Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Lay&IPANcES I (Copyright, by Rt T CHAPTER XXI.-Continued. "Naw, I ain't neither," objected the male member of the chain-gang, "I done cut my woman with a razor 'cause I see her racking down the street like a proud coon with another gent, like what Sarah Jane's brother telled me he done at the piclnic." The child(ren played happily together for half an hour, Billy and Lina com mandinz, and the prisoners, entering thoroughly into the spirit of the game, according prompt obedience to their bosses. At last the captives wearied of their role and clamored for an ex change of parts. "All right," agreed Lina. "Get the key, Billy, and we '1l be the chain gang." Billy put his right hand in his pocket but found no key there; he tried the other pocket with the same success; he felt in his blouse, he looked in his cap, he jumped up and down, he near ly shook himself to pieces all without avail; the key had disappeared as if by magic. "I berlieve y' all done los' that key," concluded he. "Maybe it dropped on the ground," said Frances. They searched the yard over, but the key was not to be found. "Well, if that ain't just like you, silly," cried Jimmy. "you all time per posing to play chain-gang and you all time lose the key." Lina grew indignant. "You proposed this yourself, Jimmy Garner," she said: "we never would have thought of play!ng chain-gang but for you." "It looks like we can't never do any thing at all." moaned Frances. "'thout crc. .a!s 're got to know 'bout it." 1" S. an I . ::. o pop theirselfs open," ..prsoner. "I can't :. 's O.ven Gibbs and Len - :.7 latugh '.u ke pole r..:... : r:. - - lin i i c .1 .. , 11.! to h ia in j-4& hnbuipd si.wn th steps ami~ cat fat as h1 h.'.wn ytmlt tiv ati 1o11y "di'wat f'~onrr me; you'i 1' eutch 'ot i you' te6IheR se'," "Parnted filly; "at ybe tod litti tth havo 'eMf," amdi h 'i~hee ah" at itativn llatid at t arue tht'e' higheat pitch.H at ht*'oM1 #fdh' criia admit-rttior "Ihittfrde, eI1tie lMRVA GREEN 1 OYD CALHOUN illy & Britton Co.) "well, I reckon not. Olt back; don you tech 'em; you ain't o1' 'nough t have 'em." Dilly's head was swathed in a hugs white cloth; his usually lean littl cheeks were puffed out till he resen bled a young hippopotambis, and hi pretty gray eyes were almost invisibly "You better git 'way f'om me at don't tech 'em, like I tells you," he ri iterated. "Aunt Minerva say you ain never had 'em an' she say for mie t make you keep 'way f'om me 'caus you ain't a ol' chile like what I is." "You ain't but six," retorted angr Jimmy, "and I'll be six next month you all time trying to 'suade litle boy to think you're 'bout a million year old. You 'bout the funniest lookin, kid they is." Billy theatrically touched a distent ed cheek. "These here is mumps," h said impressively; "an' when you go 'em you can make grown folks do pt zactly what you want 'em to. Am Minerva 's in the kitchen right not makin' me 'lasses custard If I'll b good an' stay right in the house at don't come out here In the yard a don't give you the mumps. Course can't tech that custard now 'cause done come out here an' it ain't honer ble: but she's makin' it jes' the same You better git 'way f'om me an' no tech 'em: you too little to have 'em. Are they easy to ketch?" asked th other itttle boy eagerly; "lemme jes tech 'em one time, Billy." "Git 'w ay, I tell you," warned the latter with a superior air. To increas Jimmy's envy he continued: "Growr folks tries to see how nice they can be to chtilens what's got the mumps. Aunt Minerva ain't been impedent to me to day: she leimme do jest 'bout like I please: it sho' is one time you can make grown folks step lively." lie looked at Jimmy meditative:y. "It sho' is a plunb pity you ain't a ol' chile like what I is an' can't have the ru.ps. I n't you come anp closter to me." he again warned, "you too little to have 'et." "1ve you five pewees If you'll -ech 'en so's I can get 'em, d c .nger boy. S.'