u our old one. Go get it,
Billy."

Thus commanded Billy ran and picked up the bustle where it lay neglected
on the grass and handed it to the quasi-owner of the puppy.

The deal was promptly closed and a little black negro went grinning down
the street with Miss Minerva's old bustle tied across his face, leaving
behind him a curly-haired dog.

"Ain't he sweet?" said Jimmy, hugging the fluffy white ball close to his
breast, "we got to name him, Billy."

"Le's name her Peruny Pearline," was the suggestion of the other joint
owner.

"He ain't going to be name' nothing at all like that," declared Jimmy;
"you all time got to name our dogs the scalawaggest name they is. He's
going to be name' 'Sam Lamb' 'cause he's my partner."

"She's a girl dog," argued Billy, "an' she can't be name' no man's name.
If she could I'd call her Major."

"I don't care what sort o' dog he is, girl or boy, he's going to be
name' 'Sam Lamb'!" and he fondly stroked the little animal's soft head.

"Here, Peruny! Here, Peruny!" and Billy tried to snatch her away.

The boys heard a whistle; the dog heard it, too. Springing from the
little boy's arms Sam Lamb Peruny Pearline ran under the gate and flew
to meet her master, who was looking for her.

CHAPTER XXV

EDUCATION AND ITS PERILS

It was a warm day in early August and the four children were sitting
contentedly in the swing. They met almost every afternoon now, but were
generally kept under strict surveillance by Miss Minerva.

"'Twon't be long 'fore we'll all hafto go to school," remarked Frances,
"and I'll be mighty sorry; I wish we didn't ever hafto go to any old
school."

"I wisht we knowed how to read an' write when we's born," said Billy.
"If I was God I'd make all my babies so's they is already eddicated when
they gits born. Reckon if we'd pray evy night an' ask God, He'd learn
them babies what He's makin' on now how to read an' write?"

"I don' care nothing at all 'bout them babies," put in Jimmy, "'tain't
going to do us no good if all the new babies what Doctor Sanford finds
can read and write; it'd jes' make 'em the sassiest things ever was.
'Sides, I got plenty things to ask God for 'thout fooling long other
folks' brats, and I ain't going to meddle with God's business nohow."

"Did you all hear what Miss Larrimore, who teaches the little children
at school, said about us?" asked Lina importantly.

"Naw," they chorused, "what was it?"

"S