"
Anne nodded brightly and opened the creamery-door. Mrs. Brewster stood
with skimmer in hand, taking the rich cream from the pans of milk. She
looked up with a welcoming smile as the two girls came in.
"Mother, Anne's been giving me 'first aid' in manners," laughed Polly,
watching her mother's expression keenly.
"In which line, dear; there are several you can improve in," rejoined
Mrs. Brewster, with a loving little laugh.
"Didn't you hear me? I have improved upon your name."
"I noticed it, but I wanted to make sure it was intentional and not a
mistake."
"Tell me--do you like it?" asked Polly, eagerly.
"Indeed I do, dear; I never could abide that name of 'Maw' and 'Paw'
that is common with the ranchers."
"Then why didn't you tell me this long ago! Oh, mother!"
"If I corrected you, and the other children at school heard you use
different terms from those they were accustomed to, they would think
you 'proud' and 'too good for a rancher.' I have heard that criticism
so often, that I have given up trying to better conditions or express
my own desires in anything that an illiterate and inexperienced
neighbor may find fault with. I just accept things as they are, now,
but hope for better things for my children."
This was a new light on her mother, and Polly felt subdued by it. She
wondered if her mother would have been any different if she had been in
Mrs. Maynard's place.
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