The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-07-31

"You-all bout the skeeriest folks
they is," sneered Jimmy. Mama III
whip me going and coming If she finds
out bout it, but 1 amt skeered.
dare anybody to dare me to clam up
81 dare you to climb this ladder"
responded an accommodating Frances.
81 amt never Token a dare yet"
boosted the little boy proudly, his foot
on the bottom rung. "Who 8 going to
foller me?"
Don't we have fun" cried a jubi-
liant Frances.
eyes," answered Jimmy; If grown
folks don't all time be watching you
and sticking theirselfs In your way"
III people would let US alone" re-
marked Lima, I'VE could enjoy our
selves every day"
But grown folks got to be so per.
ticlar with you all time" 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.
Twill 1t 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 a sight to behold, her white
dress splotched with vivid green from
top to bottom.
IF that amt JUS like you, Fran
ces," Jimmy exclaimed; you all time
got to fall down and get paint on your
dress so we can't 'ceive nobody. Now
our mamas bound to know bout US
claiming up here"
"They would know it anyhow"
mourned Lima; I'VE II never get this
paint off Of our feet. We had better
get right down and e 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
all 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, how you going
to get US down."
81 did mt, neither"
"Well, 1t g Miss MineEva's house
and she g your aunt and we 3 your
company and you got to be 'sponsible."
II can clam down thisihere post"
said the responsible party.
81 can climb down 1t, too" Sec
onded Frances.
You can't clam down nothing at
ALL" said Jimmy CONTEMPORARY.
Talk bout you can clam down a
post; you d fall and bust yourself
wide open; you bout the clumsiest
girl there is; sides, your legs re too
fat"
"We can holla," was Lina's sugges-
ton.
And have grown folks laughing fit
to pop their sides open? l m shame
to go a%nywheres now cause folks all
time telling me when I m going to
dye some more Easter eggs! Nav,
we better not holler," said Jimmy.
"Ain't you going to do nothing, Billy"
81 II jest slide down this-here post
and git the painter man to bring his
ladder back. Y all wait up here"
Billy's solution Of the difficulty
seemed the safest, and they were soon
released from their elevated prison.
81 might as well go home and be
learning the c~atechism," groaned Lima.
II m going to get right in the closet
soon 8 I get to my house." said Fran
ces. 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 dinner-bell
and he walked quietly into the dining
room trying to make as little noise
and to attract as 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.