.: he a :d. "You mighty lit ,- " said the other a' boy," said Lilly, - -:.O zo diffunce; I don't ma mad an' Aunt - e t o keep 'way f'om -- I didn't make her - est Peter they is, cried; "won't let no S- - c'd coups. My cousin - - 'got the measles; you C "he was beginning. .he saw signs of his - e'o rny china egg, - cr~ '.ec," agreed Billy; a witdeBd lcea' doMon. an' I ain't a-goin' to be 'sp)onsibl noirher," and he poked out a swolle: hwfor Jimmy to touch. I iy Rosenstein at this moment wa '.d by the two little boys as he wa 'alking jauntily by the gate. "~You better keep 'way t'om hcrt 'Z e-CGrease," Jimmy yelled at him 'u better get on the other side th 'reet. Billy here 's got the mfumpij rthe lemme tech 'em so's Ican ge aosmy papa and manma 'Il lemm stperzactly like I want to; bu 're a Jew and Jews ain't got nt huainess to have the mumups, so ye hetter get 'way. I paid hilly 'bout million dollars' worth to lemme tec hia mumps," he said proudly. "G ik / had promptly stopped at ti gate. S "What".i you take, Billy, to lemir get 'em?" he asked, his commercia Wa'll you gimme?" asked he 'he nalahie commodity, with an eyei a bargain, flkey pu lled out a piece of twine at it blue glass bead from his pocket ar affered them to the child with ti umpuif These received a contempt dun eat01.tfm "You can do perzactly like you please when you got the mumps," in. sinuated Jimmy, who had seemingly allied himself with Billy as a partner In business; "grown folks bound to do what little boys want 'em to when you got the mumps." Ikey increased his bid by the stub of a lead pencil, but it was not until he had parted with his most cherished pocket possessions that he was at last allowed to place a gentle finger on the protuberant cheek. Two little girls with their baby-bug gies were seen approaching. "0' 'way from hero, Frances, you and 't 'Lna," howled Jimmy. "Don't you come 0 In here; me and Billy 's got the mumps and you-all 'r' little girls and ought , n' to have 'em. Don't you come near 0 us; they 're ketching." The two little girls immediately s opened the gate, crossed the yard, and . stood in front of Billy. They inspected k' him with admiration; he bore their M critical survey with affected unconcern 't and indifference, as befitted one who 0 had attained such prominence. 0 "Don't tech 'em," ho commanded, waving them off as he leaned grace ' fully against the fence. "I teched 'em,' boasted the younger S boy. "What'll you all give us if we S'11 let you put your finger on 'em?" I "I ain't n-goin' to charge little girls nothin' " said the gallant Billy, as he proffered his swollen jowl to each in P turn. t A little darkey riding a big black t V "Me and Billy's Go horse was galloping by; Jimmy hailed and halted him. "You, better go fast," he shrieked. "Me and Lilly and Frances and Lina's got the mumps and you ain't got no business to have 'em 'cause you 're a nigger, and you better take your horse to the lib'ry stable 'cause he might ketch 'em, too." The negro boy dismounted and hitched the horse to the fence. "I gotter little tarrapim-" he began in sinuatingly. And thus it came to pass that there was an epidemic of mumps in the lit tle town of Covington, and William Green Hill grew rich in marbles, in tops, in strings, in toads, in chewing gum, and in many other things which comprise the pocket treasures of little boys. CHAPTER XXII. The Infant Mind Sheets. Miss Mnrahad bought a book for wood asen" whtc the e,"Cnty tell me who this man was?' Hier nep~hew heard the stories so often that he had some expression or incident by which he could identify 'ach, wtotaynmuhattention I~e and i aut had just settled theseles n te prchfora reading.I Jimry ws onhisown POr'ch cutting upfnyc'al'rs, and tmaking races for theothr cil's amusemsent. "Leme goove'r to Jimmy's, Aunt Mnra"pleaded her' neplhewV "an' you an eadto mec tonight. I'd a hea ruhernot hear you read right now It'llmake my belly ache." AlsaMinerva looked at him severe "Wlim"she enjoined, "don't you wan t b asmart man when you "Ys m"ho replied, without much entusism."Well, jes' lemme ask s im ocome over here an' set on ateohrsdryou whils' you read. He ain' nevr har 'out