Hiram—In custom. In our other rigs—our fol-de-rols ’n doodads that we’re go’n ter wear to-night?
Miss P.—Oh, your costumes? Certainly, if you have brought them. (Those who are to change clothing, rush out, pellmell.)
Reuben—Cuss is a bad swear word, Teacher. Ma licked me when I said it.
Miss P.—I should suppose she would. Little boys mustn’t say naughty words.
Reuben—But you said it.
Miss P.—I? Oh no, Reuben, I wouldn’t say a naughty word.
Reuben—But you did say it, jest the same. You told ’em ter put on their cuss tunes, ’n ef it’s bad ter call er cow a cuss, it’s bad ter call a tune one.
Miss P.—Their costumes, Reuben. Their other clothes.
Reuben—Oh! (aside, as Aunt Hepsey enters) But she did say it, ’n she said it agin.
Aunt Hepsey—How de do, Miss Peppergrass! I thought I’d jest drap in to hear the perliminaries, bein’s I couldn’t git out to-night.