Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 79, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1912 — MISS MINERVA and WILLIAM GREEN Hill [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MISS MINERVA and WILLIAM GREEN Hill

By FRANCES BOYD CALHOUN

(Copyright, by Reilly & Britton Co.)

s •<-- . Epps?" CHAPTER I. ,_ ; : A Scandalized Virgin. \ ’ The bus drove up to the gate and •topped under the electric street light. ’' Perched on the box by the big. black negro driver sat a little boy whose Blender figure was swathed th a huge rain coat ‘-'V Miss Minerva was on; the porch welting to receive, hijtt/* “Mercy on me, - child,” she said, “what on earth., you ride up there? Why cjidp’t you get inside?" “I jest waqtedLJtp ride by Sam Lamb,” replied the child as be was • lifted dowft. “An’ , I see a nice tat little man name’ - “He Jes' wou!&h’;-§4%'lnside, Miss. Minerva,” interis»i>ted the ’driver, Quickly, to ‘pass. over .the blush that rose to the spinster's-thin cheek at mention of the major. , “ 'TWan't no use fer ter try ter .OTtke nilm ride no* whars but jes' up - ' fyr. ,ms.' He Jes’. fused an’ ’fused an’j . an’ ’sputed; jip Jes’ tuck {etuto Tom de minute he' got offm ae y train an’ sot eyes on me; he am one easy chile ter git ’quainted wid; bo I jes’.h’isted him up by me. Here ‘am his verlise, ma’am.” ' / ■"' r T ' “Good-by, Sam Lamb,” said, the child as the negro got back on the box and gathered up the reins. “I’ll see you to-morrer.” Miss Minetva imprinted a thin, oldmaid kiss on the -sweet, - childish mouth.- "I am your Aunt Minerva,” she said, as she picked up his satchel. The little boy carelessly drew the iback of his hand across his mouth. "What are you doing?” she asked. "Are you wiping my kiss off?” , t "Natf’m,”.he replied, "I’s Jest a—l*s a-rubbin’ it In, I reckon.” • * “Come in, William," and his aunt led the way through the wide ball Into a big bedroom. “Billy, ma’am,” corrected her' nephew. “William," firmly repeated Miss Minerva. “You may have been called Billy on that plantation where you were allowed to run wild with the negroes, but your name is William Green Hill, and I shall Insist upon your being called by It.” She stooped to help him off with his coat, remarking as she did so; “What a big overcoat; it is several sizes too large for you.” “Darned If’t ain’t," agreed the child promptly. “Who taught you such a naughty word?” she asked in a horrified voice. “Don’t you know it is wrong to curse?" “You call that" cussin’?’’ came In scornful tones from the little boy. “You don’t know cussin’ when you see It; you Jest oughter hear ole Uncle Jimmy-Jawed Jup’ter, Aunt Cindy’s husban’; he’ll show you somer the pretties’ cussin’ you ever did hear.” “Who IS Aunt, Cindy?” , “She’s the colored ’oman what tends i to me ever sence me an’ Wilkes Booth - Lincoln's born, aa-Uimto Jupiter 1* her husban’ an’ he sho’ Is a stingeree on cussin’. Is yo' husban’ much of a cusser?” he inquired. A pale pink dyed Miss Minerva’s thill, sallow, face. “I am not a married woman,” she , replied, curtly, “and t most assuredly would not permit any oaths to be used on my premises." “Well, Uncle Jimmy-Jawed Jup'ter is Jest nach’elly boun* to cuss —he's got a repertatlon to keep up.” said Billy. ’ *. He sat down in a chair In frpnt of h!« aunt, crossed his legs and smiled confidentially up Into her face. “Hell an' damn is jest easy ev’y day words to that nigger. I wish you could hear him cuss on a Sunday Jest one time, Aunt Minerva; he’d sho' make you open yo* eyrs an* take in yoY sign. But Aunt Cindy don’t low me| an* Wilkes Booth Lincoln to say nothin' *t all only jest ‘darn’ tell we gits grown mens, an’ puts bn long pants.” “Wilkes Booth Lincoln?” questioned his aunt “Ain’t you never hear teller him?” asked the child, “He’s ole Aunt Blue* Gum Tempy’s Peruny Pearline’s boy; an’ Peruny Pearline.” he continued enthusiastically, “she ain’t no ord’nary nigger, her hair ain’t got nare kink an’ she's got the grandes' clo’es. They ain’t notlln' snide 'bout her. She got ten cbillens an' ev*y single one of 'em’s got a diff’unt pappy, she been married so much. They do say ■he got Injun blood in bet. too." Miss Minerva, who had been standing prim, erect and stiff, fell limply Into a convenient rocking chair, and looked closely at this orphaned nephew who had come to live with her.She saw a beautiful, bright, attractive, little face out of which big, _ saucy, gray eyes shaded by long curt* tag black lashes looked .wlnnlugiy at her; she saw a sweet, childish red mouth, a mass of short, yellow carts, and a thin but graceful little figured "I knows the names of aller ole Aunt Blue-Gum Tempy’s Perany Pearitne's cbillens," he was saying proudly: “Admiral Parra gut Moses the Prophet Esquire, he’s the bigges*; an' Alice Ann Maria Dan Step-an'-Go- , Fetch-It, she had to nuas all the res'; she str fas’ as aim git th’oo nusstn' one on’ ’low she kOn' to have * breathin’ spelt here come another one

