correctly."

"Don't! don't!" she screamed as he helped himself to the meat
and gravy, leaving a little brown river on her fresh white
tablecloth. "Wait until I ask a blessing; then I will help you
to what you want."

Billy enjoyed his breakfast very much. "These muffins sho' is--"
he began; catching his aunt's eye he corrected himself--"

"These muffins am very good."

"These muffins are very good," said Miss Minerva patiently.

"Did you ever eat any bobbycued rabbit?" he asked. "Me an'
Wilkes Booth Lincoln been eatin' chit'lins, an' sweet 'taters, an'
'possum, an' squirrel, an' hoecake, an' Brunswick stew ever sence
we's born," was his proud announcement.

"Use your napkin," commanded she, "and don't fill your mouth so
full."

The little boy flooded his plate with syrup.

"These-here 'lasses sho' is--" he began, but instantly
remembering that he must be more particular in his speech,
he stammered out:

"These-here sho' is--am--are a nice messer 'lasses. I ain't
never eat sech a good bait. They sho' is--I aimed to say--these