"I am not a married woman," she replied, curtly, "and I most
assuredly would not permit any oaths to be used on my premises."

"Well, Uncle Jimmy-Jawed Jup'ter is jest nach'elly boon' to
cuss,--he's got a repertation to keep up," said Billy.

He sat down in a chair in front of his aunt, crossed his legs
and smiled confidentially up into her face.

"Hell an' damn is jest easy ev'y day words to that nigger. I
wish you could hear him cuss on a Sunday jest one time, Aunt
Minerva; he'd sho' make you open yo' eyes an' take in yo' sign.
But Aunt Cindy don't 'low me an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln to say
nothin' 't all only jest `darn' tell we gits grown mens, an'
puts on long pants."

"Wilkes Booth Lincoln?" questioned his aunt.

"Ain't you never hear teller him?" asked the child. "He's ole
Aunt Blue-Gum Tempy's Peruny Pearline's boy; an' Peruny
Pearline," he continued enthusiastically, "she ain't no ord'nary
nigger, her hair ain't got nare kink an' she's got the grandes'
clo'es. They ain't nothin' snide 'bout her. She got ten
chillens an' ev'y single one of 'em's got a diff'unt pappy,
she been married so much. They do say she got Injun blood
in her, too."

Miss Minerva, who had been standing prim, erect, and stiff, fell
limply into a convenient rocking chair, and looked closely at
this orphaned nephew who had come to live with her.