, an' I'll go right off to sleep,' When she again looked in on him he was fast asleep, a rosy flush on his babyish, tear-stained cheek, his red lips half parted, his curly head p11 lowed on his arm, and close against his soft, youn'g thromgt there nestled the left hind foot of di rabbit. Miss Minerva's bed time was hair af ter nine o'clock, summer or winter. She had hardly varied a tespnd in the years that had elapsed nerie the run away marria'e of haer one eatie 'the young dist' e blhli ia4 noW come to live wit4 hier. DAt ,on the night of Billy's arriva the stern, nar ow, woman sat 'for hours in her rock 09g chair, her mind busy with thoughts O .that pretty young sister, dead since the boy's birth. 'And now the wild, reckless, dissi Pated brother-in-law was dead, too, and the child had been sent to her; to the 'aunt who did not want him, who did not care for children, who. had. never forgiven her sister her un fortunate marriage. "If he had only been a girl," she sighed. What she believed to be a happy thought en tered her brain. "I shall rear him," she promised horself, "Just as .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 method ical; she worked ever by the clock, so mnany hours for this, so many for that. William, she now resolved, for the first time becoming really Inter ested 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 old er he should be educated for tne min istry. "Yes," said Miss Minerva; "i snail be very strict with him just at first, and punish him for the slightest dis obedience 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, igegro companions. CHAPTER li. The Willing Worker. "Get up, William," said Miss Mi nerva, "and come with me to the bathroom; I have fixed your bath." The child's sleepy eyes popped wide open at this astounding command. "Ain't this-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. We ain't got to wash no mo' till nex' Sat'day," he argued. "Oh, yes," said his relative; "you must bathe every day." "Me an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln ain't never wash on a Wednesday sence "a// LyS Me Down to Sleep." we's born," he protested indignantly. Billy's idea of a bath was taken from the severe 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 every day. Hie 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, he stayed in it so long Miss Minerva had to knock on the door arnd tell him to huri., up and get ready for breakfast. "Say." be yelled out to her, "I likes this-here; it's mnos' as fine as Johnny's Wash Hole, where me an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln goes in swimmin' ever sence we's born." When he came into the dining-room he was a sight to gladden even a prim old maid's heart. The water had curled his hair into riotous yellow ringlets, his bright eyes gleamed, his beautifufl, expressive iittle face shono happily, and every movement of his agile, lithe figure was grace itself. "I sheo' is hongr'y," he remarked,\as he took his seat at the breakfast ta ble. MIss Minerva realized that now was the time to begin hor small nephew's training; if she was ever to teach him to speak eorrectif she must begin at once. "William," she said stern y,"y must not talk so much lke a pi "What I Done Now?" A Instead of saying 'I sho' is hongry,' you should say, 'I am very hungry. Listen to me and try to speak more correctly." "Don't! don't!" she screamed as he helped himself to the meat and gravy, leaving a little brown river on her fresh white tablecloth. "Wait until I ask a blessing; then I will help you to what you want." Billy enjoyed h'is breakfast very much. "These muffins sho' is-" he began; catching his aunt's eye he cor rected himself: "These muffins am very good." "These muffins are very good," said Miss Minerva patiently. "Did you ever eat any bobbycued rabbit?" he asked. "Me an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln been eatin' chit'lins, an' sweet 'taters, an' 'possum, an' squir rel, an' hoe-cake, an' Brunswick stew ever sence we's born," was his proud announcement. "Use your napkin," commanded she, "and don't fill your mouth so full." The little boy flooded his plate with sirup. "These-here 'lasses sho' is-" he be gan, but instantly remembering that he must be more particular in his 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 say-these 'lasses sho' are a bird; they's 'nother sight tastier'n sorghum, an' Aunt Cindy 'lows that sorghum is the very penurity of a nigger." She did not again correct him. "I must be 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 cook apron 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 sullen ly; "me an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln don' never have to churn sence we's beorn; 'omans has to chur-n an' I ain't a-going to. Major Minerva--he ain't never churn," he began belligerently, but his relative turned an uncompromising and rather perturbed