just as mad as any other kind," declared the
other boy, sliding from his perch on the fence and running across his
lawn to disappear behind his own front door.

Holding her skirts nearly up to her knees Miss Minerva stepped gingerly
along the wet and muddy street till she got to her gate, where her
nephew met her, looking a little guilty, but still holding his head up
with that characteristic, manly air which was so attractive.

"William," she said sternly, "I see you have been getting into mischief,
and I feel it my duty to punish you, so that you may learn to be
trustworthy. I said nothing to you about the hose because I did not
think you would know how to use it."

Billy remained silent. He did not want to betray his little companions
of the morning, so he said nothing in his own defense.

"Come with me into the house," continued his aunt, "you must go to bed
at once."

But the child protested vigorously.

"Don' make me go to bed in the daytime, Aunt Minerva; me an' Wilkes
Booth Lincoln ain't never went to bed in the daytime since we's born,
an' I ain't never hear tell of a real 'ligious 'oman a-puttin' a little
boy in bed 'fore it's dark; an' I ain't never a-goin' to meddle with yo'
ole hose no mo'."

But Miss Minerva was obdurate, and the little boy spent a miserable hour
between the sheets.

CHAPTER VI

SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY.

"I have a present for you," said his aunt, handing Billy a long,
rectangular package.

"Thank you, ma'am," said her beaming nephew as he sat down on the floor,
all eager anticipation, and began to untie the string. His charming,
changeful face was bright and happy again, but his expression became one
of indignant amaze as he saw the contents of the box.

"What I want with a doll?" he asked angrily, "I ain't no girl."

"I think every little boy should have a doll and learn to make clothes
for it," said Miss Minerva. "I don't want you to be a great, rough boy;
I want you to be sweet and gentle like a little girl; I am going to
teach you how to sew and cook and sweep, so you may grow up a comfort to
me."

This was a gloomy forecast for the little boy accustomed, as he had
been, to the freedom of a big plantation, and he scowled darkly.

"Me an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln ain't never hafter play with no dolls
sence we's born," he replied sullenly, "we goes in swimmin' an' plays
baseball. I can knock a home-run an' pitch a curve an' ketch a fly.
Why don't