The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-10-23

would have liked to be done i'll colOrs
best. =, =" -,
Hor first gift to me was as curious as
herself. 1t was a very green tomato.
She was generous little soul and some-
times brought me scraps of bright yell
low, green and gilt papers, carefully
smoothed out. TO Tanky's color-loving
eyes these were precious gifts. Who
knows in her bare little life what she
imagined about the brightly-colored
ribbons and papers?
Children have queer fancies. One
night she came back after the other
children were gone and stood alter
nately twisting her apron-strings and
hauling up her unruly stockings, until
l said:
well, Tanky, what is it?"
She said: "Ouh Oh 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 Tor me-
"We're dun gwine to hab millun an
bread an cakes wild candies dun
sprinkled all ovah dc 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.
/ explained to her quite carefully how
many. many blocks away it was where
boarded. and that it would not be posi-
BILE for me to coWe to the 'festibull,"
as she called it.
She turned away, but not before I 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 I 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 gavo
her a 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 heard some one crying
tragically in the. wardrobe. where the
children's wrappings hung. l. won't to
the door and found big Sylla Pearl weep
ing bitterly. Finally her grief found
words, and she burst out with: =, ;.
'Oh, oh, oh! I 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, hoF: eyes opened wide, and her
hands on her hips, taking in the situa-
ton. She settled the trouble speedily.
Tanky only said:.
''Sylla Pearl, you dun nevah fetched
youah cloak"
How expressive our language can be
made! l remember., just then, that we
rather prided ourselves on English gram
mar in thAt school.
ground, holding big Sylla Pearl kindly
by the hand, j watched them out OF
sight, thinking how: curiously Sylla
Pearl reminded mesof thunder-cloud
with gay little rainbow beside it. And
loyal though a. ragged little rainbow
it was. :
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. 1 inquired
of each of the children, but when came
to Tanky, she was pulling up her trouble
some stockings with elaborate slow
ness. Knowing her fondness for bright
colors, I Immediately wondered if she
could have taken the ribbons. dis
liked to believe 1t, some way, of Tanky.
However, that, night, as she waited for
me, suddenly asked at a venture:
'Tanky, what did you do with Julia's
ribbods?'' ~.
She rolled her eyes around and
chuckled, hesitated. and finally pointed
to one of her dilapidated little shoes.
When she took off her shoe, sure
enough. there were the bright ribbons,
wrinkled and soiled.
l said: "Why, Tanky! don't you
know these are Jul:a's ribbons?" -
She nodded her head. -: s~+s r
.''.And didn't you know it was wrong to
take them?"
She nodded again.
well, then," said, "why did you
do it?"
She rolled her eyes around as if seek
ing for reason. Then she said: Il
reckun dun like UNI" and began stuff
ang the ribbons back into her shoe.
I rescued them, and while tried to
smooth them out 1 also tried then and
there to explain the eighth command.
ment I hoped it would find lodging
place in the mind and conscience of this
poor little untaught member of race
50 prone to leave it out of their creed
altogether. ,...~. ..
Tanky never took any thing more at
school.
As time passed, Tanky seemed to
grow more attached to her school and
''techuh," as she always called me. The
school, with its pictures, flowers and
singing. was the bright spot in Tanky's
life. Her little dusky hands were ~