The Afro-American advance., 1900-11-17
! RlssY ANN covered. whin-
pering behind the kitchen
stove, while little Sam, who


stove, while little Sam, who
was her shadow, elutched
her short skirt with one chubby brown
hand and glared defiance at the ene-
my who had brought Trissy Ann to
bay. Abby. the older sister was the
enemy; she lowered above them both,
anxious hut determined.
''You's got to go, Trissy Ann. Abby
declared, vehemently. so Just stop
your fussipg and go right along lis
nigh eight o'clock nows If / was in
your place I'd be ashamed to be tardy
TO school"
Weren't you ever late when you
went to SCHOOL," queried Trissy Ann,
maliciously.
Now Abby, chief counycllor and
prop of the tenton family, had had
small opportunity TO obtain the cduca-
ton which she uraved for her young
sister and brother and so TIissy Ann
had. given cruel thrust, But Abby
ignored it with the patience of one ac-
customed 10 self-abnegation.
4Ou anu II AuA w pdCclbS WOtN0
this time OF day. she said, "You
march right straight along to school,
you and sammy! Stop your crying,
Sammy, and IL 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: II don't want jam:
l want TO stay home with Tsan"
Abby's black eyebrows knit In 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 of
his hat except on compulsion-
snatched the tin dinner-pail that Abby
had filed with their MONDAY lunch
and followed. He and Trissy Ann
were on the doorstep when feeble
voice from the adjoining bedroom ar
rested their progress.
wait minute, children" it said.
Trissy Ann stopped. and stealing a
defiant glare at Abby, turned and
walked into the bedroom, followed,
as n matter of course, by Sam.
Mrs. Fenton was On invalid and sell
dom intcrfered with het eldest dadgh-
ter's conduct of affairs. but to-day. as
Trissy Ann approached her bedside,
she inquired. solicitiously: 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 toleration: "'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. ITS likely
story that you're afraid of the cattle1'
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 a
herd of wild range cattle whilst you're
on foot, Abby
Abby knew-she had good cause to
know-but she replied peryersely: Il
reckon the cattle don't trouble 'em
much in the schoolhouse.
mo They might trouble 'em 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 1T her moth
er. Mrs. Fenton put out thin hand
and brushed the chestnut hair back
from the child's 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,
we're in compound fractures, ma, and
It's awful hard. so it isr'
II should think it would be-" 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 Trissy
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 III suddenly on
Trissy AIMS iaborious attempt to ex-
plain the mysteries of compound frac-
tions TO her mother.
Il guess they better" Mrs. Fenton
conceded. unexpectedly She had been
puzzled. and her curiosity was aroused.
'sYes, you better go. Trissy Ann,
honey, and find out all you can about
those arithmetic sums. Maybe Abby
and would like to learn them, too. -
"Oh, Abby. she can't learn 'emr'
retorted TT issy Ann. spitefully. "You
have TO be taught abstraction and mul-
tifiycation fore you can understand
them. Come on, then, Sammy"
Abby went out on the steps to watch