Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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#MI5S WWi LB ^kRmnces B?yd Calhoun ! rCoDyritf?t. by fUilly & Brltton Co.) / CHAPTER I. A Scandalized Virgin. The boa drove up to the gate and stopped under the electric street light. Perched on the box by the big. black negro driver sat a little boy whose slender figure waa swathed in a huge rain coat Miss Minerva was on the porch Waiting to receive him. "Mercy on me, child," ste said, "what on earth made you ride up there? Why didn't you get inside?" "I jest wanted to ride by Sam Lamb*" replied the child as he was lifted down. "An* I see a nioe fat little man name' Major?" I "He Jas* wouldn' ride inside. Miss [ Ifiaerva," interrupted the driver, j ejuickly, to pass over the blush that I rose to the spinster's thin cheek at j mention of*the major. "'Twan't no j ose far tor try tor make him ride no whars but jes' up by me. He jes' fused an' fused an' 'sputed an' j ?gputed; he jes' tuck ter me Tom de , minute he got offm de train an' sot on me; he am one easy chile ter 'quainted wid; so l jes* h'lsted him br me. Hers am his verlis? ayes 01 fit 'qtu ma'am. "Good jy. Sam Lamb," said the child as the negro got back on tae hox and gathered up the reins. TU sss 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 . hack of sis haxd seross hie iseoth. "What are y >u doirg?" she asked. ?Are you wining 217 kiss of?" ?Naw'm," he replied, "Pa Jest a?re Srrubbtn' It in. \ reckon." "Come in, William," and his aunt lad the way through the wide hall Into a big bedroom. 1 "Billy, ma'am," corrected her ssaphow. "William," firmly repeated Miss Mi? nerva. "You may have been, called Billy on that plantation wher* you wore allowed to run wild wi*h ti*o ^e (groea, but your name Is Wil? sten Green Fill, and I shall insist npon your beiig called by It" She stooped to help him off with #ns coat remarking as she did so: ?What a big overcoat; it la several Sites too large for you." "Darned if t ain't" agreed the child promptly. "Who taught you such a naughty wor^r* she asked in a horrified voice. ?Don't you know it is wrong to I "You call tha^ cuss in'?" came in scornful tones from ".he little boy. ?You don't know cussin' when you see It; you jest oughter hear ole Unc'e Jimmy-Jawed Jup'ter, Aunt Cindy's bus ban'; hell show you somer the nrettles' cussin' you ever did hear." "Who Is Aunt Cindy?" Toe's the colored 'oman what tends to mo ever sence mo an' Wllkes Booth Lincoln's born, an' Uncle Jup'ter is her husban' an' be sho' is a s.tingeree en cussin'. Is yo' husban' much of a ousser?" he inquired. A pale pink dyed Miss Minerva's thin, sallow, face. "I am not a married woman," sho replied, curtly, "and I most assuredly would not permit any oaths to be used cm my premises." "Well, Uncle Jimmy-Jawed Jup'ter is jest naeh'elly boun' to cuss?he's not a repertation to keep up," said Billy. He sat down in a chair \n front of Sri* aunt crossed his legs and smiled confidentially up into her face. "Hell an' damn is jest easy ev'y day words to that nigger. I wish you nou!d hear him cuss, on a Sunday Jest one time. Aunt Minerva; he'd sfco you open yo' ey s an' take in yo' But Aunt Cindy don't low me Wtikes Booth Lincoln to say noth t all only jest darn' tell we gits mens, an' puts on long pants." "Wllkes Booth Lincoln?" questioned his aunt "Ain't you never hear teller him?" naked the child. "He's ole Aunt Blue Oum Tempy's Peruny Pearline's boy; no' Peruny Pearllne," he continued enthusiastically, "she ain't no ord? inary nigger, her hair ain't got nare hink an' she's got the grandee' clo'es. They alnt nothin' snide 'bout her. got ten chlllens an' ev'y single of 'em'a got a diffunt pappy, ehe fceen married so such. They do ssy nhs got Injun blood in her, too." Mlsa Minerva, who had been stand? ing prim, erect anc stiff, fell limply Into a convenient rocking chair, and looked closely at this orphaned nopheT who had come to live with her. Sho saw a beautiful, bright, at? tractive, little face out of which big, nancy, gray eyee shaded by long curl? ing black lashes looked wlnningly at her; she saw a sweet, childish