"That's always the way now," he said, meeting his little
neighbor at the fence, "ever sence Aunt Minerva got onto
this-here promisin' business, I don' have no freedom 't all.
It's `William, promise me this,' an' it's `William, don't
ferget yo' promise now,' tell I's jes' plumb sick 'n tired
of it. She know I ain't goin' back on my word an' she jest
nachelly gits the 'vantage of me; she 'bout the hardest
'oman to manage I ever seen sence I's born."

"I can nearly all time make my mama do anything 'most if I jus'
keep on trying and keep on a-begging," bragged the other boy;
"I just say `May I, mama?' and she'll all time say, `No, go 'way
from me and lemme 'lone,' and I just keep on, `May I, mama? May
I, mama? May I, mama? 'and toreckly she'll say, `Yes, go on
and lemme read in peace.'"

"Aunt Minerva won't give in much," said Billy. "When she say
`No, William,' 'tain't no use 'tall to beg her; you jest wastin'
yo' breath. When she put her foot down it got to go just like
she say; she sho' do like to have her own way better 'n any
'oman I ever see."

"She 'bout the mannishest woman they is," agreed Jimmy. "She
got you under her thumb, Billy. I don' see what womans 're
made fo' if you can't beg 'em into things. I wouldn't let no
old spunky Miss Minerva get the best of me that 'way. Come
on, anyhow."

"Naw, I can't come," was the gloomy reply; "if she'd jest tol'
me not to, I coulder went but she made me promise, an' I ain't