Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1912-01-04


dropped down in front Of her ard laid
his head against her knee, then the
bright, beautiful little face took CT an
angelic expression as he closed his
eyes and softly chanted:
Now / lays me down to sleep,
4 / prays the Lord my soul to keep,
| If should die befo' wake,
! l prays the Lord my soul to take.
Keep way f'om me hoodoo an witch,
Lead my paf f'crn the po'house gate,
! l pines fer the golden harps an sich,
Oh, Lord, I'll set an pray an wait.
J "Oh, Lord, bless ev'ybody; bless me
! an Aunt Cindy, an Wilkes Booth Lin.
I coin, an Aunt Blue-Gum Tempy's Per-.
uny Pearline, an Uncle Jimmy-Jawed
jupiter, an ev'ybody an Sam Lamb,
an Aunt Minerva, an aller Aunt Blues
Gum Tempy's Perjury Pearline's chill
lens, an give Aunt Minerva billy
goat or a little nanny If she'd ruther,
an bless Major Minerva, an make me
a good boy like Sanctified Sophy, fer
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 wears
a rabbit foot. This here one is the
lef' him foot; it was ketched by a red
headed niger with cross-eyes in
graveyard at twelve o'clock on Fri
day night, when they's a full moon
He give it to Aunt Cindy to tie roun'
my make when rs a baby. Amt you
got no rabbit foot?" he anxiously In
quired.
NO" she answered. 81 have never
had one and have never been con-
jured either. Give 1t to me, william;
I can't allow you to be superstitious,"
and she held out her hand.
Please, Aunt Minerva, Jest lemme
wear 1t tonight" he pleaded. Me an
Wilkes Booth Lincoln's been wearin'
US rabbit foots ever sence ives born"
NO" she said firmly; ''I'll put q
stop to such nonsense at once. Give
It to me, William"
ohy 1SOAOu on AA6 aunt huE-
tere countenance and lovingly I'm
gered his charm; he opened his
mouth to say something, but hesi-
tated; slowly he united the string
around his neck and laid his treasure
on her lap: then without looking up,
he ran into his own little room, clos
ing the door behind him.
Soon afterward Miss Minerva, hear
ing a sound like stifed sob coming
from the adjoining room, opened the
door softly and looked into a sad, lit
tie face with big, wide, open eyes
shining with tears.
What is the matter, WiIliam?" she
coldly asked.
Il amt never slep' by myself" he
sobbed. wilkes Booth Lincoln al
ways slept on a pallet by my bed ever
sence we's born an'-an' wants
Aunt Cindy to tell me bout Uncle Pill
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 am
pie 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"
II don't want no God" he sullenly
mad reply; II wants somebody with
sho' 'nough skin an bones, an'-an' I
wants to hear bout Uncle Piljerk Pc
ter"
II will tell you a Bible story"
again suggested his aunt. II will tell
you about"
II DON want to hear no Bible story,
neItneT," ne objected IT wants to hear
Uncle Jimmy-Jawed jupiter 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.
Il don't want to hear you sing no
hymn" said Billy impolitely. II wants
to see Sanctified Sophy shout"
AS his aunt could think OF no sub
stitute with which to tempt him in
lieu OF Sanctified Sophy's shouting,
she remained silent.
AN wants Wilkes Booth Lincoln
to dance a Clog" persisted her
nephew.
Miss Minerva remained silent. She