red mouth, a mass of short yellow curls, nnd a thin but graceful little figure. "I knows the names of aller ole innnt Blue-Gum Tempy's Peruny Pearl Sno'fl chflleus," he vae saying proud? ly: "Admiral Farragut Moaes the Prophet Esquire, ne'e the hlggea'; an' Alice Ann Maria Dan Step-an'-f ,0 Fetch-K. she had to nuss all the res'; she say fas' as sfce git th'oo nusstn' an' low she join' to have a Send ua your Job work. breathin' rpell here come another olp an' she got to nuss It. An* the nex is Mount Sinai Tabtruicle, he name fer the church where oY Aunt Blue Gum Tempy'8 Peruny Pearline takes her sackerment; an' the nex' is Thirst Thessalonians; Second The;salorians, he's dead ar' gone to the Bad Place 'cause he skunt a cat?I 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 growed thinner an' thinner an weas ler an' weasler, tell finely he wan't nothln' 'tall but a skel'ton, an* the Bad Man won't 'low nobody 'tall to give his parch tongue no water, an' he got to, ever after amen, be toast on a pitchfork. An' Oleander Magnolia Al thea Is the nex'," he continued, enumwa?ng Peruny Pearline's off? spring on his thin, well-molded fin? gers, "?be got the seven-year itch; an' Gettysburg, an' Biddle-A-Biothers MercartHe-Co.; he name fer the st/ where ole Aunt Blue-Gum Temp: 'b Peruny Pearline gits credit so she can pay when she fetches m ner cotton in the fall; an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln, him an' me's twins; we was borned the same day only I's bornetf to n*"* mamma an' he's homed to his'n a*.' Doctor Jenkins fetched me an' Doctor Shacklefqot fetched Mas. An' Declm us ITtlmds,"?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 her Declmus Vltimus." Miss Minerva, sober, proper, digni? fied, religious old maid unusod to chil? dren, listened in frozen amazement and paralyzed silence. She decided to put the child to bed at once that she might collect her thoughts, and lay 3ome plans for the rearing of this sad? ly neglected, little orphaned nephew. "William," she cald, "it is bedtime, and I know you must be sleepy after your long ride on the cars. Would you like something to eat be "ore I put you to bed? I saved you some supper." "Naw'm, I hain't hongry; the major man what I talk to on the train tuck me In the dinln'-room en' gimme all I could hol'; I Jest eat an' eat tell they wan't a wrinkle in me," was the reply. "He axed me 'bout you, too. Is he name' Major Minerva?" She opened a door in considerable confusion, and they entered a email, n-jat room adjoining. "This is your own little room, Wil? liam," said she, "you see it opens into mine. Have you a night-shirt?" "Xaw'rn, I don't need no night-shirt. I jest sleeps in my unions and some? times in my overalls." "Well, you may sleep in your union suit tonight." said the scandalized rel? ative, "and I'll see what I can do for you tomorrow. Can you uudress your? self?" Her small nephew wrinkled his nose, disdainfully. "Well, I reckon so," he scornfully made answer. "Mo an' Wilkes Tlooth Lincoln been un drersin' ussolf ever sence we's born.'' "I'll come in here after a while and turn off the light. Good night, Wil? liam." "Goo'l-ni ?ht, Aunt Minerva," re? sponded the little uoy. CHAPTER II. The Rabbit's Left Hind Foot. A few minutes later, as Miss Mi n-rva sat rocking and 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 prayers?" demanded a sweet, "hildish voice. "Aunt Cindy hear me an* Wilkes fiooth 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 me." Billy looked at his aunt's bony frame and thought of Aunt Cindy's soft, fat, ample lap. A wistful look crossed his childish face as he dropped down in front of her and laid his head against her knee, then the bright, beautifel little face took on an angelic expression as he closed his eyes and softly chanted: "Now I lays me down to sleep, I prays the Lord my soul to keep, Tf I should die befo I wake. I prays the Lord my soul to take. "Keep 'way f'om me hoodoo an' witch, Lead my paf f'om the po'house gate, I pines fer the golden ht.rpa an' sich, Oh, Lord, I'll set an' pray an' wait. "Oh, Lord, bless ev'ybody ; bless me on* Aunt Cindy, an' Wilkes