back pen him. Realizing that he was beaten, he sub mittedl to his fate, clutched the dasner angrily, and began his weary wvork. He was glad his little black friend (lid not witness his disgrace. As he thought of WVilkes Booth Lin coln the big tears came into his eyes and rolledl dlown his cheeks; he leaned wvay over the chur-n and the great glis tening tear's splashed right into the hole made for the dasher, and rolled into the milk. Billy gm-ow interested at once and laughed aloud; he pucker'ed up his face and tried to weep, again, for ho 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 Miner-va," he said mischiev ously. "I done ruint ye' buttermilk." "What have you done?" she in quired. "It's done ruint," he replied, "you'll hafter th'ow it awvay; '(ain't fitten fer nothin.' I dlone cried 'bout a bucket ful in it." "Why did you cry?" asked Miss Mi nerva calmly. "Don't you lIke toe work?" "Yee'm, I jes' loves to work; I wish I had time to work all the time. But it nmakes my belly ache to churn-I got a awful patin right now."' "Churn on!" she commanded un uympathetically. He grabbed the dasher and churned vigorously for one minute. "I reckon the butter's done come," he announced, resting from his iaborr,. "It hasn't begun to come yet," re plied the en~sperated woman. "Don't waste so much time, William." The child churned in silence for the space of twvo minutes, and suggested: "It's time to put hot water in it; Aunt Cindy always puts hot W4ater in it. Lemme git some fer you." "I never put hot wvater in my milk," said she, "it makes~ the butter puffy. Work more and thik iess, William." Again there was a brief silence. broken only by the sound of the dasher thumping against the bottom of the churn, and the rattle of the dishes. "I she' is' tired." he presently re marked, heaving a deep sigh. "My arms is .'bout give out, Aunt Minerva. Ola Aunit Blue-Gum Tempy's Penn eked the Boy Innocently. Pearline see a man churn with his toes; lemme git a chair an' see It I can't churn with my toes." "Indeed You shall niot," responded Is annoyed relative positively. "Sanctified Sophy knowed a colored 'oman what had a little dog went roun' an' roun' an' churn for her," re marked Billy after a short pause. "It you had a billy boat or a little nanny I could hitch him to the churn for You ev'ry day." "William," commanded his aunt, "don't say another word until you have finished your work." "Can I sing?" he asked. She nodded permission as she went through the open door into the dining room. Rleturning a few minutes later she found him sitting astride the churn, using the dasher so vigorously that buttermilk was splashing In every di rection, and singing in a clear, sweet voice: "He'll feed you when you's naked, Thd orphan's tear he'll dry, He'll clothe you when you's hongry An' take you wfien you die." Miss Minerva jerked him off with. no gentle hand. "What I done now?" asked the boy Innocently. "'Tain't no harm as IJ can see jes' to straddle a churn." "Go out In the front yard," com mnanded his aunt, "and sit in the swing till I call you. I'll finish the work - without your assistance. And, Wil liam," she called after him, "there ts a very bad little boy who lives next door; I want you to have as little to do with him as possible." CHAPTER IV. Sweetheart and Partner. Billy was sitting quietly in the big lansigwhnhsan, rse o thestretfinllycam thoug th that the Boy oewith met7'uc dar schoo malcur?"thhi meen', chu me wthe rey oespose" seeSnctified Sophy knoedt telorse 'oanimy wh's onlaie doma wentho sogot a'ligoun'h ain'tur ferver, rec mard tally anter an' nevrt paue.l fo yobad a ill boae swrn anditl dn'tngo Is uldhtc hid hortle churnthergate "William,"l caughtnsdgh bof aunt, faot sayl faeoteerin wor uil yhouh~ thae fainse whch wopr.d" is i throughar o theat her inotedning doorme. hbr foundlh!m sioted asBide."I the un usin lttle dash can' vioruly wth "Wateml was spaoing in ev ieryva's yrcton cand sing weing in terrea, -ee "He'ifee ycos he fnce.' akd ThI' ophne tiea whel hr," rele Bill.lth "youmm avhny' ps oead. AW'ha's you namen?" udi. "What JImmyn Ganw?" aowked eo inocetlym mostasin't no ham." s csee Coes ton srdle aswin." "ane'hsaut,"n saite acintucwi. ithounne yo asitnce. oAnd Wil liam," she caldt. erhm,"heei a"verynbadlittl oyn whoiin'3 snet door;eI wappe yortohav aslittl tim do mamma hi aso pssi'l." ih e SeSweeuttheartic-dlarter.woa Billy was setdn'tulw in the bigv lhaswn 'thut isge at whireing. fo thesevet fill cmee thoughseeo 'bont door.mnue. SIting goin uton, William, word sid.my limbnt the bence yousom thitws ltte youy gor with mfochrtabh suttled avgeac youter bin the bun (laWshol?"soe hr?"akdBly ponating t I house tpracrste mteet.n, aeterayrsos." a"shmmy. Shis ne 'omanuwho ht' hrcemn but t ne tme "rn aenw "Tay youg ind thead tilld coe his n hadalylet theat Aroie [yo cghtan t orf aoud, you-think soutpoe By.urs uo th ad litesoy whant cn'tplyw it