“What animals have the keenest sense of smell, William?” was her query at the conclusion of her reading. “Billy goats,” was Billy's answer without the slightest hesitation. “You have goats on the brain,” she said in anger. “I did not read one word about billy goats.” “Well, if 'taint a billy goat,” he replied, “I do' know what 'tis 'thout it's a skunk.” “I bought you a little primer this morning,” she remarked after a short silence, “and I want you to say a lesson every day.” “I already knows a lot,” he boasted. “Tabernicle, he 'an' Mercantile both been to school an' they learnt me an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln. I knows crooked S, an' broken back K, an' curly tail Q, an' roun' O, an' I can spell c-a-t cat, an' d-o-g dog an' A stands fer apple.” That night he concluded his ever lengthy prayer at his kinswoman's knee with: “O Lord, please make for Aunt Minerva a little baby, make her two of 'em. O Lord, if you got 'em to spare please make her three little babies an' let 'em all be girls so's she can learn 'em how to churn an' sew. An' bless Aunt Minerva and Major Minerva, f'r ever 'nd ever. Amen.” As he rose from his knees he asked: “Aunt Minerva, do God work on Sunday?” “No-o,” answered his relative, hesitatingly. “Well, it look like He'd jest hafter work on Sunday, He's so busy jest a-makin' babies. He makes all the niggers an' heathens an' Injuns an' white chillens; I reckon He gits somebody to help him. Don't you, Aunt Minerva?” CHAPTER VII RABBITS' AND OTHER EGGS Billy was sitting in the swing. Jimmy crawled over the fence and joined him. “Miss Cecilia's dyeing me some Easter eggs,” he said, “all blue and pink and green and yelluh and every kind they is; I tooken her some of our hen's eggs and she is going to fix 'em for me and they'll be just like rabbit's eggs; I reckon I'll have 'bout a million. I'll give you one,” he added generously. “I want more 'n one,” declared Billy, who was used to having the lion's share of everything. “You all time talking 'bout you want more 'n one egg,” said Jimmy. “You 'bout the stingiest Peter they is. Ain't you got no eggs? Get Miss Minerva to give you some of hers and I'll take 'em over and ask Miss Cecilia to dye 'em for you 'cause you ain't 'quainted with her yet.” “Aunt Minerva ain't got none 'cep'in' what she put under a of hen fer to set this mornin':” “Can't you get 'em from under the old hen? Miss Minerva is such a Christian woman, she ain't--” “You done fool me 'bout that 'ligious business befo',” interrupted Billy, “an' I got put to bed in the daytime.” “Well, she won't never miss two or three eggs,” coaxed Jimmy. “How many did she put under the old hen?” “She put fifteen,” was the response, “an' I don't believe she'd want me to tech 'em.” “They 're 'bout the prettiest eggs ever was,” continued the tempter, “all blue and pink and green, and 'bout a million kinds. They're just perzactly like rabbit's eggs.”