Booth Lin? coln, an' Aunt Blue-Gum Ternpy's Per? uny Pearllno, an' Un- le Jimmy-Jawed Jup'ter, an' ev'ybody, an' Sam Lamb, an' Aunt Minerva, an' alU?r Aunt Rlue Gum Tenii?y's Peruny Pearllne's cbll lens, an' give Aunt Minerva a billy goat or a little nannny if she'd rulber. an' blesi >!nJor Minerva, an' make me Send ua your Job work. a good boy like Sanctified Sophy, fei Jesus' sake. Amen." "What is 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' nobody can't never conjure you if you we:irs a rabbit foot. This here one is the lcf hin' foot; it was ketched Ly ? ;ed headed nigger with cross-eyes in a graveyard at twelve o'clock on a Fri? day night, when they'l 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 in? quired. "No," she answered. "I have never had one and I have never been con? jured either. Give It to me, William; ! can't allow you to be superstitious," and she held out her hand. "Plea8e, Aunt Minerva, jest lemme wear It tonight," he pleaded. "Me an' Wllkes Booth Lincoln's been wearin' us rabbit foots ever sence wes born." "No," she said firmly; TU put a stop to such nonsense at once. Give it to me, William." Billy looked up at bis aunt's aus? tere countenance and lovingly fin? gered his charm; he opened his mouth to say something, but hesi? tated; slowly he untied the string around his neck and laid his treasure on her lap; then without looking up. he ran into bi? own little room, clos? ing the Jbor behind him. Soon afterward Miss Minerva, hear? ing a sound like a stifled sob coming from the adjoining room, opened the Vioor softly and looked into a sad, lit? tle face with big, wide, open eyes shining with tears. "What is the matter, William?" she coldly asked. "I ain't never alep* by myself," he sobbed. "Wllkes Booth Lincoln al ways slept ou a pallet by my bed ever sence we's born an'?an' I wants Aunt Cindy to tell me 'bout Uncle Pil Jerk Peter." His aunt sat down on the bed by hla side. She was not versed in the ways of childhood, and could not know that the little boy wanted to pillow his head on Aunt Cindy'a soft and am? ple bosom, that he was homesick for his black friends, the only companions he had ever known. TU tell you a Bible story," she temporized. "You must not be a baby. You are not afraid, are you, William? God la always with you." "I don't want no God," he sullenly made reply; "I wants somebody with sho' 'nough skin an' bones, an'?an' 1 wants to hear 'bout Uncle Piljerk Pe? ter." "I will tell you a Bible story," again suggested his aunt. "1 will tell you about?" "l don' want to liear no Bible atory, r the yotng sister whose child had now come to live with her. Hut on tfce night of Billy's arrival the stern, nar? row woman sat tor hours In her rock? ing chair, her mind busy with thoughts of that pretty young sister, dead since the boy's birth. , And liuw ihe wild, reckless, dissi? pated brother-in-law was dead, too, end the child had l.een sent to her; to the aunt who did not want him, who did not care for children, who had ne\f r forgiven her sitter her un? fortunate marriage. "If he had only been a girl," she sighed. What she bettered to be a happy thought en? tered her train. "I shall nar him/1 she promised herself, "just as if he were a 11; tie 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 many hours for this, so many for that. William, she now resolved, for the first time becoming really hit' r ested In him, should grow up to be a model young man, a splendid and i wonderful piece of mechanism, a fine, I practical, marhlne-'ike individual, mortal 'oiight, religious. She was glad that he was young; she would begin his training on the morrow. Sho would teach him to sew. to sweep, to churn, to cook? and when he was old- i 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 Uttle 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 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&ere Wednesday?" he' asked sharply. j "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' tHl 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 we's born," ho protested indignantly. neither," he objectei. '1 wants to hear T'nde