“I don't want to git Aunt Minerva's dander der up any more 'n I jest natchelly boun' to,” he said, following Jimmy reluctantly to the fence; “but I'll jes' take a look at that bottle an' see ef it looks anything 't all like 'No-To-Kink'.”
Giggling mightily, they jumped the dividing fence and slipped with stealthy tread around the house to Sarah Jane's cabin in the back-yard.
Bennie Dick was sitting on the floor before the open door, the entrance of which was, securely barricaded to keep him inside. Sarah Jane was in the kitchen cooking supper; they could hear her happy voice raised in religious melody; Mrs. Garner had not yet returned from a card party; the coast was clear, and the time propitious.
Jimmy tiptoed to the house and soon returned with a big bottle of a powerful “blondine” in one hand and a stick of candy in the other.
“Bennie Dick,” he said, “here's a nice stick of candy for you if you'll let us wash your head.”
The negro baby's thick, red lips curved in a grin of delight, his shiny ebony face beamed happily, his round black eyes sparkled as he held out his fat, rusty little hands. He sucked greedily at the candy as the two mischievous little boys uncorked the bottle and, poured a generous supply of the liquid on his head. They rubbed it in well, grinning with delight. They made a second and a third application before the bottle was exhausted; then they stood off to view the result of their efforts. The effect was ludicrous. The combination of coal black skin and red gold hair presented by the little negro exceeded the wildest expectations of Jimmy and Billy. They shrieked with laughter and rolled over and over on the floor in their unbounded delight.
“Hush!” warned Jimmy suddenly, “I believe Sarah Jane's coming out here to see 'bout Benny Dick. Let's get behind the door and see what she's going to do.”
“'Hit were good fer Paul an' Silas,
Hit were good fer Paul an' Silas,
Hit were good fer Paul an' Silas,
An' hit's good ernough fer me.'”
floated Sarah Jane's song nearer and nearer.
“'Hit's de ole time erligion,
Hit's de ole time'”