Madam Banty White kept house under a tub at the back of the house; and it was her tub which was going to be the boat.
“Over she goes!” cried Jimmy, giving it a knock.
“Cluck, cluck, cluck! Cluck, cluck, cluck! Cluckerty cluck!” clucked Madam Banty. “Run for your lives! For your lives!”
“Sister, sister, sister!” shouted the Jimmyjohns.
Annetta Plummer, six years old and almost seven, was often called “Sister,” and sometimes “Sissy Plummer.” Hearing the shouts, sister ran to the window, calling out, “What do you want, you little Jimmies?”
Then curly-headed, three-years-old Effie trotted to the window, stood on her tiptoes, and shouted with her cunning voice, “What oo want, oo ittle Dimmeys?”
“Throw down two brooms. Quick’s you can!”
“Little boys must say ‘Please,’” said Annetta.
“Ittel—boys—say—‘Pease,’” repeated Effie.
“Please, please, please, please!” shouted the Jimmies. Then, “Oh, dear! Oh! ma! Oh, dear! Ma! ma! Oh! Oh, dear! oh, dear!” in quite a different tone.