The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-10-13
4 LESSON IN FRACTIONS.

- lcSSSN SN VnHS S'SNS'
The fiae Way In Which 0eorgie's Mother
Helped Him IN HIS Studies.
Mamma stood by the gate watching
for Georgie. 1t was almost an hour
after hi. usual time for returning from
school, and she could not imagine what
was OBTAINING him. unless he had been
"kept in.' H-.aqt il4.' a..
Presently he came in sight, and as
soon as she caught a glimpse OF the
little figure trudging slowly along, she
knew something had gone wrong in
school. t....4, ...tr...
What's tho matter, dear1" she
asked, as she kissed the rosy face that
was wrinkled into perfect network OF
frowns. -',t IIff
al don't want to 60 to school no
more, never forever, as long as l live. ;"
poutcd George, with a shocking dsre-
gard of grammar. Il think Miss
Hopkins Is real mean; she kept me IN
all this time just cause | couldn't do
fractions, and how could do them
when | didn't know what she was
taking aboutp l didn't know what
! she meant by her old sixteenths and
seyonteenths, and putting the figures
ON the top OF each other. called that
underneath figure an 'abominator, and
| she got mad cause the boys laughed,
but it's good name for it anyhow it
it isn't the right one, for it is an abom-
inator." ~''"i'
ii 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 a
great mistake to have them in any
arithmetic meant for little boys use.
George did not answer for mo-
ment, then ho said: p .,t rf
"Well, | 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 "a big yellow orange in her
hand Georges face grew brighter
as he looked at it. He was quite sure
that it was meant for him, and he just
knew how juicy and refreshing it would
be. ...tf. ...t... ..t,.t,.l
| "lm going to teach an arithmetic
class with this orange. DO you want
to come and be my scholar, Georgie"'
said mamma. u..Il
/ Georges face clouded over again,
and he hesitated, but then his curiosit,
10 see how mamma was going to teacI
arithmetic with an orange overmasteret
his. disinclination for any more frac
tons. and he came and sat down be
side her. i', '"t
Now, this is whole orange, ism
itv' said mamma, as she finished peel
ling il. .a3ai tld
"Yes'm," answered George,
Then mamma divided it in half.
What do you call these piecesP' sh'
asked Iu3 'dt INr
Halves, answered George, prompt
ly. He knew that we'll enough.
. "Now, if divide one of these piece
again, what will 1t bep" went OF
, mamma. an
! "a quarter. I....f.l.l.i
Then now many quarters are Their
in an orange, or any thing else that
/ divided into fourthsp"
= -Four" answered George.
Suppose you get your slate, and W
! will put down some orange fractions,
said mamma, and George ran into til
house for it quite cheerfully.
"NOw what sort of u fraction
lhisP" and mamma separ1ed one piec
] from the rest. ta
"One-fourth," said George; ''0ut
I don't know how to put it down"
"Well. we will take the underneat
figure for the orange and the upps
4 one for the number Of pieces we take,
7 said mamma. "Now 1t is divided int
: four parts, and. we have taken one ,
them, so one will be the upper figul
and four the lower. That's right No
: put this in fraction" and she too
three pieces.
George laughed as he wrote thre
fourths. This was much easier tina
his teachers explanation, he though
0 "Now, we will divide each of the.
4 quarters again, and how many piec'
: will that make?" asked mamma.
Fl Georges face wrinkled up again.
= 81 don't know" he said, despai
Ii ingly.
"Well, Wen count them and see,
: said mamma, cheerfully, and she q
o vided each quarter, while Georg
h counted.
ri Eight" he said, at last.
ri Then how many Fights are there
II any thing that is divided into Gig
l. equal parish tv-.il
, "Why eight, of course" said Georgi
( and then mamma gave him some moi
, fractions to put down.
n "Now we will divide these piec
S hnce more, and then how many par
is viii the orange have?"
t, George thought a minute.
v SIXTEEN" he answered. Il thir
l. see something about fractions no,
There's just as many teenths in ~