an’ she got to miss it. An’ the nex* is Mount Sinai Tabemide, he name fer the church where ol’ Aunt BlueGum Tempy’s Peruny Pearllne *t£p|£j her saqkerment; an’ the nex’ is First Thessalonians; Second Thessalodians, he’s dead an’ gohd to the Bad Place ’cause he skunt .a .cat—l don’t ' skin the cat on a actin’ pole like me an’ Wilkes Booth Lincoln does—he skunt a sho’ ’nough cat what whs a black cat, what was a ole witcn, an’ she come back an’ ha’nt him, an* ho growed thinner an* thinner an weasler an’ weasler, tell finely, he wan’t nothin’ ’tall but .a skel’ton, an* the Bad Man won’t ’low'nobody 'tall, to--give his parch tongue no water, aftHtof got to, ever after amen, be toast on a pitchfork. An’ Oleander Magnolia Althea is the nex*,” he continued, enumerating Peruny Pearline’s offspring on his thin, well-molded fingers, “she got the seven-year Itch; an’ Gettysburg, an’ Blddle-&-Brothers-Mercantile-Co.; he name fer the sto’ where ole Aunt Blue-Gum Tempy’s Peruny Pearline gits credit so she can pay when she fetches in ner cotton in the fall; an* Wilkes Booth Lincoln, him an’ me’s twins; we was borned the same day only - I’s borned to my mamma an’ he’s borned to his’n an’ Doctor Jenkins fetched me ah’Doctor Shacklefoot fetched him. us Ultlmus,” —the little, antly put his right hrs left little one, thus tebth, “she’s the baby an’ she’** got the colic an’ cries lohd 'nough to Wake up Is* rael; Wilkes Booth Lincoln say h* wish the little devil would die. Per-' uny Pearline firs’ name her ‘Doctor Shacklefoot’ ’cause he fetches all her Chilians, but J the doctor h 6 say that ain’t no name fer* a girl, so he name her Decimus Ultlmus.” Miss Minerva, sober,’ proper, dignified, religious old maid unused to children, listened In frozen amazement 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 sadly neglected, little orphaned nephew. “William." she caid, “It Is bedtime, and I know you must be sleepy- 1 after your long ride on the cars. Would you like something to eat before I put you 40 .bed? I saved you some supper.” “Naw’hi. I hain’t hongry; the major man what I talk to on the" train tuck me in the dlhin’-room an’ gimme all I could hoi’; I jest eat an’ eat tell they wan’t 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, William,*’ said she, “yon see it opens into mine. Have you a night-shirt?” 1 "Naw'm, 1. don't need no night-shirt. '1 "jest sleeps In my unions and sometimes in my overalls." "Welt, you may sleep In your unton sqit tonight,” said the scandalized relatlve, “ana~Tft Bee what I can ao for you tomorrow. Can you undress yourself?” Her'small nephew wrinkled his nose, disdainfully. “Well. I reckon so,” he scornfully made answer. “Me an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln, been uqdressin’ useelf ever sence we’s bom.” “TIT come in here after a while and tnm off the light Good night William.” “Good-night, Aunt Minerva," responded the little boy. CHAPTER 11. The Rabbit's Left Hind Foot A few minutes later, as Miss Minerva eat rocking and thinking, the door opened and a lean, graceful, little figure, clad in a Bkiimjfv k srey union came into the roont v “Ain't I a-goln' to say no prayers?” demanded a sweet childish voice. “Aunt Cindy hear ipe an* Wilkes booth Lincoln say us prayers ev*y night sence we’s bora.” “Why, of course you must say your prayers,” said his aunt blushing at having to be reminded of her duty by this young heathen; “kneel down here by me." - Billy looked at his aunt’s bony frame and thought of Aunt Cindy's soft fat ample lap. A wistful look crossed his childish face as he dropped down in front of her and laid his head against her knee, then the bright beautiful little face took on an angelic expression as be dosed his eyes and softly chanted: “Now I lays me down to sleep, I prays the Lord my soul to keep, , If I should die befo* I wake, I prays the Lord my soul to take. “Keep ’way Tom me hoodoo an' wltch. Lead my pat fom the po’hous* gate, I pines ter the golden harps an’ rich. Oh. Lord, I’ll set an* pray an’ wait Lord, bless sv*ybody ; * bless me mm* A tint fHnriT, sn* WilkM Rrmf h I in tall Attits vulß/i »»ijuuui uuf coin, an’ Aunt Blue-Gum Tempy’s Peruny Pearllne. an' Unde Jimmy-Jawed Jup’te- an’ ev’ybody, an' Sam Lamb, an' Aunt Minerva, an’ aHer. Aunt BlueGum Tempy’s Peruny Pearline’s chlllens, an’ give Aunt Minerva a billy goat or a little naanny if she’d rather, an* bless Major Minerva, an’ make me a good boy like Banetified Sophy, far Jeans' sake. Amen.”

