Winslow Dispatch (Newspaper) - June 28, 1912, Winslow, Indiana
ms MIHEKVA.
and
HAM <jl^ Iflll*
^Rmnces Boyd Caihodn
(Copyright, by Reilly & Britton Co.)
CHAPTER I.
A Scandalized Virgin.
The bus drove up to the gate and •topped under the electric street light. Perched on the box by the big, black viegro driver sat a little boy whose •«lender figure was swathed In a huge >raln coat
Miss Minerva was on the porch waiting to receive him.
“Mercy on me, child,” she said, *what on earth made you ride up
an' she got to nuss K. An’ the nex’ is Mount Sinai Tabemicle, ho name fer the church where ol’ Aunt Blue-Gum Tempy’s Peruny Pearlino takes her sackerment; an' the nex' Is First 'Thessalonians; Second Thessalonlans, he's dead an’ gone to the Bad PlAce ’cause he skunt a cat—I don’t mean skin the cat on a actin’ polo like mo an’ Wilkes Booth Ldncoln does—ho
**wnBt ta tSiat yon, have tmi your neck, William?” she «sM, M the little boy rose to his feet.
“That’s my rabbit loot; you won’t never have no 'sease *t all áa* nobody can’t never conjure you If you wears a rabbit foot. This here one is the ler hln’ foot; It was ketcfaed by a redheaded nigger with cross-eyes in a graveyard at twelve o’clock on a Friday night, when the)r*s a full moon. Ho 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 answered. ‘T have never had one and I have never been conjured either. Give It to mo, William;
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 nice fat little man name’ Major—”
“He Jes’ 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 maíór. “ ’Twan’t no •use fer ter try ter make him ride no-whars but jes’ up by me. He jes Tusod an’ 'fused an’ ’sputed an’
•sputod; he jes’ tuck ter me f’om de minute he got off’m de train an’ sot eyes on me; he am one easy chile ter #dt 'qualnted wid; so I jes’ h’isted him up by mo. Here am his verlise,
ma’am.”
“Good-by, Sam Lamb,” said the ehlld as the negro got back on toe box and gathered up the reins. “I’ll eee you to-morrer.”
Miss Minerva imprinted a thin, old-mald kiss on the sweet, childish
mouth. “I am your Aunt Minerva, ’
ehe 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 u-rubbin’ it in, I reckon.”
“Come in. William.” and his aunt led the way through the wide hall Into a big bedroom.
“Billy, ma’am,” corrected her
nephew.
“William.” firmly repeated Miss Minerva. “You may have been called Billy 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 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.
taught you such a naughty asked In a horrified v<^. Fou know it Is wrong to
wo:
«urse^’
“You
call that cussin’?” came in «cornful tones from the little boy.
“You don’t know cussin’ when you see It; you jest oughter hear ole Uncle Jimmy-Jawed Jup’ter, Aunt Cindy’s husban’; he’ll show you somer the pretties’ cussin’ you ever did hear.'
“Who is Aunt Cindy?”
“She’s the colored 'oman what tends to me ever sence me an’ Wilkes Booth Lincoln’s born, an’ Uncle Jup’ter Is her husban’ an’ he sho’ is a stlngeree on cussin’. Is yo’ husban’ much of a cusser?” he inquired.
A pale pink dyed Miss Minerva’s •thin, sallow, face.
"I am not a married woman,” she replied, curtly, “and I most assuredly would not permit any oaths to be used on my premises.”
“Well. Uncle Jimmy-Jawed Jup’ter Is jest nach’elly boun’ to cuss—he’s got a repertatlon to keep up,” said Billy.
He sat down in a chair In front of 'hid 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 could hear him cuss on a Sunday Jest one tlfne. Aunt Minerva; he’d sho' make you open yo’ ey^-s an’ take in yo «ign. But Aunt Cindy don’t ’low me «n’ Wilkes Booth Lincoln to say noth-tn’ 't all only jest ‘darn’ tell we gits .grown mens, an’ puts on long pants.” “Wilkes Booth Lincoln?” questioned 4iis aunt.
