The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1912-03-08
Miss Minerva
and
William Green Hill
Copyright. by Reilly = Britton Co.,

foGation In her voice.
"Yas'm. Amt you never hear tell
bout Piljerk Peter? He had fifteen
chillens an one time the las one OF
EN- an his ole oman was down with
the fever an he amt got but ono
pill an they SO sick they mos bout
to die an amt nobody in the fiel fer
to pick the cotton an he can't git no
doctor an he amt got but Jest that
one pill: % he tie that pill to a string
an let the bigges' chile swaller 1t an
draw It back up an let the mex chile
swaller It an Jerk It back up an let
the mex chile swaller II an jerk IL
back up an let the mex"
Il don't believe In telling tales to
children" Interrupted his aunt. II will
tell you biographical and historical
stories and stories from the Bible.
Now listen. while read to you"
AN the mex chile swaller It an he
jerk It back up" continued Billy Sc
renely. an the mex chile swaller It
an he jerk It back up tell finely ev'y
single one Of EN-, plumb down to the
baby. swaller that pill an the las one
Of en- got we'll an that one pill It done
the work. Then he tuck the pill and
give 1t to his ole oman an she swaller
Il an he jerk It back up but didn't
hothin' Z all como up but Jest the
q ring an his ole oman she died
cause all the strenk done gone
outer that pill"
Miss Minerva opened . book called
Seems for the Household" which she
AaA purchased from silver-tonsued
book-assnt. She selected an article
tn subject Of which was The Pure
II Heart"
Billy listened with . seemingly at.
-teativs ear to the choice how Of
--Ssjs. but In reality his little brain
was busy with It's own thoughts. The
article closed with the suggestion that
u one were innocent and pure he
would have dreamless sleep:
~ II you have conscience clear.
And Gods commands you keep:
n your heart 10 good and pure.
You will have . perfect sleep"
BillyS aunt concluded. Wishing to
know II he had understood what she
had just read she asksl:
What people sleep the soundest?"
"Niegsrs." was his prompt reply. A.
he thought Of the long summer days
and the colorsd folk on the plantation.
She was disappointed. but not dis
couraged.
Nov. William" she admonished.
I'm going to read you another piece.
and want you to tell me about It.
when I get through. Pay strict atten.
ton"
"Yas'm." hs readily agreed.
She chose an article describing the
keen sense Of smell In animals. Miss
Minerva was not an entertaining
reader and the words were lon= and
fairly incomprehensible to the little
boy sitting patiently at her side
Again his thoughts wandered. though
every now and then no caught word
or two.
What animals have the keenest
ssnss Of smell. William" WAS her
query At the conclusion Of her read.
ing.
"Billy goats" was Billy's answer
without the slightest hesitation.
you have goats on the BRAIN" she
said In anger. Il did not read one
word about billy goats"
well. II faint . billy goat" he
replied. II do know what It's thout
It's . skunk"
II bought you . little primer this
morning." she remarked after = short
silence. and I want you to say les.
son every day"
II already knows . lot." he boosted.
'Tabernicis. he an Mercantile both
been to school an they learnt me an
wilkes Booth Lincoln. ! knows
crooked 9. an broken back X. an
curly tail @. an roun' o. an ! can
spell cat cat an dog dog an A
stands fer apple"
That night he concluded his ever
lengthy prayer At his kins~omans
knee with:
20 Lord. please mako for Aunt
Ninsrva . little baby. make her two
Of EN-. o Lord. n you got EN- TO
spare please make her three little ba'
bies an let EN- oil be girls sos she
can learn EN- how 10 churn an sew.
An bless Aunt Minerva and Major
Minerva r. ever nd ever. Amen"
A. 10 rose from his knees he
asked: Aunt Minerva. do God work
% 0uadayf"