hemtales, anl' s I s'pec' lhe 'd like to come." a "Very well," replied his flattered and gratified relative, "call him over." ,Billy went to the fence, where he ;signaled Jimmy to meet him. e "Aunt Minerva say you come over s an' listen to her read some er the pret t ties' tales you ever hoar," he said, as e if conferring a gmat favor. t "Naw, sirree-bob!" was the imp~olite o response across the fence, "them 'bout u the measliest tales they is. Ill come a if she '11 read my Uncle Remus book." h "Please come on," begged Bill1y, drop it ping the Patronizing manner that he had assumed, in bopo of inducing his e chum to share his rnartyrdom. "You know Aunt Minerva 'd die in her a tracks 'fore s 'd(ea Uncle Remus. Li You 'lI like these-here tales 'nether sight better anyway. I 'il give you >f my stoney if you'll come.", a0 "Naw; you hin't going to get me in no such box as that. If she 'd just 4 lead seven or eight hours I would n't id inind; but she 'Il get you where she e wants you and read 'bout a .million u- %ors, I know Miss bMinerva," "come, William," she Oa:Iod. "I am Waiting for you." Jimmy went back to his own porch and the other boy joined his kinswo. man. "Why wouldn't Jimmy come?" she asked. "lie-he ain't feeling v-ery well," was the considerate rejoin&er. "Once there was a little boy who was born in Virginia-" began Miss Minerva. "Born in a manger," repeated the inattentive little boy to hImself, "1 knows who that was." So, this impor tant question settled in his mind, he gave himself up to the full enjoyment of his chum and to the giving and re ceiving secret signals, the pleasure of which was decidedly enhanced by the fear of imminent detection. "Father, I cannot tell a lie, I did it with my little hat.chet-" read the thin, monotonous voice at his elbow. Billy laughed aloud-at that minute Jimmy was standing on his head wav ing two chubby feet in the .air. "William," said his aunt reprovingly, peering at hin over her spectacles, "I don't see anything to laugh at,"-and she did not, but then she wag in ignor ance of the little conspiracy. "Ue was a good and dutiful son and he studied his lessons so Well that when he was only seventeen years old he was employed to survey vast tracts of land in Virginia--" Miss Minerva emphasized every t the Mumps." word, hoping thus to impress her t nephew. But he was so busy keeping one eye on her and one on the littlet boy on the other porch, that he did not have time to use his ears at all and so did not hear one word. "Leaving his camp fires burning to? deceive the enemy, he stole around by a circuitous route, fell upon .the Brit iish and captured-" Billy held up his hands to catch a ball which Jimmy made believe to throw. Miss Minerva still read on, uncon scious of her nephew's inattention: E "The suffering at Valley Forge had been intense during the winter-" Billy made a pretense behind his aunt's upright backr of throwingr a ball t whl 'heohrI hlIhl1p w a thed anM goudthpsagnryba" wnod, hohingtuoim.s e oe loed her tend oneer therl bo"oWhethes porch thatly? he int haeuiean tou waitingsfo a andpso didnt owh oner wrdn;sh a "eaing hi clsp nowrndsh readt deceiv he enemy chen stole first bys acrut ofuth rUte, Stelupn--" rt Billy heu his hands to c atch a rigled whihgea Jimmy eiv who rmptsy rerned stlheadomlnt.cn "eso her nechew'ldrteniown,s bee intcanleddthenFathe ofwisCoun Milly mdera cloesed behen hisk whiled teother hildeldoy atwoe fate naed:aoda im pto i "Who ad groun te ianaoo bal, "esus," wahi sradpnse.na Shepoiaedy hlmn sitrly verce. "What milae youe soHilly?" she in wlired and ithut. "Wato arepy henktn of? wit her' reding; youhead >eawrd that cls noead." e ea Bierlly wand dezlie;ahely, ueh "And he s oin theu buirshpes," lento thht Unite tateMse; h illtsy putogi abnd's 't hi' eAa wragmiLincoh;shner aint Jimy, Thot aolyn returne tih I'dpiden n"Virgne had irstldresien of thes ied tadteFtero!hs"on MissoMgerahcn'onIsed tbok, ay,"e~ tomhnlysrae the little bya e sie ,ada ed pirliAty F le n lh itle.voce "Come Wilia Gvrenie 11111!" sh dx "Alkight;? I dtbelieve