“You can do perzactly like you please when you got the mumps,” insinuated Jimmy, who had seemingly allied himself with Billy as a partner in business; “grown folks bound to do what little boys want 'em to when you got the mumps.”
Ikey increased his bid by the stub of a lead pencil, but it was not until he had parted with his most cherished pocket possessions that he was at last allowed to place a gentle finger on the protuberant cheek.
Two little girls with their baby-buggies were seen approaching.
“G' 'way from here, Frances, you and Lina,” howled Jimmy. “Don't you come in here; me and Billy's got the mumps and you-all 'r' little girls and ought n' to have 'em. Don't you come near us; they 're ketching.”
The two little girls immediately opened the gate, crossed the yard, mid stood in front of Billy. They inspected him with admiration; he bore their critical survey with affected unconcern and indifference, as befitted one who had attained such prominence.
“Don't tech 'em,” he commanded, waving them off as he leaned gracefully against the fence.
“I teched 'em,” boasted the younger boy. “What'll you all give us if we Il let you put your finger on 'em?”
“I ain't a-goin' to charge little girls nothin',” said the gallant Billy, as he proffered his swollen jowl to each in turn.
A little darkey riding a big black horse was galloping by; Jimmy hailed and halted him.
“You better go fast,” he shrieked. “Me and Billy and Frances and Lina's got the mumps and you ain't got no business to have 'em 'cause you're a nigger, and you better take your horse to the lib'ry stable 'cause he might ketch 'em too.”
The negro boy dismounted and hitched his horse to the fence. “I gotter little tarrapim--” he began insinuatingly.
And thus it came to pass that there was an epidemic of mumps in the little town of Covington, and William Green Hill grew rich in marbles, in tops, in strings, in toads, in chewing gum, and in many other things which comprise the pocket treasures of little boys.
Miss Minerva had bought a book for Billy entitled “Stories of Great and Good Men,” which she frequently read to him for his education and improvement. These stories related the principal events in the lives of the heroes but never mentioned any names, always asking at the end, “Can you tell me who this man was?”