Jimmy-Jawed Jup'ter play his 'corjun an' sing: " 'Rabbit up the gum tree, Coon is in the holler Wake, snake; Juney-Bug stole a half a dollar.'" "I'll sing you a hymn," said Miss Minerva patiently, i "I don't want to hear you sing no hymn," said Billy impolitely. "1 wants to see Sanctified Sophy shout." As his aunt could think of no sub rtltute with which to tempt him in lieu of Sanctified Sophy's shouting, she remained silent. "An' I wants Wllkes Booth Lincoln to dance a clog." persisted her nephew. Miss Minerva remained silent. She felt unable to coj*, with the situation till she had adjusted her thoughts and made her plans. Presently Billy, looking at her ihrewdly, ^id: "Gimme ay 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 babyllh, tear stained cheek, his red lips half parted, his curly head pil? lowed on his arm, and close against his soft, young throat there nestled the left hind fool of a rabbit Miss Minerva*! bed time wag half after nine 1 lock, rammer or winter. . had ' ' ly rarisd a second in the rei rs thai bad elapsed plnce the run* sway marriage of her only relative. Ssnd us your Job work. 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. He followed his aunt dolefully to the bathroom at the end of the long I ack porch of the old-fashioned, one ctory house; but once In the big white tub he was delighted. In fact, he stayed in It ao long 1 Miss Minerva had to knock on the door and tell hlra to hurry up and pet ready for breakfast. "Say," he yelled out to her, "I likes , this-here; It's mos' as fine as Johnny's Wash Hole, where me an' Wllkes Booth Lincoln goes in swimmin' ever pence we's born." When he came into the dining-room lie was a sight to gladden even a prim c'.d maid's heart. The water had curled his hair Into riotoas yellow ringlets, his bright eyes gleamed, his i eautlful, expressive little fate shone happily, and every movement of his agile, lithe figure was grace itself. "I sho' Is hongry," he remarked, as he took his seat at the breakfast ta? ble. Miss Minerva realised that now was the time to begin her imall nephew's training; if she was SV< r to teach him to speak correctly she musi i" gin at once. ?'Wllliani." she laid sternly, you musi not talk io mm Ii III i a< (0*0. Instead of inylog I 11 grv,' you mould - .?. I im very 1 .' !;ry.' ?nd us your lob work 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. "Walt until I ask a blessing; then I will help you to what you want." Billy enjoyed his Breakfast very mach. "These muffins sho' is?" he began; catching his aunt's eye he cor- j 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 m his speech, he stammered out: "These-here >ho' 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. 1 must not expect too much of him at first." After breakfast Miss Minerva, who would r.ot keep a servant, preferring to do her own work, tied a big cook apron around the little boy's neck, and told 'jim to churn while she washed ihe dishes. This arrangement did not tuit Billy. Boys don't churn," he said sullen? ly; "me an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln don' cover htve to churn sence we's Lorn; omans has to churn an' I ain't a-going to. MaJ >r Minerva?he ain't never churn," he began belligerency, but his relative turned an uncompromising and rather perturbed back upon him. Realizing that he wr.s beaten, he sub? mitted to his fate, clutched the dasher angrily, and Legan his weary work. ? He was gl*?d his little black friend did not witnei-s his disgrace. As he thought of Wilkes Booth Lin? coln che big tears came into his eyes and rolled clown his cheeks; he leaned v ay over the churn and the great glis? tening tears splashed right into the hole made for the da:her. and rolled into the milk. Billy grew interesteJ at once and laughed aloud; he puckered up his face and tried to wetp again, for he wanted more tears to fall into the churn; but the tear? refused to come and he couldn't squeeze another one out of his eyes. "Aunt Minerva," he said mischiev? ously. "I done ruint yo' buttermilk." "What have you done?" she in? quired. "It's done ruint." he replied, "you'll hafter th'ow it