The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-10-04


Immediately a stentorian howl raised
blood curdling echoes through the
house. Clematis stated that he was
anxious to see Flopit and considered II
an unexampled outrage that he was
withheld from the opportunity. VIII
liam charged down the cellar stairs
after Clematis, choking and calling IN
low. ferocious tones: Good doggie!
Good ole doggiel Hyuh. Cleml Meat
Cleml Meatr'
There was lodging through coalbins,
there was squirming between barrels,
there was high Jumping and broad
jumping, but finally william was the
conqueror. and into small shed or
Toulouse behind Mrs. Bakers flower
beds went Clematis In a hurried and
spasmodic manner. The instant the
door slammed he lifted his voice and
was hidden to use II now as much as
he liked.
William strobe into the hall and
opened the door Of the Giving room"
Jane was sitting on the floor busily
painting sunsets In large blank book.
She looked up brightly.
II got a little bit sick. 30 mamma
told me to keep quiet awhile. She's
lookin' for you all over the house. She
told papa she don't know what in mer-
cy's name people are goin' to think
about you. Willie"
The distraught youth strobe to her.
THE party he choked. where
They all stayed pretty long" said
Jane. but the last ones said they had
to 60 home To their dinners when papa
came, a little while ago. johnnie Wat
son was carryin' Flopit for that Miss
Pratt"
William dropped into the chair be-
side which Jane had established her
self upon the floor. Then he uttered q
terrible cry and rose.
Again Jane had painted a sunset she
had not Intended.
On a warm morning, ten days later.
william stood pensively among his
mothers fowerbeds behind the house.
bis attitude denoting a low state Of
vitality. Not far away an aged negro
sat upon wheelbarrow In the hot sun.
TREMENDOUSLY yet skillfully whiting a
piece Of wood into the shape Of boat,
labor more to his taste evidently than
that which he had abandoned ut the re-
quest Of Jane. Allusion to this prefer
snce for a lighter task was made by
Genesis. who was erecting a trellis on
the border Of the little garden.
"Psppy white all day" he chuckled
''whittle all night too. Pappy. thought
you uz goin' to git at long bed all
spade up fer me by noon. Amt at
what you tole mef"
"You let him alone. Genesis" said
Jane, who sat by the old mans side.
deeply fascinated. There's goin' to
be a great deal Of rain In the next few
days, maybe. an I hat to have this
boat ready"
The aged darky lifted his streaky
and diminished eyes TO the FURNISHED
sky and laughed. Rain come some
day. anyways" he said I'VE git de
boat ready TO she fall; dat sho." His
glance wandered TO william and rest
Cd upon him with feeble curiosity.
Dat ain yo' pappy. IL tit" he asked
Jane.
II should say 1t isn'tr' she exclaimed.
ITS Willie. He was only seventeen
about two or three months ago. Mr..
Genesis" This was not the old mans
name. but Jane had evolved II. inspired
by respect for one 30 aged and so kind
about whiting. He was the father Of
Genesis. and the latter. neither to her
knowledge nor to her Imagination, pos
sessed surname.
The old man continued his whit
Ting In craftsmanlike manner. which
brought praise from Jane.
"You can see to whittle. Mr.. Gene
Sis" she said "You white better
than anybody In the world"
II speck SO. mebbe." Mr.. Genesis
returned, with little complacency.
How ole yo' pappyr'
"Oh. he's oldv' Jane explained.
william deigned to correct her Hes
not old; he's middle aged"
well. sub" said Mr. Genesis. II had
three chullum TO 'uz twenty. had
two when uz eighteen"
William showed sudden interest.
You did, he exclaimed. How old
were you when you had the first one?"
81 'us jos yo' age" said the old man;
II 'us seventeen"
by Georger' cried william.
Jane seemed much less impressed
than William. seventeen being long
way from ten. though, Of course. 10
seventeen itself hardly any informa-
ton could be imagined as more inter
esting than that conveyed by the words
OF the aged Mr.. Genesis.
Genesis he de youngis' one" said
the old man. Genesis he 'uz bawn
when 'uz sixty-one."
William moved closer. what be-
came OF the one that was born when
you were seventeen" he asked.
well. suh." said Mr.. Genesis. II new
did know"
At this James interest equaled VII
liam's. After little pause VI awe she
inquired;
"Was II a boy or a girlr'
The old man deliberated within him
self Seem like 1t mus been a boy"
"Did Il dep Jane asked softly.