“Ain’t you never hear teller him?” «sked the child. “He’s ole Aunt Blue-Gum Tempy’s Peruny Pearline’s boy; an' Peruny Pearllne,” he continued enthusiastically, “she ain’t no ord-■’nary nigger, her hair ain’t got nare <dnk an’ she’s got the grandes’ clo’es. They ain’t nothin’ snldp ’bout her. She got ten chlllens an’ ev’y single one of ’em’s got a diff’unt pappy, she been married so much. They do say ehe got Injun blood in her, too.”
Miss Minerva, who had been stand->ing prim, erect and stiff, fell limply 4nto a convenient rocking chair, and looked closely at this orphaned 'oephew who had come to live with dier.
She saw a beautiful, bright, at-■tractive, little face out of which big, «aucy. gray ejies shaded by long curling black lashes looked wlnnlngly at her; she saw a sweet, childish Md mouth, a mass of short, yellow curls, and a thin but graceful little figure.
“I knows the names of aller ole Aont Blue-Qnm Tempy's Peruny Pearl-ine’e chlllens,” he was saying proudly: ''“Admlñá ii’arragut Moses the Esquire. he*s the blgges’; an’ Alice Ann Maria Dan StejMM'-Oo* Otch-ft, she had to nuss an the r6e*; sihe say fas* as dhe ‘git th*oo nuMln' one an’ low she goln’ to have a •^reathla* speB here oome another oae^.
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 nothin’ ’tall hut a skel’ton, an* toe 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 Althea is the nex’,” he continued, enumerating Peruny Pearline’s offspring on his thin, well-molded fingers, “she got the seven-year itcn; an’ Gettysburg, an’ Blddle-&-Brothers-Mercantile-Co.; he name fer the sto’ where ole Aunt Blue-Gum Tempy’s Peruny Pearline gits credit so she can pay when she fetches in ner cotton in the fall; an’ Wilkes Booth Lincoln, him an’ me’s twins; we was homed the same day only I’s horned to my mamma an’ he’s homed to his’n an' Doctor Jenkins fetched me an’ Doctor Shacklefoot fetched him. An’ Declm-us Ultimus,”—the little boy trnimph-antly put his right forefinger on bis left little one, thus making the tenth, “she’s the baby an’ she’s got the colic an’ cries loud 'nougb to wake up Israel; Wilkes Booth Lincoln say he wish the little devil would die. Peruny Pearline firs’ name her ’Doctor Shacklefoot’ ’cause he fetches all her chlllens, but the doctor he say that ain’t no name fer a girl, so he name her Declmus Ultimus.”
Miss Minerva, sober, proper, dlgnl fled, religious old maid unused to chil dreri, listened in frozen amazement and paralyzed silence. Sbe decided to put the qhlld to bed at once that she might collect her thoughts, and lay sortie plans for toe rearing of this sad ly neglected, little orphaned nephew William,” she caid, “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’m, I hain’t hongry; the major man what I talk to on the train tuck me In the dlnln’-room an’ gdmme all I could hoi’; 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 small, neat room adjoining.
“This Is your own little room, William,” said she, “you see It opens Into mine. Have you a nlght-shlrt?”
Naw’m, I don’t need no nlght-shlrt. I jest sleeps In mY unions and sometimes in my overalls.”
Well, you may sleep In your union suit tonight,” said the scandalized relative, “and I’ll see what I can do for you tomorrow. Can you undress yourself?”
Her small nephew wrinkled his nose, disdainfully. “Well. I reckon so,” he scornfully made answer. “Me an’ Wilkes Booth Lincoln been un-dressln’ usself ever sence we’s born.” “I’ll come In here after a while and turn off the light. Good night, William.”
“Goodnight, Aunt Minerva,” responded toe little boy.
can’t allow you to be superstitious amd she held out her hand.
Please, Aunt Minerva, jest lemme wear it tonight,” he pleaded. “Me an’ Wilkes Booth Lincoln’s been wearin’ us rabbit foots ever sence we’s bom.” No,” she said firmly; “I’ll put a stop to such nonsense at once. Give it to me, William."
