The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-11-06
Edith NJ. Thomas, in Harper's Rnznr.
AN ENFr reed CONCESSION.
By Carl Louis Kingsbury.


fresh water. when her mother called:
Set the outside door open again
won't YOU Abby: It's so hot i'm here
with the steam and all. it seems as
if | should smother" As Abby com
md sit down minute. Abigail. |
PANT To talk To YOU"
: abby glanced at the stove. Il must
20 and cut some wood pretty soon
ma. PA didn't have time TO cut any
this morning"
ITS too bad. John does nave to
work 50 hard"' said Johns wife. as
Abby took the seat that Trssy Ann
had so lately vacated. "And. Abigail.
| do feel real troubled about the chill
drcn i'm this nclghborhood that have
TO walk so far to school when the
cattle arc getting so fractions. You
heard tell the other day how one of
them run Mis- Staples clean out of
her own yard and into the house?
She said she'd have been killed. sure
if she hadn't streaked 1t for the house
and even then. she was so nigh caught
that the steer banged his head against
the door after her"
II heard Mis- Staples telling that"
Abby acknowledged briefly But
there's no alfalfa field down round the
schoolhouse, so there's nothing to tolc
them that way"
NO, hut there's lots of fields ON the
way. Why. those children have TO
walk nearly two miles to school Think
of that"
'Twon't hurt en- muttcrcd Abby
rather sullcnly.
Mrs. Fenton stitled sigh that was
almost a groan. Il hate to think YOU
are selfish. Abigail" she said. slowly
But we all know that the folks round
here got up Il petition asking the coun-
~ superintendent To form II new dis
trict. so the children wouldn't have
to go so far. and lie came out here
and looked the ground over. and said
he'd grant the petition if the folks
could get an acre of land for school
ground in II central location. and they
couldn't, 50 the plan all fell through. -
well, YOU don't need to tell uc
all that. | guess | knew it before"
replied her daughter ungraCiously
II reckon that nobody knows about
IL better than YOU do. Abby. but If
your grandma had willcd that forty
10 me instead of YOU, the SchoolhouSc
would he standing over there in that
little grove on the corner, Just across
the road-so handy!-iustead of where
it is. And the district was ready and
willing to pay you Il good price for
the land. Abby"
Its all out TO alfalfa. ana alfalfas
five dollars q ton objected Abby.
How much do YOU suppose is raised
in that acre in the grove. anyway"
quericd Mrs. Fcnton. sharply
Abby did not reply, but after little
she said slowly: You thinl; I'm self
ish. don't You. ma
1t was Mrs. Fenton'S turn to re
fleet Week in, week out. month in.
month out, for five long years this
girl beside her. with face too old
and hands too worn for her years
had borne the heavy burden of care
for household which comprised an
invalid mother and TebeIiouS. grow
ing children. Perhaps she herself had
not always done what she could to
make the girls burden lighter And
she resented her mothers willing the
hlt oil land To Abby instead of to her
self
NO You amt selfish. Abby" she
SAID mt last. Il reckon maybe you're
contrary sometimes. though"
Il am Abby admitted caudidly
I'm just ugly that way. The more
anybody urges me the more set / get.
Land what's that
something in the Kitchen had fallen
TO the floor with Il resouudng crash;
the crash was followed by splash
as Of miniature tidal wave. Abby
sprinsine to the door. stitlcd scream
~ what She saw
w nat is It, child|' demanded her
mother struggling to rise.
lie SIM. ma Abby commanded.
~ 'l"lu Whilc COW Of the Triangle
lar ouiill
w h"'. MIS- Icnton' face grew %
-''"' winter. why. she's The most
numerous cri'''r 90 the whole coun.