“What Is that you have tied around year neck; William?” she asked, as the little boy jpoee to his feet •• “That’s my -rabbit foot; you wont never have no 'sease t all an* nobody can’t never conjure you If you wears a rabbit foot This here One is the lef bin* foot; it was ketched by a redbeaded nigger with crosß-eyes In a graveyard at twelve o’clock on a Friday night, when they’s a fall moon. He give It to Aunt Cindy tp tie ’roan’ my n&ke when I’s a baby. AJp’tyou got no rabbit foot?” be anxiously inquired. “No," she answered. “I have never had one and I have never been conjured either. Give it to me, William; I can’t aJJow you'to he superstitious," and -she held out her hand. “Please.Anqt Minerva, jest lemme wear it.tWfebt "he pleaded. “Me an’ Wilkes Booth Lincoln’s been w earin’ us'rabbit'lodts ever .sehce we's bom.” “No," she said firmly; “I’ll put a stop to such nonsense at once. Give it to me, William.” . - Billy looked up at his aunt’s austere countenance and lovingly fingered his charm; he opened his mouth to say something, but hesitated; slowly he untied the string around his neck and laid his treasure on her lap; then without looking up, he ran into his own little room, closing the door behind him. Soon afterward Miss Minerva, hearing a sound like a stifled sob coming from the adjoining room, opened the door softly and looked Into a sad, little face with i)|gj wide, open eyes shining with tears, „ ■ ■ ■ “What is the Witter, William?" she coldly asked. “I. aih’t never? slep’ by myself,” he sobbed.; “Wilkes Booth Lincoln always'slept on a pallet by my bed ever sence we’s bora an*—an’ I wants Aunt Cindy to tell me *bout Uncle Piljerk Peter.” His aunt sat down on the bed by 'his side. She was not versed in the ways of childhood, and could not know that the little boy wanted to pillow his head on Aunt Cindy’s soft and ample bosom, that he was homesick for his black friends, the only companions he had ever known. "I’ll tell yo.u a Bible story,” Bbe temporized. “You must not be a baby. You are not afraid, are you, William? God is always with you.” “I don’t want no God,” he sullenly made reply; “I wants somebody with sho’ ’nough skin an’ bones, an’—-an’ 1 wants to hear 'bout Uncle Piljerk Peter.” - “I will tell; you a Bible story," again suggested his aunt “I will tell you about—- ■ “I dou’ want to hear no Bible story, neither," he objected. “I wants to hear