youl, earod de wdy runnin to read." e.Hi "William, puomed hewassr she le rm said "ornh. magr""Idd' e thouhtanot aitre Mos~es s "Iam oinon back dito say kThnrty aet alcake dond Iuwont you so prom ai' seonott.ev"teyr. "Jesus! his' aun wves ~tayigm'srn lJitl Staes,"hebgd.t "Georgeo WasndtJmmy caninot to k truye tumpher;lyo srame ite suetgt oynto chadieceied his cute, an tweenayounforha ' hle, bprms "Cme onha ver!" winvisted rimnmy d Dilly sujienly gNye her the promise and she went back to her baking. "That 's always the way now," he said, meeting his little neighbor at the fence, "ever since Aunt Minerva got onto this-here promisin' business, I don' have no freedom 't all. It 's 'Wil liam, promise me this,' an' it 's 'Wit liam, don't ferget yo' promise now,' tell I 's jes' plumb sick 'n tired of it. She know' I ain't goin' back on my word an' she Jcs' nachelly gits the 'vantage of me; she 'bout the hardest 'oman to manage I ever seen sence 1 's born." "I can nearly all time make my mama do anything 'most if I jus' keep on trying and keep on a-begging," bragged the other boy; "I just say 'May I, mama?' and she '11 all time say, 'No, go 'way from me and lemme 'lone,' and I just keep on, 'May I mama? May I, mama? May I, mama?' and toreckly she '1l say, 'Yes, go on and lemme read in peace.'" "Aunt Minerva won't give in much," said Billy. "When she say 'No, Wil liam,' 't ain't no use 't all to beg her; you jest wastin' yo' breath. When she put her foot down it got to go just like she say; she she' do like to have her :wn way better 'n any 'oman I ever see." "She 'bout the mannishest woman they is," agreed Jimmy. "She got you under her thumb, Billy. I don' see what womans 're made fo' if you ,an't beg 'em into things. I would n't et no old spunky Miss Minerva get the best of me that 'way. Come on, myhow." "Naw, I can't come," was the gloomy reply; "if she 'd jest tol' me tot to, I couldn'er went, but she made pie promise, an' I ain't never goin' )ack on my word. You come over to see me." "I can't," came the answer across he fence; "I 'm earning me a baseball nask. I done already earnt me a mitt. ify mama don't never make me prom se her nothing, she just pays me to )e good. That 's huccome I 'm 'bout o get 'ligion and go to the mourner's )ench. She 's gone up town now and f I don't go outside the yard while ihe 's gone, she 's going to gimme a )aseball Mask. You got a ball what rou bringed from the plantation, and 'Il have a bat and mitt and mask Lnd we can play ball some. Come on >ver just a little while; you ain't earn ng you nothing like what I'm do ng." "Naw; I promis' her not to an' I iin't ever goin' to break my promise." "Well, then, Mr. Promiser," said Timmy, "go get your ball and we'll h'ow 'cross the fence. I can't find nine." Billy kept his few toys and play hinge in a closet, which was full of ld plunder. As he reached for his' all something fell at his feet from a helf above. He picked it up, and ran xcitedly into the yard. "Look, Jimmy," he yelled, "here 's a aseball mask I found in the closet." Jimmy, forgetful of the fact that he vas to be paid for staying at home, mnmediately rolled over the fence and an eagerly toward his friend. They xamined the article in question with reat care. "It looks perzactly like a mask," nnounced Jimmy after a thorough in pection, "and yet it don't." He tried t on. "It don't seem to fit your face ight," he said. Sarah Jane was bearing down upon henm. "Come back home die minute, immy!" she shrieked, "want to ketch eme me' contagwous 'seases, don't A Black Little Negro Went uh? Whr' dat y' all got now?" As ho drew nearer a smile of recognition nd appreciation overspread her big 00(-natured face. Then she burst ito a loud, derisive laugh. "What y' lI gwine to do wid Miss Minerva's old ustle?" she inquired. "Y' all she' am a contaritest chilllens in dis here cop oration." "Bustle?" echoed Billy. "What 's a ustle ?" "Dat-ar 's a bustle-dat 's what 's a ustle. Ladies useto wear 'em 'cause sy so stylish to make they dresses :ick out in'the back. Come on home, immy, 'fore yuh ketch