The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-06-26
a III MSS MINERVA I'D
49, and XMA
WwlLLIAh GREEN HILL
eByFRANCES BOYD CALHOUN
Copyright. BY Reilly & Brnon Coz
Copyright, by Reilly & Britton Coz

an she got to nuss it. An the mex
Is Mount Sinai TabernIcle, he name
fer the church where OIL Aunt Blue
Gum Tempy's Perjury Pearline takes
her sackerment; an the mex is First
Thessalonians; Second Thessalonians,
he's dead an gone to the Bad Place
cause he skunt a cat-I don't mean
skin the cat on a actin pole like me
an Wilkes Booth Lincoln does-he
skunt a sho' 'nough cat what was a
black cat, what was a ole witch, an
she come back an ha'nt him, an he
growed thinner an thinner an weas-
Ter an weasler, tell finely he want
nothin' tall but a SHELTON, an the
Bad Man won't low nobody tall to
give his parch tongue no water, n he
got to, ever after amen. be toast on a
pitchfork. An Oieander Magnolia Al
thea is the Mex" he continued,
enumerating Perjury P%earline's Off
spring on his thin. well-molded I'm
gers, she got the seven-year itch; an
Gettysburg, an Biddle-&-Brothers-
Mercantile-Co.; he name fer the sto'
where ole Aunt Blue-Gum Tempy's
Perjury Pearline gifts credit so she can
pay when she fetches IN ner cotton In
the fall; an Wilkes Booth Lincoln,
him an mes twins; we was horned
the same day only rs borned to my
mamma an he's horned to his'n an
Doctor Jenkins fetched me an Doctor
S%hacklefoot fetched him. An Decim-
us Ultimus,"-the little boy triumph
antly put his right fore1nger on his
left little one, thus making the tenth,
she's the baby an she's got the collie
an cries loud 'nough to wake up Is
rael; Wilkes Booth Lincoln say he
wish the little devil would die. Per-
uny Pearline frs name her Doctor
G .acklefoot' cause he fetches all her
chillens, but the doctor he say that
Amino name fer a girl, so he name
her Decimus Ultimus."
Miss Minerva, sober, proper, dignt-
fed, religious old maid unused to chill
dren, listened in frozen Amusement
and paralyzed silence. She decided to
put the child to bed at once that she
might collect her thoughts, and lay
some plans for the rearing Of this sad
ly neglected, little orphaned nephew.
William" she Eaid, ut is bedtime,
and I know you must be sleepy after
your long ride on the cars Would you
like something to eat before l put you
to bed? saved you some supper"
"Naw'm, I hain't hongry; the major
man what l talk to On the train tuck
me in the dinin.room an gimme all
I could hol'; I jest eat an eat tell
they want a wrinkle in me-" was the
reply. He axed me bout you, too.
Is he name Major Minerva?"
She opened a door in considerable
confusion, and they entered a small,
neat room adjoining.
This is your own little room, Will
liam," said she, you see 1t opens into
mine. Have you a n~ight-shirt?"
"Naw'm, l don't need no night-shirt.
I jest sleeps in my unions and some
times in my overalls.'
We'll, you may sleep in your union
suit tonight" said the s~candalized rel
ative. land I'll see what I can 90 for
you tomorrow. Can you undress your
self"
Her small nephew wrinkled his
nose, disdainfully. well, l reckon
So" he s~cornfully made answer. Me
an Wilkes Booth Lincoln been un-
dressin' usself ever sence ives born"
"IIl come in here after a while and
turn off the light. Good night. Will
liam"
Goodnight, Aunt Minerva" re-
sponded the little boy.