The Yale expositor., 1912-03-07
CHAPTER I.
A Scandallzed Viraln.

negro driver sat little BOY whose
slender figure was swathed in a huge
rain coat.
Miss Minerva was on the porch
waiting to receive him.
Mercy on me. child" she said.
what on earth made you ride up
there? Why didn't you get inside?"
Il jest wanted to ride by Sam
Lamb" replied the child as he was
lifted down. AN see a nice fat little
man name Major"
Gle jes' wouldn' ride inside, Miss
Minerva" interrupted the driver,
quickly, to pass over the blush that
rose to the spinster's thin cheek at
mention of the major. "'Twan't no
use fer ter try ter make him ride no.
whars but jes' UP by me. He Jes'
fused an fused an 'sputed an
'sputed; he jes' tuck ter me f'om de
minute he got off'm de train an sot
eyes on me: he am one easy chile ter
git 'quainted wild; SO | jes' h'isted him
up by me. Here am his verlise.
ma'am."
"Goodby. Sam Lamb" said the
child as the negro got back on the
box and gathered up the reins "rll
see you tomorrcr."
Miss Minerva imprinted n thin. old
maid kiss on the sweet, childish
mouth. 81 am your Aunt Minerva"
she said. as she picked UP his satchel.
The little boy carelessly drew the
back of his hand across his mouth.
What are you doinS?" she asked.
Are you wiping my kiss OFF,"
."Naw'm," he replied. rs jest AIS
;arubbin' it in, reckon"
Come in, William" and his aunt
led the way through the wide hall
into a big bedroom.
BILLY. maam," corrected her
nephew.
William" firmly repeated Miss Mi
'nerva. You may have been called
Billy on that plantation where you
were allowed to run wild with the ne
groes. but your name is Will
liam Green Ill., and | shall insist
upon your being called by it,"
She stopped TO help him off with
his coat, remarking as she did SO:
sizes too large for YOU"
"Darned If t amt" agreed the child
promptly.
who taught you such a naughty
word?" she asked In Mortified voice.
Don't you know 1t is wrong to
curse?"
You call that cussin'?" came in
acornfu tones from the little boy.
You don't know cussin' when you see
1t; you jest oughter hear ole Uncle
Jimmy-Jawed jupiter. Aunt Clndy's
husban'; he'll show you somer the
pretties' cussin' you ever did hear"
Who is Aunt Cindy?"
She's the colored oman what tends
10 me ever sence me an Wilkes Booth
Lincoln's born. an Uncle jupiter is
her husban' an he sho' is a stingeree
on cussin. Is yo' husban' much OF
cusser?" he inquired.
A pale pink dyed Miss Minervas
chin. sallow, face.
II am not a married woman" she
replied. CURLY, land | most assuredly
would not permit any oaths to be used
on my premises"
We'll. Uncle Jimmy-Jawed jupiter
is jest nachelIy boun' to cuss-he's
got a repatriation to keep up" said
Billy
He sat down in chair in front of
BIS 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 a Sunday Jest
one time, Aunt Minerva: he'd sho'
make you open yo' eyes an take in yo
sign. But Aunt Cindy don't low me
an Wilkes Booth Lincoln to say moth
In t all only jest darn tel! we gifts
grown mems. an puts on long pants"
Wilkes Booth Lincoln?" questioned
his aunt
Amt you never hear teller him?"
asked the child He's ole Aunt Blue
Gum Tempys Perjury Pearline's boy;
an Pcruny Pearline." he continued
enthusiastically, she amt no ord
nary niger, her hair aIn't got rare
siDk an she's got the grandes' clo'es.
They amt nothin' snide bout ner.
She got ten chillens an evy single
one Of ems got din'unt pappy, she
been married so much They do say
she got lnjun blood in her. too"
Miss Minerva, who mad been stand.
fng prim, erect and stiff. fell Imply
into a convenient rocking chair. and
looked closely at this orphaned
nephew who had come to live with
her.
She saw beautiful. bright. at
tractive. little face out of which biz.
s'aucy, gray eyes shaded by long curl
ing black lashcs looked winningly at
her; she saw sweet, childish red
mouth. mass of short, yellow curls.
and a thin but graceful little figure.
Il knows the names OF aller ole
AUNT Blue-Gum Tempy's Perjury Pearl.
ines chillens." he was saying proud
fy: Admiral Farragut Moses the
Ih-OOhot Eeuuirn hoe tho hfoUoc'. a.