Booth Tarkington

“ When the sonorous Laurence came nearer, the homely little girl almost disappeared behind her gate; her arms rested upon the top of it, and only her hair, forehead and eyes could be seen above her arms. The eyes, however, had become exceedingly sharp, and they shone with an elfin mirth that grew even brighter as the drum-corps drew closer. ”

“ Never had Daisy and Elsie met an adult more sympathetic to their wishes, or one more easily persuaded, than this obliging woman, and they turned to the baby with a pleasure in which there was mingled a slight surprise. They began to shout endearing words at Willamilla immediately, however, and even Master Coy looked upon the infant with a somewhat friendly eye, for he was warmed toward it by a sense of temporary proprietorship, and also by a feeling of congeniality, due to a supposition of his in regard to Willamilla's sex. ”

“ Having begun, he barked without intermission, so that with Hossifer's barking, Willamilla's relentless wailing, and the joyous shouting of Daisy and Elsie, Laurence might well despair of making himself heard. He seemed to rave in a pantomime of oral gestures, his arms and hands being occupied.
A MAN wearing soiled overalls, with a trowel in his hand, came from behind a house near by, and walking crossly over the lawn, arrived at the picket fence beside which stood the abandoned wagon. ”

“ Finding her thus so vociferously amiable, Daisy felt encouraged to approach the wagon; and bending down over it, she poked the mulatto baby repeatedly in an affectionate manner. “Oh!” she exclaimed. “I do think this is the darlingest baby!”
'Ain' it!” the colored woman cried. “Ain' it! Yes'm, you say what's so! Ain' it!”
“Does it belong to you?”Daisy inquired.
“Yes'm, indeed do! I'm baby' grammaw. Baby my li'le lovin' gran'chile.” ”

“ Laurence advanced to the side of the wagon, staring incredulously. “Who you talkin' about?”
“She was walkin' along nice only a little way behind us,” Daisy said, “until you went near her.”
“I went near who?” Laurence asked, looking very much disturbed. “Who was walkin' along nice?”
“Hossifer was. You said I scared her, and all the time she—”
“Listen!” said Laurence, breathing rapidly. “I wont stand it. This dog isn't a girl.”
“Hossifer's a girl's name,” said Daisy placidly. “I bet you never heard of a boy by that name in your life!” ”

“ After performing this feat, he extended his arms for Willamilla.
“He wont let me, Laurence said, swallowing piteously. “He wants me to keep him, an' he'll bite me if I—”
“Who go' bite you. white boy??” the cheerful colored man inquired. “Hossifer?” Laughing, he turned to the faithful animal, and swept the horizon with a gesture. “Hossifer, you git in nat wagon!”
With the manner of a hunted fugitive, Hossifer instantly obeyed; the man lifted Willamilla's little vehicle into the wagon, took Willamilla in his arms, and climbed chuckling to the driver's seat. ”

“ She began in a mild way, with a whimper, inaudible on account of her lullaby; then she slightly increased her protest, making use of a voice like the tinnier tones of a light saxophone; and having employed this mild mechanism for some time, without securing any relief from the shrillness that bothered her, she came to the conclusion that she was miserable. ”

“ And then, just as he was feeling most disorganized, he saw the boy stoop. Hossifer did not realize that Laurence stooped because he desired to put Willamilla into the wagon. Hossifer did not connect Willamilla with the action at all. He saw only that the stooped. Now, why does a boy stoop? He stoops to pick up something to throw at a dog. Hossifer made up his mind not to let Laurence stoop. ”

“ The infant was comfortable among cushions, however, and over its head a little ancient, fringed red parasol had been ingeniously erected, probably as much for style as for shade. And this note of fashion was again touched in the baby's ribboned cap, and in the embroidered scarf that served as a coverlet, and which, though plainly a relic, still exhibited a lively color.
An unevenly ponderous old colored woman pushed the wagon ”

“ The two little girls looked round at him indignantly; for this unwarranted intimation of some structural imperfection roused them. “Shame on you Daisy said; and to Willamilla: “Show Mamma how beautiful she walks.”
“He can't do it,” Laurence said obdurately. “I bet there is somep'm the matter with him.”
“There is not!”
“Yes sir,” said Laurence, and he added, with conviction: “His legs aint fixed on him right.”
“Shame on you, Laurence Coy!”
But Laurence persisted in his view.
“Listen!” he said. arguing “Look at my legs. Look at anybody's legs that can walk. ”

“ Laurence interrupted thickly. “I doe' want to stay here!”
He feared to move; he was apprehensive that Hossifer might not like it, but upon the man's threatening to vault over the fence and hurry him with the trowel, he ventured some steps; whereupon Hossifer stopped barking and followed closely, but did nothing worse. ”

“ Laurence began to find his position intolerable.
“For heavenses' sakes!” he said. “If this keeps up much longer, I'm goin' home. Everybody's a-lookin' at us all up an' down the street! Why'nt you quit singin' an' give him a chance to get over whatever's the matter with him?”
“Well, why don't you do somep'm to help stop her from cryin', yourself?” Elsie asked, crossly.
“Well, I will,” he promised, much too rashly. “I'd stop him in a minute if I had my way.”
“All right,” Daisy said unexpectedly, halting with Willamilla just in front of him. “Go on an' stop her, you know so much!” ”

“ It meant a great, great deal to Willamilla's grandma, however; and her lovingness visibly increased as she took the parcel in her arms.
“I'm go' take this nice loaf o' bread ta some po' ole sick folks whut live up the alley ovuh yonnuh,” she said. “Hossifer he go' stay with Willamilla an' li'le wagon.” She moved away, but paused to speak to Hossifer, who followed her. “Hossifer, you the lovin'est dog in a wide worl', but you go on back, honey!” She petted him, then waved him away. “Go on back, Hossifer!” ”