Uncle Jimmy-Jawed Jup’ter play- his ’corjun an’ sing: “ ’Rabbit up the gum tree. Coon Is in the holler i r -> Wake, snake; Juney-Bug stole a half a dollar."*-, r* ’ "I’ll sing you a hymn.” said Miss Minerva patiently^ , -4SL don't want to hear yon sing no hymn,” said Billy Impolitely. “1 wants tp see Sanctified Sophy shout." As his aunt could think of no substitute with which to tempt him in lieu of Sanctified Sophy’s shouting, she remained silent "An’ I wants Wilkes Booth Lincoln to dance a clog," persisted her nephew. Miss Minerva remained silent She felt unable to cope with the situation till she had adjusted her thoughts and made her pton*Presently Billy, looking at her shrewdly, said: “Gimme my rabbit foot Aunt Minerva, an’ I’ll go right off to sleep." When she again looked in on him he was fast asleep, a rosy flush on his babyish, tear-stained cheek, his red Ups half parted, his curly head pillowed on his arm. and close against his soft, young throat there neatto* the left hind toot of a rabbit Miss Minerva’s bed time was^haif She had hardly varied a second in the years that had elapsed since the runaway marriage of her only relative.

the young sister whoa* child had now come to live with her. But on the night of Billy’s arrival the stern, narrow woman sat for hours in her rocking chair, her mind busy with thoughts of that pretty young sister, dead since the boy's birth. , And now the wild, reckless, dissipated brother-in-law was dead, too, and the child had been sent to her; to the aunt who did not want blip, who did not care for children, who had never forgiven , her sister her unfortunate marriage. “If he had only been she sighed. What she belieTejuLto be a happy thought entered mr brain. “I shall rear' him," she promised herself, “Just as if he were a little girl; then he will be both a pleasure and a.comfort to me, and a companion for my loneliness.* Miss Minerva was strictly methodical; she worked ever by the clock, so many hours for this, so many for that William, she now resolved, for the first time becoming really interested in him, should grow up to be a model young man, a splendid and wonderful piece of mechanism, a fine, practical, machine-like individual, moral, upright, religious. She was glad that he was young; she would begin his training on the morrow. She would teach him.to sew, to sweep, to churn, to cook, and when he was older he should be educated for tne ministry. “Yes,” said Miss Minerva; "1 snail be very strict with him Just at first, and punish him for the slightest disobedience or misdemeanor, and be will soon learn that my authority Is pot to’ be questioned.” ' And the little boy who had never had a restraining hand laid upon him in his short life? He slept sweetly and innocently In the next room, dreaming of the care-free existence on the plantation and of his Idle, happy, fiegro companions.

