The advance. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1899-19??, 1900-09-22


stove, while little Sam, who
WINS her shadow, clutched
her short skirt with one chubby brown
hand and glared defiance at the enc
my who had brought Trissy Ann TO
bay. Abby, the older sister. was the
enemy; she lowered above them BOTH
anxious hut determined.
"Yous got to so, Trissy Ann. Abby
declared, vehcmently. $50 Just stop
your fussipg and go right along; lis
nigh eight o'clock now If / was in
your place Id be ashamed to be tardy
TO school"
Weren't YOU ever late when you
went to school:" queried Trissy Ann,
mallciously.
Now Abby, chief counscllor and
prop of the t'enton family, had had
small opportunity 10 obtain the cduca-
ton which she uraved for her young
sister and brother, and so Trissy Ann
had given cruel thrust, But Abby
ignored il with the patience of one &C.
customed to self-abnegation,
You and 4 can't be passing words
this time of day." she said, "You
march right straight along to school,
you and Sammy! Stop your crying,
Sammy, and IL you're good boy sis
ter'll make you pot of cantaloup jam
for supper"
But Sans loyalty to Trissy Ann was
not to be shaken; Il don't want JAM
| want To stay home with T'san~
Ahhy's black eyebrows knit In Il sud-
den frown; she stamped her foot. go
this minute. both OF your' she cried
When Abby spoke like that, Trissy
Ann and Sam knew there was nothing
left hut TO obey. Trissy Ann snatched
up her sunbonnet and started for the
door, Sam, whose outdoor toilet was
already complete--as he never took off
his hat except on eompulsion--
snatched the tin dinner pail that Abby
had filed with their MONDAY lunch
and followed He and Trissy Ann
We're on the doorstep when feeble
voice from the adjoining bedroom ar
rested their progress.
wait n minute children" it said
Trissy Ann stopped, and stealing a
defiant glare at Abby, turned and
walked into the bedroom, followed,
as matter of course, by Sam.
Mrs Fenton was an invalid and sell
dom interfered with hqf eldest dadgh-
ter's conduct of affairs, but to-day. as
Trissy Ann approached her bedside
don't you like to go to school. Trissy
| Ann?"
Trissy Ann, who had pondered on
the subject. instantly offered the ex-
cuse that seemed to her likely TO re-
ceive the most liberation: cause
I'm afraid Of the range cattle. ma"
Abby, who was standing in the door
way, shifted the more scornfully be-
cause she scented something distinctly
I personal in the excuse. ITS likely
| story that you're afraid of the cattlew
she snapped. What are you afraid
of, Sammy"
"'Fraid Of cattle" responded the six
year-old, Loyalty.
THE cattle are getting fractions.
since the long dry spell has nigh
burned up all the grass over the ditch
line, and they're coming into the farm
ing lands thicker and thicker every
day, Abby" said the mother. You
know yourself it's no joke to meet q
herd of wild range cattle whilst you're
on foot, ABBY
Abby lInew-she had good cause to
know-but she replied perverscly: II
reckon the cattle don't trouble 'em
much in the schoolhouse."
No. They might trouble en- on
the way there, or coming back,
: thought
, Trissy Ann did not seem greatly
alarmed by this forecast. but she con
tinued TO gaze hopefully nj her moth
or. Mrs. Fenton put out thin hand
and brushed the chestnut hair hacl,
} from the child's forehead MS she con
, tinued: where you at in 'rithmetic
now, Trissy ANN"
The hopeful expression on the little
! girls face gave way to one of GEM
n inc distress as she answered: Why
i we're in compound fractures, ma, ant
r It's awful hard so it isr'
Il should think il would be- re
y turned her mother, awed by til,
! strange terms. II should think tn
J. teacher oughn't 10 put such a littl
girl in such hard sums
she Just keeps punching me N
about them all the timer cried Triss
y Ann, with starting tears, and the oil
e servant Abby fully understood he
r sisters objection TO attending school.
It Are those children going 10 schoc
~ today" Abby broke in suddenly 0
: Trissy AIMS lahorious attempt to G,
~ plain the mysteries Of compound fra,
ar tons to her mother.
h. Il guess they better" Mrs Fento
70 conceded, unexpectedly. She had bee
u puzzled, and her curiosity was arouse
Eyes, sou better so, Trissy An
g honey and find out all you can abol
ne those arithmetic sums. Maybe Abb
I'd and l would like to learn them, too
ri "0h, Abby. she can't learn en-
:. retorted TT issy Ann. spitefully. "Yt
y have TO he taught abstraction and mi
Is tihycation fore you can understar
he them. Come on, then, Sammy"