The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-03

i amt never promise not to clam
no ladder but =" Billy hesitated.
"You-all bout the skeeriest folks
they is" sneered Jimmy. Mama III
whip me going and coming II she finds
out bout it, but 1 ain't skeered. r
dare anybody to dare me to clam up"
Il dare you to climb this ladder"
responded an accommodating Frances.
L amt never tooken a dare YETI
boasted the little boy proudly, his foot
on the bottom rung. who q going to
foller me?"
Don't we have fun?" cried jubi-
liant Frances.
YES" answered Jimmy; 'if grown
folks don't all time be watching you
and sticking theirselfs in your way"
IF people would let us alone" re-
marked Lima, I'VE could enjoy our.
selves every day"
But grown folks got to be so per-
tic'lar with you ali tilne," cried Jimmy.
they don't never want us to play to-
gether."
he led the way up the ladder, fol-
lowed by Frances and Billy; and Lima
brought up the rear. The children ran
the long length Of the porch leaving
their footprints on the fresh, sticky
paint.
will it wash Off" asked Frances.
looking gloomily down at her feet,
which seemed to be encased in green
moccasins.
AT that moment she slipped and fell
sprawling on top Of the roof. When
the others helped her to her feet.
she was sight to behold, her white
dress splotched with vivid green from
top to bottom.
II that amt JUS like you, Fran
ces," Jimmy exclaimed; you all time
got to fall down and get paint on your
cress so We can't 'ceive nobody. Now
our mamas bound to know bout us
claiming up here"
They would know It ANYHOW"
mourned Lima; Eve ii never get this
paint off Of our feet. We had better
get right down and see if we can't
wash some of it off,"
While they were talking the owner
OF the ladder, who had not noticed
them-and was deaf in the bargain
had quietly removed it from the back
porch and carried it around to the
front of the house.
The children looked at each other in
CONSERVATION when they perceived
their loss.
What we goin' to do now?" asked
Billy.
IF this amt just like BILLY, all time
got to perpose to clam a ladder and
AL time got to let the ladder get loose
from him. growled Jimmy 1--WE done
cooked a goose egg, this time. You
got US UP here, Billy, LOW you going
to get us DOWN."
Il die 1T, neither"
We II s Miss Minerva's bopse
ino SIZE your aunt and we s your
3 yor aot tn be ns;hle."
II can clam down this-here post"
said the responsible party.
I can climb down it, too" Sec
)nded Frances.
You can't clam down nothing at
said Jimmy contemptuously.
0out you can clam down a
po you d fall and bust yourself
v open; you bout the clumsiest
g. here is sides, your legs re too
ia
- can holla," was Lina's sugges-
ton.
And have grown folks laughing fit
to pop their sides open? m shame
to go anywheres now cause folks all
time telling me when I m going to
dye some more Easter eggs! Nav.
we better not holler," said Jimmy.
Amt you going to do nothing, Billy"
Il IL jest slide down this-here most
and git the painter man to bring his
ladder back. Y all wait up here"
fiily's solution of the difficulty
Sc ed the safest, and they were soon
released from their elevated prison.
i might as we'll go home and be
learning he catechism," groaned Lima.
i m going to get right in the closet
soon s | get to my house." said Fran
css. go on and put on your night
shirt, Billy"
Billy took himself to the bathroom
and scrubbed and scrubbed; but the
paint refused TO come off, He tiptoed
by the kitchen where his aunt was
cooking dinner and ran into his own
room.
He found the shoes and stockings
which were reserved for Sunday wear.
and soon had them upon his little feet
Miss Minerva rang the dinnerben
and he walked quietly into the dining
room trying to make as little noise
and to attract az little attention from
his aunt as possible; but she fastened
her eyes at once upon his feet.
What are you doing with your
shoes on, William?" she asked.