CHAPTER 111. The Willing Workec “Get up, WilUam," said Miss Minerva, “and come with me to the bathroom; I have fixed your bath.” The child’s sleepy eyes popped wide open at this astounding command. “Ain’t this-here Wednesday?" he asked sharply. “Yes; today Is Wednesday. Hurry up or the water will get cold." “Well, me an’ Wilkes Booth Lincoln jest washed las’ Sat’day. We ain’t got to wash no mo’ till Sat’day,” he argued. / “Oh, yes,” said his relative; "you must bathe every day.” “Me an’ Wilkes Booth Lincoln ain’t' never wash on a Wednesday sence

we’s born," he protested indignantly. Billy’s idea of a bath was taken from the severe weekly scrubbing which Aunt Cindy gave him with a hard washrag, and he felt that ba’d rather die at once than have to bathe every day. He followed his annt dolefully to the bathroom at the end of the long back porch of the old-fashioned, onestory house; but once in the 4 big white tab he was delighted. In fact, he stayed In tt so long Miss Minerva had to knock on the door and telT him to hurry up and get ready for breakfast "Say," he yelled out to her. "1 likes this-here; It’s mos’ as fine as Johnny's Wash Hole, where me an’ Wilkes Booth Lincoln goes In swimmin' ever sence we’s 'barn." When he came Into the dining-room he was a sight to gladden even a prim old maid’s heart The water had curled his hair Into riotous yellow ringlets, his bright eyes his beautiful, expressive little face shone happily, and every movement of his agile, lithe figure was grace Itself. “I sho’ to hongry," tie rtemarxed. as he took his seat at the breakfast table ) mw mxivffM reaasea tuai new waa the time to begin her small nephew’s training; If she was ever lo teach him to apeak correctly she must begin at once. , “William," she said sternly, “you must not talk so much like a negro.

Instead of saying 1 sho’ is hongry,’ you should say, ‘I am very hungry.’ Listen to me and try to speak more correctly.®* y " > “Don’t! don’t!” she screamed as be helped himself to the meat and gravy, leaving a little brown river on her fresh white tablecloth. "Wait until I ask a blessing; then I will help you to what you want” Billy enjoyed his breakfast very much. “These muffins sho’ is—” he began; catching his aunt’s eye he corrected himself: "These muffins am very good." O "Y? “These muffins are very good,” said Miss Minerva patiently. "Did yon ever eat any bobbycued rabbit V he asked. "Me an’ Wilkes Booth Lincoln been eatin’ cbit’llns, an' sweet 'taters, an’ 'possum, an’ squirrel, an' hoe-cake, an’ Brunswick stew ever sence we’s born," was his proud announcement "Use your napkin,” commanded sbo, “and don’t fill your mouth so full." The little boy flooded his plate with sirup. “These-here ’lasses sho’ is—” he began, but instantly remembering that he must be more particular in his speech,, he stammered out: sho' is—am —are a nice messer’lasses. 1 ain’t never eat sech a good bait They sho’ is—l aimed to say—these ’lasses sho' are a bird; they’s ’nother. sight taatler’n sorghum, an’ Aunt Cindy 'lows that sorghum is the very penurity of a nigger.” She did not again correct him. "I must be very patient,” she thought, “and go very slowly. 1 must not expect too much of him at first” After breakfast Miss Minerva, who would not keep a servant, preferring to do her own work, tied a big cookapron around the little boy’s neck,' and told him to churn while she washed the dishes. This arrangement did not suit Billy. . “Boys don’t shorn,” fcs Mtld sullenly; “me an’ Wilkes. Booth Lincoln don’ never have to churn sence we's born; 'oqhub has to chum an’ I ain’t a-gutes to. Major Mlnervar—he ain't never ohum,” he.hbgftn belligerently, but 3H» relative turned an uncompromising and rather perturbed back upon him. Realizing that he was beaten, he submitted to his fate, clutched the dasher angrily, and began bis weary work. He was glad his little black friend did not witness his disgrace. As he thought of Wlikes Booth Lincoln the big tears came into his eyes and rolled down his cheeks; be leaned way over the churn and the great glistening 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 fail Into the churn; bat the tears refused to come and he couldn't squeeze another one out of his eyes. K "Aunt -Minerva,”; he fiaid mischievously. “I done mint y6* buttermilk.” "What have yon done?" she inquired. ' "Ilfs done mint,” he replied, “you’ll hafter th’ow it away; 'tain't fltten fer nothin.’ I done cried *bout a bucketful in it," "Why did you cry?" asked Miss Minerva calmly. "Don't you like U> work?” “Yes’m, I jes’ loves to work; I wish I had time to work all the time. But it makes my belly ache to churn —1 got a awful pain right now.*” “Churn on!" she commanded unsympathetically. He grabbed the dasher and churned vigorously for one minute. ' v n reckon the butter's done come," he announced, resting from his labors. "It hasn’t begun to come yet," replied the exasperated woman. "Don’t waste so much time. William." The child churned in silence for the space of two minutes, and suggested: “It’s time to put hot water In It; Aunt Cindy always puts hot water in tt Lemme git some fer yon." “I never put hot water in my milk." mIW she, “It makes the hatter puffy. Work, more and talk less, Wffliam." Ag»jn there was a brief silence, broken only by the sound ol the dasher thumping against the bottom of the churn, and the rattle of the dishes. ”1 sho’ Is tired." he presently remarked. heaving a deep sigh. "My arms Is *bout give out. Aunt Minerva. Ole AonL, Blue-Gum Tempy’s Peruny

