The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-07-17

I'D ruther to git whipped fifty hun
derd times n to halter go to bed In
the daytime with Aunt Minerva look.
in at you. An her specs can see
right th'oo you plumb to the bone.
Nav, I can't come over there cause
she made me promise not to. l amt
never go back on my word yit-"
II hope mama won't never ask me
to promise her nothing a tall, cause
I'm mighty curious bout forgetting. l
spec I'm the meet sEsrs sttingest little
boy they Is. But Pm so glad I'm so
good. I amt nevJr going to be bad
no more; so you might just as well
quit begging me to come over and
swing, you needn't ask me no MORE
faint no use a tall"
"I amt a-begging you," cried Billy
CONTEMPORARY, you can set on. 20
mammy's grass where you is, an be
good from now tell Judgement Day an
t won't make no. change In my bush
ness.
II amt going to be 'ticed into no
meanness, cause I'm so good" con-
tinued the reformed one, after a short
silence during which he had seen
Sarah Jane turn her back to him,
but I don't b'lieve it'll be no harm
JUS to come over and set in the swing
with you; maybe I a 'fuence you
to be good like me and keep you from
'ticing little boys into mischief. l
think III just come over and set a
while and help o to be good" and
he started to the fence. Sarah Jane
turned around In time to Illustrate his
plans.
you git right back, Jimmy" she
yelled, "you git erway f'om dat-ar
fence an quit confabbin' wild dat-ar
Willyum. Fixin' to make some mo-
Injuns out O. yo-selfs, amt yeh. or
some yuther kin O. skeercrows"
Billy strolled to the other side Of
the big yard and climbed up and got
on the tall gate post A stranger,
coming from the opposite direction.
stopped and spoke to him.
Does Mr.. John Smith live here?"
he asked.
Nav, SIR" was the reply; don't no
Mr.. tall live here; Jest me an Aunt
| Minerva, an she turns up her nose
at anything that wears pants"
"And where could find your Aunt
Minerva?" the strangers grin was in
gratiating and agreeable.
why, this here's Monday" the lit
tie boy exclaimed. "Of course she's
at the Aid; all the 'omans roun' here
goes to the Aid on Monday"
"Your aunt ia an old friend OF
mine," went on the man, land | knew
she was at the Aid. / just wanted to
find out If you'd tell the truth about
her. Some little boys tell stories, but
/ am glad to find out you are so truth
full. My name is Mr.. Algernon Jonen
and I'm glad to know you. Shakel
Put 1t there, partner" and the fasct
mating stranger held out a grfmy paw,
Billy smiled down from his perch
at him and thought he had never met
such q pleasant man. If he was such
an old friend of Els aunts maybe she
would not object to him because ha
wore pants, he thought. Maybe she
might be persuaded to take Mr.. Jones
for "a husband. Billy almost hoped
that she would hurry home from the
Aid, he wanted to- see the two togeth'
er 30.
"Is you much Of a cusser?" he asked
solemnly, "'cause If you Is you'll
halter cut it out on these premises"
Mr., Jones seemed much surprised
and hurt at the question.
can oath never passed these lips"
replied the truthful gentleman.
Can you churn?"
"Churn-churn?" with a ,reminia'
cent smile, 81 can churn like a
top" 1870.
Jimmy was dying Of curiosity, but
the gate vas too far away for him to
do more than catch a word now and
then. 1t was also out Of Sarah Jane's
visual line, so she knew nothing OF
the strangers advent.
"And you're here all by YOURSELF"
insinuated Billy's new friend. "And
the folks next door. where are they?"
MRS. Gamers at the Aid, an MI.
Gamers gone to Memphis. That Is