"
Billy looked at his aunt's bony frame and thought of Aunt Cindy's
soft, fat, ample lap. A wistful look crossed his childish face
as
he dropped down in front of her and laid his head against her
knee, then the bright, beautiful little face took on an angelic
expression as he closed his eyes and softly chanted: "`Now I lays
me down to sleep, I prays the Lord my soul to keep, If I should
die befo' I wake, I prays the Lord my soul to take.
"`Keep way f'om me hoodoo an' witch, Lead my paf f'om the
po'-house gate, I pines fey the golden harps an' sich, Oh, Lord,
I'll set an' pray an' wait.' "Oh, Lord, bless ev'ybody; bless me
an' Aunt Cindy, an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln, an' Aunt Blue-Gum
Tempy's Peruny Pearline, an' Uncle Jimmy-Jawed Jup'ter, an'
ev'ybody, an' Sam Lamb, an' Aunt Minerva, an' alley Aunt
Blue-Gum Tempy's Peruny Pearline's chillens, an' give Aunt
Minerva a billy goat or a little nanny if she'd ruther, an'
bless Major Minerva, an' make me a good boy like Sanctified
Sophy, fey Jesus' sake.
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