Pearllne see a man churn with hi* toes; lemm! £** a chair an' see If I can’t chum with my .toes." - “Indeed you shall not,” responded his annoyed relative positively, i “Sanctified Sophy knowed a colored ’oman what had a little dog went roun’ an' roun’ an' churn fer her,” remarked Billy after a short pause. "If you had a billy boat or a little nanny I could hitch hiin to the churn fer you ev’ry day." "William,® commanded bis aunt, "don't say another word until you have finished your work.” “Can I sing?" be asked. * She nodded permission as she went through the open door Into the diningroom. Returning a few minutes she found him sitting astride the .chnm, using the dasher so« vigorously that buttermilk was splashing In every direction. and singing In a clear, sweet “He’ll feed you when you’s naked. The orphan’s tear he’ll dry. He’ll clothe you when you*s hongry An’ take you when you die." * * Miss Minerva jerked him off with no gentle hand. “What I done now?” asked the bey innocently. “’Tain’t no harm as I can Bee jes’ to straddle a churn." “Go out in the front yard,”.* commanded his aunt, "and sit in the swing till I call yon. I’ll finish the work without your assistance. And, William" she called after him, “there 1* a very bad little boy who lives next door; I want you to have as little to do with him as possible." CHAPTER IV. Sweetheart and Partner. Billy was sitting quietly In the big lawn-swing when his aunt, dressed for the street, finally came through the 'front “I am going uptown, William,” she said. “I want to bay you some things Sunday. .Have you ever been to Sunday school?” "Naw’m; but I been to pertracted meetln’,” came the ready response. "I see Sanctified Sophy shout tell she tore ev’y rag offer her back ’ceptin’ a shimmy. She’s one 'oman who sho* Is got ’liglon; she ain’t never backslid ’taU, an’ she ain’t never fell root grace but one time—" “Stay right In the yard till 1 come lack. Sit In the swing and don’t so outside the front yard. I shan’t be gone long,” said Miss Minerva. His aunt had hardly left the gate before Bf&J caught sight of a round, fat little face peering at him through the palings which separated Miss Minerva’s yard from that of her nextdoor neighbor. '*- • “ \ , y*- * * “Hello!" shouted Billy. bad little boy what ean3M#K» “What you doing in Mlss’Mlneera’s yard?" came the answering., interrogation across the fence. Ta come to live with her* replied Bflly. “My mamma an’ papa 1m dead.* What’s yo’ name?" “I’m Jimmy Gamer. How old are you? I’m most six. I ams f “Shucks, Fa already six, agoing on seven. Come on, to*s swing." ‘‘Can’t.’’ said the new acquaintance. “I’ve runned off once today, and got licked for tt.” “I ain't never gob no whippin' sence me an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln’s bom,” “Ain't your asked Jimmy. I been whiroed mow* a million time* my mamma to so pertlc'lar with meA alIMv-m ' ■ •

He Chanted "Now I Lays Ms Down to Sleep.”

"What I Done Now?" Asked the Boy Innocently.