“We got to have pipes,” was Frances's next suggestion.
“My papa's got 'bout a million pipes,” boasted Jimmy, “but he got 'em all to the office, I spec'.”
“Father has a meerschaum.”
“Aunt Minerva ain't got no pipe.”
“Miss Minerva's 'bout the curiousest woman they is,” said Jimmy; “she ain't got nothing a tall; she ain't got no paint and she ain't got no pipe.”
“Ladies don't use pipes, and we can do without them anyway,” said Lina, “but we must have feathers; all Indians wear feathers.”
“I'll get my mama's duster,” said Jimmy.
“Me, too,” chimed in Frances.
Here Billy with flying colors came to the fore and redeemed Miss Minerva's waning reputation.
“Aunt Minerva's got a great, big buncher tu'key feathers an' I can git 'em right now,” and the little boy flew into the house and was back in a few seconds.