which Aunt Cindy gave him with a hard washrag, and he felt that
he'd rather die at once than have to bathe every day.

He followed his aunt dolefully to the bath-room at the end of the
long back-porch of the old-fashioned, one-story house; but once
in the big white tub he was delighted.

In fact he stayed in it so long Miss Minerva had to knock on the
door and tell him to hurry up and get ready for breakfast.

"Say," he yelled out to her, "I likes this here; it's mos' as
fine as Johnny's Wash Hole where me and' Wilkes Booth Lincoln
goes in swimmin' ever sence we's born."

When he came into the dining-room he was a sight to gladden even
a prim old maid's heart. The water had curled his hair into
riotous yellow ringlets, his bright eyes gleamed, his beautiful,
expressive little face shone happily, and every movement of his
agile, lithe figure was grace itself.

"I sho' is hongry," he remarked, as he took his seat at the
breakfast table.

Miss Minerva realized that now was the time to begin her small
nephew's training; if she was ever to teach him to speak
correctly she must begin at once.

"William," she said sternly, "you must not talk so much like a
negro. Instead of saying `I sho' is hongry,' you should say,
`I am very hungry.' Listen to me and try to speak more