Billy looked up at his aunt’s austere countenance and lovingly fingered his charm; he opened his mouth to say something, but hesitated; slowly he untied the string around his neck and laid his treasure on her lap; then without looking up, he ran into his own little room, closing the door behind him.
Soon afterward Miss Minerva, hearing a sound like a stifled sob coming from the adjoining room, opened toe door softly and looked into a sad, little face with big, wide, open eyes shining with tears.
What is the matter, William?” she coldly asked.
“I ain’t never slep’ by myself,” he sobbed. “Wilkes Booth Lincoln always slept on a pallet by my bed ever sence we’s bora an’—an’ I wants Aunt Cindy to tell me ’bout Uncle Pll-jerk Peter.”
His aunt sat down on the bed by his 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’s soft and ample bosom, that he was homesick for his black friends, the only companions he had ever known.
“I’ll tell you a Bible story,” she temporized. “You must not be a baby. You are not afraid, are you, William? God Is always with you.”
“I don’t want no God,” he sullenly made reply; “I wants somebody with
{the young oister whoM child amfi bow come to live with h«r. But on th« night of Billy’s arrival the stem, narrow woman sat for hours In her »ock-Ing 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 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 unfortunate marriage, “If he had only been a girl,” she sighed. What she believed to he a happy thought entered her brain.
“I shall rear him,” she promised herself, “just as If he were a little girl; then he will be both a pleasure and a comfort to me, and a companion 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 interested In him, should grow up to be a model young man, a splendid and wonderful piece of mechanism, a fine, practical, machlne-llke 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 tae ministry.
“Yes,” said Miss Minerva; "i snail 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 bo 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.
"What I Done Now?” Asked the Boy Innocently.
sho’ ’nough skin an’ bones, an’—an' I wants to hear ’bout Uncle Piljerk Peter.”
“I will tell you a Bible story,” again suggested his aunt. “I will tell you about—”
“I don’ want to hear no Bible story, neither.” he objected. “I wants to hear
CHAPTER 111.
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.
“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
I. _+411 Snl-’Hnv ” he
‘you
to wash no mo’ till nex’ Sat day, argued.
“Oh, yes.” said his relative; must bathe every day.”
“Me an’ Wilkes Booth Lincoln ain’t never wash on a Wednesday sene»
CHAPTER II.
The Rabbit’s Left Hind FooL A few minutes later, as Miss Minerva sat rocking and thinking, the door opened and a lean, gn*a>ceful, little fl^re, clad In a skinny, gray union suit, came into the room.
“Ain’t I a-goln’ to say no prayers?” demanded a sweet, childish voice. Aunt Cindy hear me an* Wilkes Booth 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 bo reminded of her duty by thiw 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, beautiful little face took on an angelic expression as he ^osed hit eyes and softly chanted;
He Chanted “Now I Laya Me Down' to Sleep.’
“Now I lays mo down to sleep,
I prays the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die befo’ I wake,
I prays the Lord my aoul to take.
“Keep ’way Torn me hoodoo an’ witch, Lead my paf Tom the po’houee gate. 1 pines fer the golden harps an’ sich. Oh, Lord. I’ll set an' pray ail* walL
‘*Oh, Lord, west ey*ybedy;. bless me an* Aunt Chidy. an’ Wilkes Booth Lincoln, im' Aunt Blue-Oum Tempy'e Peruny Pearline, an’ Undie jlmmy^awed Jup'te**, an*'ev*yhody, an* Sam Lamb, an' Aunt Minerva, an’ aller Aunt Blue-Oum Tempy’e Peruny Pearllne*e chtl-iene, an* give Aunt Minerva a blUy goat or a little nanany if she’d rather.
bless Major Minerva, an* make me a good boy Uke SanettAed Sopky. fer Jesos’ sake. Amen.’*
Uncle 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 don’t want to hear you sing no hymn.” said Billy Impolitely. “I wants to see Sanctified Sophy shouL”
As his aunt could think of no sub-sUtute with which to tempt him In Ueu of Sanctified Sophy’s shouting, she remained sIlenL
I wants Wllkea Booth Lincoln to dance a clog.” persisted her nephew.
