The Marshall republican., 1912-03-29
&, MISS MINERVA &
- and XMA
lMWILLIAh GREEN HILLS
.R,- FbANCES ROYD CATHOTM
eBvFRANCES BOYD CALHOUN
(Copyright, by Reilly a Britton Co

~ ~ ~
ed the little boy. Aunt Minerva sho'
will DO mad. These here's ~bran-spankin'
new trousers what I amt never wore
tell today. Amt you got a needle an
thread SOS you can Ak 'em, Sam?"
Nary er needle" said Sam Lamb.
Us my union suit tore, too?" asked
Billy again turning his back for in
spection.
His friend made o close e&amina-
ton.
"Yo' unions fs injured plum scan
erlous," was his di~scouraging decision.
and hit pears ter me dat yo' hide
done suffer. too: you's; got or turrible
scratch"
The child sighed. The injury to the
fesh was Of small importancs-he
could hide that from his aunt-but the
rent in his trousers was a serious
matter.
II wish I could get EN- mended fore
I goes home" he said wistfully.
a" tell you what do" suggested
Sam, Il low Miss CeciiiaTi holp yeh;
Jest 20 By her house an she'll darn
EN- up fer yeh."
Billy hesitated.
We'll, you see, Sam, me an Miss
Cccilia's engaged an ives fxln' to
marry jes' . soon's I put on long
pants, an I shame TO ask her. An
I don't believe young 'omans patches
the brooches Of young mans what
they's goin' to marry nohow. Do youf
Aunt Minerva AIM never patched no
brooches for the major. And then"
with q modest blush. my unions IL
tore. too. an I Amt got On nothin' else
to hide my skin"
Again he turned his back to MS
friend and. his ciouded little face look
Ing over his shoulder. he asked: dc
my meat show, Samf'
she am visible tor the naked eye"
and Sam Lamb laughed loudly at his
own wit.
Il don't believe God pays me much
attention nohow," said the little boy
dolsfuily; "sv'y day I gets put TO bed
cause sumpin's all time a-happsnin'
II he'd had q eye on me like he ought
or they wouidn'tsa been no snagsin'
Aunt Minerva's goin' to DO mad th'o<
an th'oo."
May be my OIL oman can nx 'cm
SOS dey won't DO 20 turrible bad
suggested the negro. "'tain't fer. 81
ron jes' run down ter my cabin an tel
Sukey I say AZ dom breeches."
The child needed no second biddinI
--he fairly few. Sans wife was cook
ing. but she cheerfully stopped he
work to help the little boy. She sew
ed up the union suit and put n brigh
blue patch on his brown linel
brooches.
Billy felt q little more cheerful
though he still dreaded contrasting Il
his aunt. and he loitered along III,
way till Il was nearly dark. Suppe
was ready when he got home and h
walked into the dining room with hi
customary ease and grace. But no too
his seat uneasily. and he was 30 guile
during the meal and ate 30 little tha
his aunt asked him II he was sicl
He was planning In his mind how I
break the news Of the days disaSte
to her.
you are improving. William" sh
remarked presently. you haven't &c
into any mischief today. You .hav
been . mighty good little boy now fc
two days."
Billy flushed ut the compliment IN
shifted unsasily In his seat. TIL
patch seemed to burn him.
IL Good jsst DO his part" hs sai
darkly, II wouldn't never cit In .
psannsss."
After supper Miss Minerva washe
the dishes In the kitchen sink IN
Billy carried them back TO the dinlnl
room. His aunt caught him sever
times prancing Sideways In The mo-
idiotic manner. He was making
valiant effort 10 keep from exposing b
rear elevation TO her; once he had
walk backward.
"wIniam." she said. sharply. "yc
win break my plates. What 10 u
> ! mattar Nth vou touiShtS"