“Shucks,” said the country boy, contemptuously, “You do' know a steer when you see one; you can't milk no steer.”
“Look! Ain't that a snake?” shrieked Billy, pointing to what looked to him like a big snake coiled in the yard.
“Snake, nothing!” sneered his companion, “that's a hose. You all time got to call a hose a snake. Come on, let's sprinkle,” and Jimmy sprang out of the swing, jerked up the hose, and dragged it to the hydrant. “My mama don't never 'low me to sprinkle with her hose, but Miss Minerva she's so good I don' reckon she'll care,” he cried mendaciously.
Billy followed, watched his companion screw the hose to the faucet, and turn the water on. There was a hissing, gurgling sound and a stream of water shot out, much to the rapture of the astonished Billy.
“Won't Aunt Minerva care?” he asked, anxiously. “Is she a real 'ligious 'oman?”
“She is the Christianest woman they is,” announced the other child. “Come on, we'll sprinkle the street--and I don't want nobody to get in our way neither.”
“I wish Wilkes Booth Lincoln could see us,” said Miss Minerva's nephew.
A big, fat negress, with a bundle of clothes tied in a red table cloth on her head, came waddling down the sidewalk.
Billy looked at Jimmy and giggled, Jimmy looked at Billy and giggled; then, the latter took careful aim and a stream of water hit the old woman squarely in the face.
“Who dat? What's yo' doin'?” she yelled, as she backed off. “'I's a-gwine to tell yo' pappy, Jimmy Garner,” as she recognized one of the culprits. “Pint dat ar ho'e 'way f'om me, 'fo' I make yo' ma spank yuh slabsided. I got to git home an' wash. Drap it, I tell yuh!”
Two little girls rolling two doll buggies in which reposed two enormous rag-babies were seen approaching.
“That's Lina Hamilton and Frances Black,” said Jimmy, “they're my chums.”
Billy took a good look at them. “They's goin' to be my chums, too,” he said calmly.
“Your chums, nothing!” angrily cried Jimmy, swelling up pompously. “You all time trying to claim my chums. I can't have nothing a tall 'thout you got to stick your mouth in. You 'bout the selfishest boy they is. You want everything I got, all time.”
The little girls were now quite near and Jimmy hailed them gleefully, forgetful of his anger.