away; "tain't fltten fer nothin.' I done cru d 'bout a bucket? ful In it." "Why did you cry?" asked Miss Mi? nerva calmly. "Don't you like to work?" "Ycs'm. I jet' leves to work; I wish I b*d time to work all the time. But it . lakes my belly ache to churn?I got a awful pain right now.'" "Churn on!" she commanded un Kympathetically. He grabbed the dasher and churned vigorously lor one minute. "I reckon the butter's done come." he announced, reftirg from his la' ors. | "It h in*t begun to corr.e yet," re? plied the exasperated woman. "Don't warte ro muc h tl?"". William." The c hild churned in silence for the space of two minutes, and EUggested: J "It'i time to put hot water in ii; Aunt Cindy always puts hot water in it. ! e rime git some fer you." I never put hot water In my milk." i l she. "it makes the butter puffy. \ .-k more and talk less, William." V| :<i there was a brief si'ence, y by the sound oi the (i ' iplng against the bottom j .n. and the rattle of the bend us your Jt?t> work. arms is 'bout give out, Aunt Minerva. Ole Aunt Blue-Gum Tempy's Peruny Pearline see a man cburn with his toes; lemme git a chair an' see if I can't churn with my toes'* "Indeed you shall not," responded his annoyed relative positively. "Sanctified Sophy knowed a colored 'oman what had a little dog went roun' an' roun' an' churn fer her," re? marked Billy after a short pause. "If you had a billy boat or a little nanny. I could hitch him to the churn fer you ev'ry day." "William," commanded bis 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 dicing room. Returning a few minutes liter 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, The orphan's tear he'll dry. He'll clothe you wnen you's bongry An' take you when you die." Miss Minerva jerked him off with no gentle hand. "What I done now?" asked the boy innocently. M 'Tain't no bann as I can see je6' to straddle a churn." "Go out in the front yard," com? manded 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 is 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. Bill} was sitting quietly in the big lawn-swing when his aunt, dressed for the street, finally came through the front door. "I am going uptown, William," she said. "! want to buy you some things that you may go with me to church Sunday. Have you ever been to Sun? day school?" "Naw'm; but I been to pertracted meetiu'," came the ready response. "I see Sanctified Sophy shout tell sho tore ev'y rag offer her back 'ceptin' a shimmy. She's one 'oman who sho' is got 'ligion; she ain't never back? slid 'tall, an* she ain't never fell f'om grace but one time?" " Stay right in the yaru till I come back Sit In the swing and don't go outside the front yard. I shan't bo gone long," said Miss Minerva. His aunt had hardly left the gate before Billy caught sight of a round, fat little face peering at him through the palings which separated Miss Mi? nerva's yard fron that of her next door neighbor. "Hello!" shouted Billy. "Ia you the bad little boy what can't play with me?" "What you doing in Miss Minerva's yard?" came the answering interro? gation across the feLce. "I s come to live with her.'" replied Billy. "My mamma an' papa is dead. What's yo' name?" "I'm Jimmy Gamer. How old are you? I'm most six, I am." "Shucks. Is already six, a-going on s^ven. Come on, le's swing." "Can't," said the new acquaintance. "I've named off once today, and got licked for it." 'I ain't never got no whippin' sence me an' Wiikes Booth Lincoln's born." boasted Billy. "Ain't you?" asked Jimmy. "I 'spec* I be*?r whipped more'n a million times, my mumma is so pertic'lar with me. She's 'bout the p? rtic-larest woman ever was; she don't low me to leave the yard 'thout I get a whipping I t believe I will come over to aec you 'boat half a minute." Suiting the action to the word limmy climbed the fence, and the two little boyi were soon comfortably ?eitled facing each other in the big lawn-swing. \\ ho lives over there?" asked Billr,. pointing to the h 'i*e across the street. "That's Mis.s Cecilia's house. That's mlng ? f f the from gate now." The s ' ,v smiled and waved tu r hand at thi ui. (TO BE CONTINUED.)