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

- SSSstS@b<~~ '''S'''
The bus drove up to the gate and
stopped under the electric street light.
Perched on the box by the big, black
negro driver sat little boy whose
slender figure was swathed In huge
rain coat
Miss Minerva was on the porch
waiting to receive him.
Mercy on me, child,p she said.
what on earth made you ride up
there? Why didn't you get inside?"
Il Jest wanted TO ride by Sam
I. Lamb" replied the child as he was
lifted down. AM see 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
nent1on OF fsthe major. "Twant no
ne FER ter try ter make him. ride no
whars but jes' up by me. He jes'
fused an fused an 'sputed an
'sputsd: he jes' tuck ter me rom de
minute he got ofrm de train an sot
ayes on me; he am one easy chile ter
ut 'quainted Wild; sol jes' h'isted him
up ~ me. Here am his verliss,
ua'am."
'>Gocd-by. Sam Lamb" said the
child a. the negro got back on the
box and gathered up the retns. "rll
80 you to-morrer."
Miss Minerva imprinted thin, old
Snaid kiss on the sweet, childish
ncuth. II am your Aunt Minerva,
che said, a. she picked up his satchel.
The little boy carelessly drew the
, back Of his haLd scrcss his raoath.
What are you doing!" she asked.
.Are you wiping my kiss Off,
~Naw'm." he replied. "T's jest ais
nvFubbin' It In. 7 reckon"
Come In, William and his aunt
lsd the way through the wide hall
into big bedroom
BILLY, ma'am." corrected her
nsphew.
william" firmly repeated Miss Mi
norva. You may have been called
Billy on that plantation where you
Nore allowed to run Wild with tEe ne
groes, but your name is VIII
mari Green ELL, and I shall insist
upon your beiIg called by it."
She stopped to help him OF with
~ coat. remarking as she did so:
what big overcoat;l it is several
nfsss too large for you"
"Darned II I amt agreed the child
promptly.
WHO taught you such naughty
wortf' she asked in horrified voice.
Don't you know It Is wrong to
onrper
-You call that cussin'?" came in
scornful tones from the little boy.
you don't know cussin' when you see
Il; you jest oughter hear ole Uncle
Jimmy-Jawed jupiter, Aunt >Cindy's
husban'; he'll show you somer the
pretties' cussin' you ever did hear"
WHO Is Aunt Cindy?"
Shes the colored oman what tends
90 me ever sence mo an Wilkes Booth
Lancoln's born, an Uncle jupiter Is
her husban' an he sho' Is a stingeree
On cussin'. Is yo' husban' much OF a
cusser?" he inquired.
"A pale pink dyed Miss Minerva's
thin. sallow. face.
Il am not a married woman" she
replied, curtly. "and most assuredly
would not permit any oaths to be used
On my premises"
We'll, Uncle Jimmy-Jawed jupiter
a Jest nach'elly boun' to cuss-he's
got repertation to keep up" said
Billy.
He sat down in a chair in front OF
10 aunt. crossed his legs and smiled
confidentially up into her face.
Hell an damn is jest easy ev'y day
words to that niger. wish you
could hear him cuss> on Sunday Jest
one time, Aunt Minerva; he'd sho
make you open 20 eye s an take In yo'
sign. But Aunt Cindy don't low me
m Wilkes Booth Lincoln to say moth
m I all only jest darn tell We gifts
grown mems, an puts on long pants. "
wilkes Booth Lincoln?" questioned
his aunt
Amt you never hear teller himT'
asked the child. Hes ole Aunt Blue
Gum Tempy's Perjury Pearline's boy;
m Perjury Pearline." he continued
enthusiastically, "she amt no ord
nary Niger. her hair amt got mare
link an she's got the grandes' clo'es.
They amt nothin' snide bout her.
She got ten chillens an ev'y single
one of ems got dif'unt pappy. she
been married 30 zarch. They do say
shs got Injun blood In her. too"
Miss Minerva, who had been stand
ing prim. erect anc stiff. fell Imply
into a convenient rocking chair, and
hooked closely at this orphaned
nsphev who had come to live with
her.
She saw q beautiful, bright, at
Rro~ffva Itfle face out of which big,