Miss Minerva remained sllenL She felt unable to cope with the sltuaUon till she had adjusted her thoughts and made her plans.
Presenüy Billy, looking at her shrewdly, said:
“Gimme my rabbit fooL Aunt Minerva. an’ ru go right off to sleep.” When she »*galn looked In on him he was fast asleep, a rosy flush on his babyish, tear-stained cheek, his red., ftpa balf parted^ his curljf head pillowed on his arm, .and close against his Bpft, young throat thére aestled ths IMt hind foot of a rabbit
Miss Minerva's bed time wgsr^ half aftM'^ nine o'clock, eummer or winter.
we’a bora,” 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 tp bathe 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, he stayed in it so long Miss Minerva had to knock on the door and tell him to hurry up and get ready for breakfasL
“Say,” ho yelled out to her, “I likes this-here: it’a mos* as fine as Johnny’s Wash Hole, where me an* Wllkea ^ooth Lincoln goes In swimmln* ever sence we’s born.”
When he came into the dining-room he was a sight to gladden even a prim old maid’s hearL The water had curled his hair into rioleas yellow ringlets, his bright eyes gleamed, his beautiful, expressive little face shone happily, and every movement of his agile, lithe figurs ?<ras grace itselL “1 sho’ la hongry,” he remarked, as he tppk his seat at ihe breakfast table.
Mlaa Minerva realized that nfiw was the time to begin her smaU m^ew’a tratn^; if ahe wa» ever to teato him ;tn speak correctly she must hegin at
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!" sho screamed as ho 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 nreakfast very much. “These muflans sho’ is—” he began; catching bis aunt’s eye he corrected himself; “These muffins am very good.” I
s “These muffins are very good,” said Miss Minerva patiently.
“Did you ever eat any bobbycued rabbit?” he asked. “Me an’ Wilkes Botto Lincoln been eatln’ chlt’llns, an’ sweet ’taters, an’ ’possum, an’ squirrel, an’ hoe-cake, an’ Brunswick stew ever sence we’s born,” was his proud announcement.
“tJse 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 began, but instantly remembering that he must be more particular in his speech, he stammered out:
“These-here sho’ Is—am—are a nice mesaer’lasses. I ain’t never eat sech a good baiL They sho’ is—I aimed to Bay—these ’lasses sho’ are a bird; they’s ’nother sight tastier’n sorghum, an’ Aunt Cindy ’lows that sorghum is the very penurlty of a nigger.”
She did not again correct him.
“I must bo very patient,” she thought, “and go very slowly. I mart not expect too much of him at flrsL' 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 sullenly; “me an* Wllkea Booth Lincoln don’ nev«r have to chum sence we’s born; 'omans has to chum an’ I ain’t a-going to. Major Minerva—he ain’t never chum,” he began helligerenUy, but his relative turned an uncompromising and rather perturbed hack upon him. Realizing that he was beaten, he submitted to his fate, clutched the dasher angrily, and began his weary work.
He was glad his lltUe black friend did not witness his disgrace.
As he thought of Wilkes Booth Lincoln the big tears came Into his eyes and roiled down his cheeks; he leaned way over the chum and the great glistening tears splashed right into the hole made for the dasher, and rolled Into the milk.
Billy grew Interested at once and laughed aloud; he puckered up his face and tried to weep again, for he wanted more tears to fall into the churn; hut 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 to qulred.
“It’s done rulnL” ke replied, “you 11 hafter th’ow It away; ’tain’t fltten fer nothin.’ I done cried 'bout a bucketful In IL
“Why did you cryT* asked Miss Minerva 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 chum—I got a awful pain right now.’”
“Churn on!” she comjnanded un-sympathetically-
He grabbed the dasher and churned vigorously for one minute.
*T reckon the butter’s done come," he announced, resting from his labors.
