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The Song of the Lark by Willa Sibert Cather
page 23 of 657 (03%)
she had begged off. Their winter underwear was a trial to
all the children, but it was bitterest to Thea because she
happened to have the most sensitive skin. While she was
tugging it on, her Aunt Tillie brought in warm water from
the boiler and filled the tin pitcher. Thea washed her face,
brushed and braided her hair, and got into her blue cash-
mere dress. Over this she buttoned a long apron, with
sleeves, which would not be removed until she put on her
cloak to go to school. Gunner and Axel, on the soap box
behind the stove, had their usual quarrel about which
should wear the tightest stockings, but they exchanged
reproaches in low tones, for they were wholesomely afraid
of Mrs. Kronborg's rawhide whip. She did not chastise
her children often, but she did it thoroughly. Only a some-
what stern system of discipline could have kept any degree
of order and quiet in that overcrowded house.

Mrs. Kronborg's children were all trained to dress them-



selves at the earliest possible age, to make their own beds,
--the boys as well as the girls,--to take care of their
clothes, to eat what was given them, and to keep out of
the way. Mrs. Kronborg would have made a good chess-
player; she had a head for moves and positions.

Anna, the elder daughter, was her mother's lieutenant.
All the children knew that they must obey Anna, who was
an obstinate contender for proprieties and not always fair-

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