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thing, he didn't get much attention from any of us; Elda— that's me; Edgar; then another who lived but a short while; Frank and Margaret.
Dora, being the oldest, was our self-appointed boss. We all had to work, and Dora saw to it that we worked as hard as she. She had a queer streak, not hardness but a kind of perverseness, and seemed to enjoy causing pain. As she passed by she'd take the rim of an ear in her fingers and pinch. My brother Cammon carried a souvenir of that little habit to his grave. She tried hard to pinch me, but I was a fast mover and got out of her way. However, she found other ways to vent her spleen on me.
I was the family dishwasher. I've never met anyone who liked that job. To this day, except for my Royal Doulton, I'd rather break the dishes than wash them. Mother, taking pity on me, would sneak out to help me when Dora wasn't looking. But that Dora had eyes in the back of her head. She'd wait until Mother got at it, then sail out and announce, "Mother, you know perfectly well this is Elda's part of the housework; she's not to have help from anyone— not even you."
Another sweet sisterly practice of hers was to wear my new clothes before I had a chance to show them off. I was born with the knack for trimming a hat, turning out a blouse, making a tailored suit, the way I made my riding habit. Dora must have thought my clothes always looked better than hers— it may seem boastful, but they did— and found ways of being the first to wear them. Then when I'd appear our friends would say smugly, "Well, Elda, I see you're wearing Dora's dress again." A thing like that can become very irksome.
Came my twelfth or thirteenth Christmas. I had no idea what I'd receive for a present; most likely something to wear. The only thing I could be sure of was an orange in the toe of my stocking. Seven kids didn't leave much money for toys. I thought I'd have an understanding with Dora. At least, I understood it. "Whatever I get," I warned her, "I'm going to use first." Dora just tossed her head, giving out one of those laughs of hers.
I received a pair of skates. And while I was washing up the dishes, darned if she didn't swipe them and go skating! My Christmas spirit went up in a blaze of fury. I seethed, and when she came in from her
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