“It hasn’t begun to come yeL” replied the exasperlfced woman. “Don’t waste 80 much Ume. WilUam.”
Pearline see a man churn with toes; lemme git a chair an' see tf I cr.n’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 weot roun’ an’ roun’ an' churn fer her,” marked Billy after a short pause ^f you had a billy boat or a little nanny I could hitch him to the churn fer you ev’ry day.”
“William,” commanded “don’t say another word have finished your work.”
“Can I sing?” he asked.
She nodded permission as she went through the open door into the diningroom.
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 cl^ar, sweet voice:
bis auÉL until you
"He’ll feed you when you’s naked. The orphan’s tear he’ll dry.
He’ll clothe you when you’s hongry An’ take you when you die.”
Miss Minerva jerked him off wlttt no gentle hand.
"What I done now?” asked the boy Innocently. “ 'Tain’t no harm as 1 can see jes’ tojstraddle a churn.”
“Go out in the front yard,” commanded his aunt, "and sit in the swing till I call you. ru finish the work without your assistance. And, William,” she called after him, “there 1«
5 yery hj.d hOT ghft,JjTMI .IPfgic,—
oor; 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 lawn-swlng when his aunL dressed to# the street, finally came through the front door.
I am going uptown, William,” sho said. “I want to buy you some things that you may go with me to church Sunday. Have you ever been to Sunday school?” “
Naw’m; but I been to pertracted meetin’,” came the ready response. "I see Sanctified Sophy shout tell sh^ tore ev’y rag offer her hack ’ceptin a shimmy. She’s one ’oman who sho' is got ’liglon; she ain’t never backslid ’tall, an’ she ain’t never fell f’om grace but one time—” a'
“Stay right in the yard till I come hack. Sit in the swing and don't c*' outside the front yard. I shan’t be 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 Minerva’s yard from that of her next^ door neighbor.
“Hello!” shouted Billy. “la you the bad little boy what can’t play with me?”
“What you doing in Miss Minerva’» yard?” came the answering Interrogation across the fexce.
‘Ts come to live with her,'” replied Billy. “My mamma an’ papa 1» dead. What’s yo’ name?”
“I’m Jimmy Garner. How old are you? I’m most six, I am.”
“Shucks, I’s already six, a-going oa seven. Come on, le’s swing.’
“Can’t," said the new acquaintance. “I’ve runned off once today, and got licked for IL”
“I ain’t never got no whlppto’ senoe me an’ Wilkes Booth Lincoln’» born,”
had hardly varied a secon# ia toe I opca. year» had eiapaed atnea toe niB-1 “W axrif auyrriace M
The child churned in alienee for toe apace of two minute», and auggeated: “It’a tlme to put hot water in it; Aünt Cindy alwaya puto hot water to IL Lemme git.aome fer you.”
“I never put hot water in my milk,” said ahe, “it make» the butter puffy. Work more and talk leaa. WlUlam,” Again there waa' a brief silence, broken only by the aound of toe daiher thumping against the bottom of toe cAurn, and the rattle of toe dishM.
T aho* Is fired.” ha presently re-
•*My
boaated Billy. ^ \
“Ain't youT’ asked Jtmmy. "I lspe« J
%
I been whipped more’n a million times, my mamma ,1a »o x>ertlo'lar with me. She*» 'bout the pertlc-lareat woman ever waa; ahe don’t 'low me to leave the yard ’thout I get a whipping. I 4 beUeve I will come over to aea ytoi •bout half a minute.”
Suiting toe action to tha word Jimmy climbed toe fence, and the two lltUe boye were soon comfortably settled facing each other In the big ^
lawn-awing. ^ ^
“Who Uva» ovar there?” asked Billy. ^ pointing to the house acroaa
atreeL . ■■ ’
"That’» Ml»» Cecilia*» house. her coming out of the front gate The young lady emtted oed her hand at toaaa
(TO BB OONTOnnBD^
%
aaarked. heaving a deep algh.
Ara you Mporont vuipaeMiÉí you tolnk to impuee rsfcPMH.
MB We de W-toMrtfc v 1
X