“Well, you see, Sam, me an' Miss Cecilia's engaged an' we's fixin' to marry jes' 's soon's I puts on long pants, an' I 'shame' to ask her. An' I don't berlieve young 'omans patches the breeches of young mans what they's goin' to marry nohow. Do you? Aunt Minerva ain' never patched no breeches for the Major. And then,” with a modest blush, “my unions is tore too, an' I ain't got on nothin' else to hide my skin.”
Again he turned his back to his friend and, his clouded little face looking over his shoulder, he asked, “Do my meat show, Sam?”
“She am visible ter the naked eye,” and Sam Lamb laughed loudly at his own wit.
“I don't believe God pays me much attention nohow,” said the little boy dolefully; “ev'y day I gets put to bed 'cause sumpin's all time a-happenin'. If He'd had a eye on me like He oughter they wouldn't a been no snaggin'. Aunt Minerva's goin' to be mad th'oo an' th'oo.”
“May be my of 'oman can fix 'em, so's dey won't be so turrible bad,” suggested the negro, “'taint fer, so you jes' run down ter my cabin an' tell Sukey I say fix dem breeches.”
The child needed no second bidding,--he fairly flew. Sam's wife was cooking, but she cheerfully stopped her work to help the little boy. She sewed up his union suit and put a bright blue patch on his brown linen breeches.
Billy felt a little more cheerful, though he still dreaded confessing to his aunt and he loitered along the way till it was nearly dark. Supper was ready when he got home and he walked into the diningroom with his customary ease and grace. But he took his seat uneasily, and he was so quiet during the meal and ate so little that his aunt asked him if he were sick. He was planning in his mind how to break the news of the day's disaster to her.
“You are improving, William,” she remarked presently, “you haven't got into any mischief to-day. You have been a mighty good little boy now for two days.”
Billy flushed at the compliment and shifted uneasily in his seat. That patch seemed to burn him.
“If God'd jest do His part,” he said darkly, “I wouldn't never git in no meanness.”
After supper Miss Minerva washed the dishes in the kitchen sink and Billy carried them back to the dining-room. His aunt caught him several times prancing sideways in the most idiotic manner. He was making a valiant effort to keep from exposing his rear elevation to her; once he had to walk backward.