Lena sighed. "Oh, the babies are all right;
if only they don't come in winter. Ours nearly
always did. I don't see how mother stood it.
I tell you what, girls," she sat up with sudden
energy; "I'm going to get my mother out of
that old sod house where she's lived so many
years. The men will never do it. Johnnie,
that's my oldest brother, he's wanting to get
married now, and build a house for his girl
instead of his mother. Mrs. Thomas says she
thinks I can move to some other town pretty
soon, and go into business for myself. If I
don't get into business, I'll maybe marry a
rich gambler."

"That would be a poor way to get on," said
Anna sarcastically. "I wish I could teach
school, like Selma Kronn. Just think! She'll
be the first Scandinavian girl to get a position
in the High School. We ought to be proud of
her."

Selma was a studious girl, who had not
much tolerance for giddy things like Tiny and
Lena; but they always spoke of her with ad-
miration.

Tiny moved about restlessly, fanning her-
self with her straw hat. "If I was smart like
her, I'd be at my books day and night. But

[[275]]

p274 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p275w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p276

v?