The Colfax chronicle., 1890-12-27

The intricacy of ''fggahs' proved tco
much for Tanky. One day she sat
patiently trying to make slateful OF
6's, but finally rolled her eyes up with
a comical look of despair, and ex-
claimed: "De tails dun git roun' de
rong way"
She learned to read after an initiative
fashion of her own, rather than in the
most approved way. Tanky loved to learn
the little stories and scraps of poetry by
heart" as the children say. Then it
was funny to see her hold her book up
in front of her so gravely. and in her
musical voice read, while her big, dark
eyes were rolling all about, looking
everywhere except at the words
But when the singing-teacher came
in to give his weekly lesson, then
Tanky was in her glory. Her old
cracked slate and her book were whisked
out of sight, and she was always ready
first She caught the simple airs OF the
songs more readily than any thing else.
She would sway her little body back
and forth in time to the music. her big
eyes rolling till FIRST one saw the white
and then the dark part, her head with
it's bushy halo of wool swaying from
side to side, her little dusky hand
stretched out among the many white
ones rhythmically beating time. But
when the time grew quicker Tanky's
small body rocked frantically back and
forth, and her woolly head rolled from
side to side SO recklessly that felt al
most afraid it would roll quite of, and
come down with bang on the floor!
What a picture she made! How /
wished / could sketch her then, and
do her up" in water-colors Tanky
would have liked to be done in colors
best
Children have queer fancies. One
night she came back after the other
children were gone and stood alter
uately twisting her apron-strings and
hauling up her unruly stockings, until
! said:
swell, Tanky, what is it?"
She said: ''Ouh ch lch is dun gwine
to hab a festibull dis evenin'-an'-an'
will you Gomez"
Then followed rapid and eloquent
description of the promiscuous feast in
store for me.
"We're dun gwine to hab millun an
bread an cakes wild candies dun
sprinkled all ovah de tops, an'-an'-
pies"
Here she hesitated. and rolled her big
eyes around, and then named over some
of the same delicacies in reverse order,
and paused, waiting eagerly for my an
swer.
Iexplained to her quite carefully how
many, many blocks away it was where l
boarded. and that it would not be possi-
BILE for me to come to the 'festibull," I"
as she called it.
She turned away, but not before saw
the look of disappointment that was
deepened in her face by the mournful
expression in her eyes Something
about the droop OF the pathetic little
figure as it was quietly stealing away
prompted me to add: Perhaps will
come and see you, Tanky, some day."
She only looked at me wistfully,
nodded her head, and walked slowly
away.
The next thing l remember was the
advent of Tanky's cousin into our
school, She was as black as tar, and
big and stolid. Tanky proudly led her
in, and / asked her name. She looked
sheepish and stupid, but Tanky gave
her reproachful glance, and came to
the rescue with: ''Huh name is Sylla
Pearl Bucknah."
1t was amusing to see how Tanky,
though much smaller than Sylla Pearl.
would light her battles for her in the
playground, and every other place. In
deed, she looked after her always, with
quite grandmotherly air.
One day I heard some one crying
tragicaliy in the wardrobe, where the
children's wrappings hung. l went to
the door and found big Sylla Pearl weep
ipg bitterly. Finally her grief found
words, and she burst out with:
s'Oh, oh, oh! l dun loss my-my-
cloak"
Much relieved that it wasn't her head,
began hunting diligently for the cloak.
Some of the children joined in the
search, but we were unsuccessful. BY
this time Tanky, who had scented
trouble for her. Pearl from the play
ground, few to the rescue. And what a
comical sight she was, as she stood in
the doorway with the wind blowing her
wool and fluttering her gay neck rib
bons, her eyes opened wide, and her
hands on her hips, taking in the situa-
tion. She settled the trouble speedily.
Tanky only said:
''Sylla Pearl, you dun nevah fotched
youah cloak"
How expressive our language can be
madel / remember just then, that we
rather prided ourselves on English gram
mar in that school.
Not long after Tanky came to grief.
1t happened in this way: A pretty little
hood belonging to one of the children
hung in the wardrobe. 1t had bright
ribbons woven in it. These ribbons
mysteriously disappeared. l inquired