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

with sigh Of relief Abby returned
to her indoor tasks. 1t was wash-day,
and she had just completed filing the
tub on the bench by the door with
fresh water, when her mother called;
"Set the outside door open again,
won't you Abby? It's so hot in here
with the steam and all, it seems as
If / should smother As Abby com.
piled she went on "Come in here
and sit down a minute. Abigail.
want to talk to YOU
Abby glanced at the stove. 81 must
go and cut some wood pretty soon,
ma. Pa didn't have time to cut any
this morning"
ITS too bad. John does have to
work so hard! said Johns wife, as
Abby took the seat that Trissy Ann
had so lately vacated. "And, Abigail
l do feel real troubled about the chill
dren in this neighborhood that have
! to walk so far to school when the
cattle are 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 it 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 tole
them that way"
"No, but there's lots Of fields on the
way. Why, those children have to
walk nearly two miles to school. Think
of thatr'
'Twon't hurt 'emr muttered Abby,
rather sullenly.
Mrs. Fenton stihed a 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 a petition asking the coun-
ty superintendent TO form a new dis
| trict. so the children wouldn't have
to go so far, and he 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 a central location. and they
couldn't, so the plan all fell through
"Well, you don't need to tell me
all that. I guess l knew it before"
replied her daughter, ungraciously.
II reckon that nobody knows about
it better than you do, Abby, but if
| ,HV,,n hoH hnk g,-kvv
to me instead of you, the schoolhouse
would be standing over there in that
little grove on the corner just across
the road-so handy!-instead of where
it is. And the district was ready and
willing to pay you a good price for
the land, Abby"
It's all out to alfalfa, and alfalfa's
five dollars a ton" objected Abby.
How much do you suppose is raised
in that acre in the grove. anyway"
queried Mrs. Fenton, sharply.
Abby did not reply, but after little
she said, slowly: You think I'm self
ish, don't you, MAJ"
1t was Mrs. Fenton's turn to re-
feet 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 a household which comprised an
invalid mother and rebelllous, 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
bit Of land to Abby instead Of to her
self.
mo, you amt selfish, Abby" she
said, at last, Il reckon maybe you're
contrary sometimes, though"
Il am" Abby admitted candidly
I'm just ugly that way. The more
anybody urges me the more set l get
Land, what's that?"
Something in the kitchen had fallen
to the floor with a resounding crash:
the crash was followed by a splash
as of a miniature tidal wave. Abby.
springing to the door, stifed a scream
at what she saw.
what is it, child? demanded her
mother, struggling to rise.
Lie still, mar Abby commanded.
ITS thatold white cow Of the Triangle
Bar outfit"
what! Mrs. Fenton's face grew a
shade whiters "Why, she's the most
dangerous critter in the whole coun.
try! Can you see any more Of 'em ?"
mo- 1 reckon she's alone. l expect
she was after the water in the tub.
She's standing in the doorway yet"
and with this explanation, Abby be-
gan to wave her arms. "ShOo, Whey!
Get outw she commanded, shrilly.
The cow, with "A low below Of de-
fiance, stood her ground. Mrs. Fen
ton, who had succeeded I'm sitting up,
whispered fearfully: What il she
should take a notion to come in here,
Abby|
shed take a notion to 20 out
again. declared Abby. The girl
seized a stick of firewood and hurled
it mt the brutes head. The COW ac-
knowledged the attention with another
ominous below, and put one hoof on