The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-03-21
"what Done NOwa' Asked the Boy InnOcently.


Instead of saying I sho' is hongry.
you should say. 4 am very hungry.
Listen to me and try to speak more
correctly"
Don't! don't!" she screamed as he
helped himself to the meat and gravy,
leaving a little brown river on her
fresh white tablecloth. wait until
| ask a blessing; then l will help you
to what you want"
Billy enjoyed his breakfast very
much. These mullins sho' is" he
began; catching his aunt's eye he cor
rected himself: These mullins am
very good"
These mullins are very good" said
Miss Minerva patiently.
Did you ever eat any bobbycued
rabbit" he asked. Me an Wilkes
Booth Lincoln been eatin' chit'lins, an
sweet 'taters, an 'possum, an squir-
rel. an hoe-cake, an Brunswick stew
ever sence we's born," was his proud
announcement.
Use your napkin" commanded she,
"and don't fill your mouth so full"
The little boy flooded his plate with
sirup.
"These-here lasses sho' is" he be-
gan, but instantly remembering that
he must be more particular in his
speech, he stammered out:
"These-here sho' is-am-are nice
messer'lasses. l amt never eat sech
good bait. They sho' isl aimed to
say-these 'lasses sho' are a bird;
they's mother sight tastier'n sorghum,
an Aunt Cindy lows that sorghum is
the very penurity of a Niger"
She did not again correct him.
II must be very patient" she
thought, "and go very slowly. must
not expect too much of him at first"
After breakfast Miss Minerva. who
would not keep servant, preferring
to do her own work, tied big cook
apron around the little boys neck. and
told him to churn while she washed
the dishes. This arrangement did not
suit Billy.
Boys don't ehurn," be said sullen-
ly; me an Wilkes Booth Lincoln don
never have to churn sence we's born;
omans has to churn an amt a-going
to. Major Minerva-he amt never
| churn," he began belligerently, but his
relative turned an uncompromising
and rather perturbed back upon him.
Realizing that he was beaten, he sub
mitted to his fate. clutched the dasner
angrily, and began his weary work
He was glad his little black friend
did not witness his disgrace.
AS he thought of Wilkes Booth Lin
coin the big tears came into his eyes
and rolled down his cheeks; he leaned
way over the churn and the great gis-
tening tears splashed right into the
hole made for the dasher, and rolled
into the milk.
Billy grew interested at once and
laughed aloud; he puckered up his
face and tried to weep again, for he
wanted more tears to fall into the
churn; but the tears refused to come
and he couldn't squeeze another one
out of his eyes.
Aunt Minerva" he said mischiev'
ously. Il done ruint yo buttermilk. .
What have you done?" she in
quired !
ITS done ruint," he replied. you'll
halter th'ow it away; faint fitten fer
nothin. done cried bout bucket
full in It,"
why did you cry?" asked Miss Mi
nerva calmly. Don't you like tc
work?"
"Yes'm, jes' loves to work: | wish
had time to work all the time. But
it makes my belly ache to churn-l
got a awful pain right now"
"Churn on" she commanded un
sympathetically.
He grabbed the dasher and churned
vigorously for one minute.
81 reckon the buffers done come.
he announced, resting from his labors
'Tt hasn't begun to come yet" re
piled the exasperated woman. Dom
waste so much time, William"
The child churned in silence for tht
space of two minutes, and suggested:
tits time to put hot water in it; Aunt
Cindy always puts hot water In it
Lemme git some fer you"
II never put hot water in my milk,
said she, 'it makes the butter puffy
Work more and talk less, William"
Again there was brief silence
broken only by the sound OF th'
dasher humping against the bottom
Of the churn. and the rattle of th'
dishes.
81 sho' is tired" he presently re
marked, heaving deep sigh. M!
arms is bout give out, Aunt Minerva