The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-12-16

w.
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
| ask a blessing; then l will help you
to what you want"
Billy enjoyed his breakfast very
much. These mullins sho' is" he
began; catching his aunt's eye he cor
rected himself: These mullins am
very good"
These mullins 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 80 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:
I "These-here 3ho' is-am-are a nice
! messer'lasses. l amt never eat sech
a good bait They sho' isl aimed to
say-these 'lasses sho' are a bird;
they's mother sight tastiern sorghum,
an Aunt Cindy lows that sorghum is
the very penurity of a niger"
She did not again correct him.
81 must be very patient" she
thought, "and go very slowly. must
not expect too much of him at first"
After breakfast Miss Minerva, who
would rot keep a servant, preferring
to do her own work, tied big cook
/ apron around the little boys 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
rever have to cnurn sence we's born;
omans has TO churn an amt a-going
TO- Major Minerva-he amt never
churn," he began belligerenJly, but his
relative turned an uncompromising
and rather perturbed back upon him.
Realizing that he was beaten he sub
mitted to his fate. clutched the dasner
angrily, and began his weary work
He was glad his little black friend
did not witness his disgrace.
AS ne thought of Wilkes Booth Lin
coin the big tears came into his eyes
and rolled down his cheeks; he leaned
way over the churn and the great CHS
tening 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; but the tears refused to come
and he couldn't squeeze another one
out of his eyes.
Aunt Minerva he said mischiev-
ously. 81 done ruint yo' buttermilk.'
What have you done?" she in
quired
Its done ruint," he replied you'll
halter th'ow 1t away; faint fitten fer
nothin.' | done cried bout bucket
full in It,"
why did you cry" asked Miss Mi
nerva calmly. Don't you like to
work."
"Yes'm. | jes' loves TO work; wish
bad time to work all the time. But
it llakes my belly ache TO churn-l
got awful pain right now"
"Churn on" she commanded un-
sympathetically.
He grabbed the dasher and churned
vigorously for one minute.
Il reckon the buffers done come,
he ar.ourced, resting from his laSors.
1T hasn't begun TO come yet re-
piled the exasperatcd woman. Don |
waste 80 much time. William
The child churned in silence for the
srace Of Two minutes. and suggested:
"Is's time to put hot water in IL; Aunt
C!rGy always puts hot water In 1t.
Iemme git some fer YOU"
II never put hot water in my milk, y
lid she. 1T makes the butter puffy.
Work more and talk less, William"
Arafu ,Nere was brief silence,
fs'ea crv by the sound OF the
humping against the bottom
.rln. and the rattle of the
ro'." hn presently re-
eeD sisb. My