“Gladys Maude's got the pennyskeeters,” broke in Frances importantly, fussing over her baby, “and I'm going to see Doctor Sanford. Don't you think she looks pale, Jimmy?” “Pale, nothing!” sneered the little boy. “Girls got to all time play their dolls are sick. Naw; I don't know nothing a tall 'bout your Gladys Maude.” Lina gazed up the street. “That looks like Miss Minerva to me 'way up yonder,” she remarked. “I think we had better get away from here before she sees us.” Two little girls rolling two doll buggies fairly flew down the street and one little boy quickly climbed to the top of the dividing fence. From this safe vantage point he shouted to Billy, who was holding the nozzle of the hose out of which poured a stream of water. “You 'd better turn that water off 'cause Miss Minerva's going to be madder 'n a green persimmon.” “I do' know how to,” said Billy forlornly. “You turnt it on.” “Drop the hose and run to the hydrant and twist that little thing at the top,” screamed Jimmy. “You all time got to perpose someping to get little boys in trouble anyway,” he added ungenerously. “You perposed this yo'self,” declared an indignant Billy. “You said Aunt Minerva's so 'ligious she wouldn't git mad.” “Christian womans can get 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.