“He'll feed you when you's naked,
The orphan stear 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 boy innocently, “'tain't no harm as I can see jes' to straddle a churn.”
“Go out in the front yard,” commanded his aunt, “and sit in the swing till I call you. I'll finish the work without your assistance. And, William,” she called after him, “there is 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 door.
“I am going up-town, William,” she said, “I want to buy you some things that you may go with me to church Sunday. Have you ever been to Sunday-School?”
“Naw 'm; but I been to pertracted meetin',” 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 what sho' is got 'ligion; she ain't never backslid 't all, an' she ain't never fell f'om grace but one time—”