Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-10-21
a LESSON IN FRACTIONS.
The Fine Way in which Georges Mother
Helped Him in His Studies.

Mamma stood by the gate watching
for George. 1t was almost an hour
after his usual time for returning from
school. and she could not imagine what
was OBTAINING him, unless he had been
''kept in
Presently he came in sight, and as
soon as she caught glimpse of the
little figure trudging slowly along, she
knew something had gone wrong in
school,
whats the matter, dear?" she
asked, as she kissed the ROSY face that
Was wrinkled into perfect network OF
frDwns
IL don't want to 60 to school no
more, never forever, as long as l live"
pouted George, with shocking disre-
gard of grammar 81 think Miss
Hopkins Is real mean; she kept me IN
ali this time just cause | couldn't do
fractions, and how could l do them
when l didn't know what she was
t:aiSing about? l didn't know what
she meant by her old sixteenths and
.serenteenths, and putting the figures
ON the top of each other. called that
underneath figure an 'abominator, and
size got mad cause the boys laughed.
but it's good name for it anyhow if
ii isn't the right one, for it is an abon,-
inator."
81 am afraid my little boy didn't
Try very hard" said mamma, gently,
for she knew that George had gone to
school with the firmly settled idea that
fractions were altogether beyond his
comprehension, and that 1t was Il
great mistake to have them in any
arithmetic meant for 4 little boys use
George did not answer for mo-
ment- then he said:
@-Well, l just knew couldn't learn
them, and SO there wasn't any use in
trying"
George went in the house and put
away his books, then came out again
ON the porch where mamma was sit.
ting with Il big yellow orange in her
hand. Georges face grew brighter
as he looked ut it. He was quite sure
that it was meant for him. and he Just
knew how juicy and refreshing it would
be.
I'm going to teach an arithmetic
class with this orange. DO you want
to come and be my scholar. Georgie9"
said mamma.
Georges face clouded over again.
and he hesitated, but then his curiosity
to see how mamma was going to teach
arithmetic with an orange overmastere,l
his disincliuation for any more frac-
tionS, and he came and sat down be-
side her.
Now, this is whole orange, isn't
it?' said mamma, as she finished peel
ing it.
-'Ics'm," answered George.
Then mamma divided it in half
Nv hat do you eau these picces?" she
asked.
Halves, answered George. prompt
Ky. He knew that well enough.
..Now, if [ divide one of these pieces
again. what viii ii be?'' went on
mamma.
"A quarter. T
'.Then how many quarters are there
In an orange, or any thing else that is
divided into fourths?"
-Four" answered Georgia.
Suppose you get your slate, and we
viii put down some orange fractions
said mamma, and George ran into the
house for it. quite cheerfully.
SHOW what sort of i fraction is
this?n and mamma separated one piece
from the rest,..-.,.-
..One-fonrth, said Georgia; .out l
don't know how to put it down"
well. we will take the underneath
figure for the orange and the upper
one for the number of pieces We take. :
said mamma. s.Now it is divided into
four parts, and we have taken one of
them, so one will be the upper figure
and four the lower. That's right. Now
put this in a fraction" and she took
three pieces.
George laughed as he wrote three
fourths. This was much easier than
his teachers explanation, he thought.
..Now. we will divide each of these
quarters again, and how many pieces
will that make?" asked mamma. -
George face wrinkled up again.
Il don't KNOW he said. despair
iogly.
.Well, We'll count them and see,'
said mamma. cheerfully. and she di-
Sided each quarter, while George
counted. l Hrs
Eight" he said, at last
Then how many Fights are there in
any thing that is divided into eight
equal parts?" ~
why eight, of course, said George,
and then mamma gave him some more
fractions to put down.. ~
'.Now we viii divide these pieces
once more, and then how many parts
viii the orange haves"
George thought a minute.
.-SiXteen," he answered. 81 think
4 see something about fractions now.
Ihcrs's just as many teenths in any