de yaller jandis l' de episootics; ye' ma tel' yuh to lay right at home." "Well, I 'mi coming, ain't I?" scowled ie little boy. "Manma need n't to now nothing 'thout you tell." "Would you take yo' mama's pres nt now, Jimmy?" asked Billy; "you ln't earnt it." "Would n't you?" aked Jhnmy,1 oubtfully. "Naw. I would U% 'toniI tol' hw." "Well, I 'll 'tell her Y ust ge r over a minute to see 'bout M i. - nerva's bustle," he agreed as-h0 agaip n tumbled over the fence. A little negro hoy, followed by a tiny, white dog, \ 'as passing by Miss Minerva's gate. Billy promptly flew to the gate and hailed him. Jimmy, looking around to see that Sarah Jane had gone back to the kitchen, as promptly rolled over the fence and joined him. "Lemme see yo' dog," said the for mer. "Ain't he cute?" said the latter. The little darkey picked up the dog and l)assed it across the gate. "I wish he was mine," said the smaller child, as he took the soft, fluffy little ball in his arms; "what '11 you take for him?" Tho negro boy had never seen the dog before, but he immediately accept ed the ownership thrust upon him and answcred without hesitation, "I'll take a dollar for her." "I ain't got but a nickel. Billy, aiu't you got 'nough money to put with ni nickel to make a dollar?" "Naw; I ain't got a red cent." "I '11 tell you what we'll do ug* gested Jimmy; "we'll trade yo a b - ball mask for him. My mam going to gimme a new mask 'cau e I al time stay at home, so we'll t ade you our old one. Go get it, Billy.' Thus commanded Billy ran and picked up the bustle where it lay neg lected on the grass, and handed it to the quasi-owner of the puppy. The deal was promptly closed and a black little negro went grinning down the street with Miss Minerva's ancient bustle tied across his face, leaving behind him a curly-haired dog. "Ain't he sweet?" said .Jimmy, hug ging the fluffy white ball close to his breast, "we got to name him, Billy." "Le's name her Peruny Pearline," was the suggestion of the other joint owner. "He ain't going to.be name' nothing at all like that," declared Jimmy; "you all time got to name our dogs the scalawaggest name they is. He 's go ing to be name' 'Sam Lamb' 'cause he 's my partner." "She's a girl dog," argued Billy, "an' she can't be nam' no man's name. If she could I 'd call her Major." "I don't care what sort o' dog lie is, girl or boy, he 's going to be name' 'Sam Lamb.' Pretty Sam! Pretty Sam!" and he fondly stroked the little animal's soft head. "Here, Peruny! Here, Peruny!" and Billy tried to snatch her away. The boys heard a whistle; the dog heard it, too. Springing from the little boy's arms Sam Lamb Peruny Pearline ran under the gate and flew to meet her master, who was looking for her. CHAPTER XXV. Education and Its Perils. It was a warm day in early August and the four children were sitting con. tentedly in the swing. They met al most every afternoon now, but were generally kept under strict surveil- .' lance by Miss Minerva. "'T won't be long 'fore we '11 all hafto go to school," remarked Frances, "and I '1l be mighty sorry; T wish we did n't ever hafto go to any old school." "I wisht we knowed howv to read an' write when we 's born," said 1311 ly. "If I was God I 'd make all my babies so 's they is already eddicated ~ when they gits born. Reckon if we 2rinnlng Down the Street. 'd pray ev'y night an' ask God, bho( learn them babies whal he 's mnakitr on now how to read an' write?" "I don' care nothing'at all 'boutI thenm babies," put in Jimmy, " t' aint going to (10 us no good if all the ne babies what Doctor Sanford finds cain s . read and write; it 'd jes' make 'era the sassiest things ever was. 'Side, I got plenty things to ask God for 'thout fooling, long other folks' br'atU% and I ain't going to medO~dle wits God's business nohow." (TO BE CONTINUED.) Usual Result. Husband-Everything in this housM Is out of place. Been having as earthquake? Wife-I've been putting things ig order. We measure success by accumu' tion. The measure is false. Thi4 tue ;mieasure is appreciatiton. He w loves most has aaost--.e