Returning a few minutes later she found him sitting astride the
churn, using the dasher so vigorously that buttermilk was
splashing in every direction, and singing in a clear, sweet voice:

"He'll feed you when you's naked,
The orphan stear he'll dry,
He'll clothe you when you's hongry
An' take you when you die."

Miss Minerva jerked him off with no gentle hand.

"What I done now?" asked the boy innocently. "'tain't no harm as
I can see jes' to straddle a churn."

"Go out in the front yard," commanded his aunt, "and sit in the
swing till I call you. I'll finish the work without your
assistance. And, William," she called after him, "there is a
very bad little boy who lives next door; I want you to have as
little to do with him as possible."




CHAPTER IV

SWEETHEART AND PARTNER


Billy was sitting quietly in the big lawn-swing when his aunt,