New Stuff and Old Bones

In a burst of ebullience, the handyman Billy Bones converted the Dolls' woodshed into a playhouse. This removed some of the clutter of toys from the nursery and girls' rooms.

In 1910, a census taker asked Billy for his full name and his age or birth date. Billy said he was born in Ireland, and that on Christmas Day in 1798, he was christened William Praise God Bare Bones Bonney.

Mama said, "Nonsense! Nobody gets christened on Christmas Day!"

Daddy said, "Oh, that's just Billy! I think he was born at Fairhope in 1876, just like me!"

The census taker wrote down "Wm. Bonnet, age 112."

Mama has had the dining room chairs reupholstered, but she saved the old needlepoint covers. They're signed MC, and Grandma said they were made by a young girl named Melissa.