The suburban citizen. (Washington, D.C.) 1891-1902, 1900-09-22

her short skirt with one chubby brown
hand and glared defiance at the enc
my who had brought Trissy Ann to
hay Abby, the older sister, was the
enemy; she lowered above them both,
anxious but determined.
"Yous got to go, Trissy Annw Abby
declared, vehemently. 80 just stop
your fussiDg and go right along; It's
nigh eight o'clock now! If l was in
your place I'd be ashamed to be tardy
10 school"
> Weren't you ever late when you
went to school" queried Trissy Ann,
maliciously.
( Now Abby, chief counsellor and
prop Of the Fenton family, had had
small opportunity to obtain the educa-
tion which she craved for her young
sister and brother, and so Trissy Ann
had given a cruel thrust. But Abby
ignored it with the patience of one ac-
.customed to self-abnegation.
''You and 1 can't be passing words
this time of day. she said. you
march right straight along to school,
lNOu anu sammy bAOIl eOuA VI y MS
Sammy, and if you're a 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;
j want to stay home with Tsanw
Abby's black eyebrows knit in a sud
den frown; she stamped her foot. go
this minute, both of you! she cried.
When Abby spoke like that, Trissy
Ann and Sam knew there was nothing
left but 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 cOmpulsiOn-
snatched the tin dinner-pail that Abby
had filled with their MONDAY lunch
and followed. He and Trissy Ann
were ON the doorstep when a feeble
voice from the adjoining bedroom ar
rested their progress.
"Wait a minute, Children it said.
I Trissy Ann stopped, and stealing
defiant glare at Abby, turned and
walked into the bedroom, followed,
as a matter of course, by Sam.
Mrs Fenton was an invalid and sell
dom interfered with her eldest daugh-
ter's conduct of affairs, but to-day, as
Trissy Ann approached her bedside,
she inquired, solicltiously why
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
personal in the excuse. IT'S a likely
story that you're afraid Of the cattlev'
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
herd of wild range cattle whilst you're
on foot, Abby"
Abby knew-she had good cause to
lnow-but she replied peryersely; q
reckon the cattle don't trouble 'em
much in the schOolhousc"
mo. They might trouble 'em on
the way there, or coming back,
though
Trissy Ann did not seem greatly
alarmed by this forecast, but she con
tinued to gaze hopefully at her moth
.er. Mrs. Fenton put out a thin hand
and brushed the chestnut hair back
from the childs forehead as she con
tinued: where you at in 'rithmetic
now, Trissy ANN
The hopeful expression on the little
girls face gave way to one Of genu-
inc distress as she answered. why,
were in compound fractures, ma, and
ats awful hard, so it ISL
Il should think it would bew re-
turned her mother. awed by the
strange terms. Il should think the
teacher oughn't to put such a little
girl in such hard sums"
"She just keeps punching me up
about them all the time" cried Trlssy
Ann, with starting tears and the OBJ
servant Abby fully understood her
sisters objection to attending school.
Are those children going to school
to-day" Abby broke in suddenly on
Trissy AIMS laborious attempt TO eX-
plain the mysteries Of compound frac-
tons to her mother.
Il guess they better" Mrs. Fenton
conceded unexpectedly. She had been
puzzled, and her curiosity was aroused.
yes, you better 90, Trissy Ann,
honey, and find out all you can about
those arithmetic sums Maybe Abby
and 1 would like to learn them, too"
"Oh, Abby she can't learn 'em"
rctorted Trksy Ann, spitefully. you
have to be taught abstraction and null
litigation fore you can understand
them. Come ON, then, sammy"