Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-10-21

The last term closed, as did the
first. The large boys and young
men who had been her pupils, and
had finished their school-days un-
der her teaching, gathered about
her with fearful eyes and thanked
her with trembling lips for her un-
tiring efforts in their behalf. The
girls We'd with each other in offer
ing tokens of love and respect, while
all expressed the hope that she
might be with them the coming year.
With mingled feelings of joy and
sorrow she closed her school-room
door, half wishing the long vaca-
ton over, and herselfready for work
again. The secretary of the board,
in giving her the order for the last
terms pay, waxed eloquent over her
success; but, when she glanced at
the paper he gave her, and found
only fifty-fve dollars allowed per
month, he had nothing more to say,
and referred her to the president.
Thinking there must be some mis-
take she sought the president.
'Ah! Miss A.! Glad to see
YOU. You have done nobly. Our
schools were never so well conduct
ed; and you have saved us lots of
money!
But, Mr.. F., did you not tell
me that my salary should be raised
this term if l succeeded?'
'Well-yes. But we talked it
over, and concluded that titty-tive
dollars was enough for a woman
This conversation took place in
Mr.. F-'s bank, just at the hour
for closing. At the door, in car
riage, waited his elegantly-dressed
daughter. Our teacher felt almost
wicked as she passed her, with the
fathers words in her ear enough
for a woman
There was no written contract,
and she was helpless. Bitter tears
were shed in the solitude Of her
room that night, for she felt that she
must seek work elsewhere. They
would gladly have employed her an
other year, in order that they might
save lots of money, but finding her
services could not be secured for
less than they must give man.,
they let her go.
4 gentleman had just resi- gned
the charge of a grammar school be-
cause the salary (seventy-tive dol
lars per month"; was too small. The
place was offered to Miss A at
forty-fve dollars per month. Half
of the school-year yet remained;
and, not wishing to be unemployed,
she accepted.
The principal of the schools was
man of great ability. The thor
oughness he required in all the de-
partmcnts, the enthusiasm with
which he inspired the scholars. and
above all the mutual love which
sprang up between herself and her
pupils, decided her to remain an
other year. Fifty dollars was the
most the board could be induced to
give, though admitting the superb
ority of her services to those for
which they had given seycnty-tive
dollars.
BY a sad mistake, the excellent
principal was permitted to leave,
and beardlcss boy, fresh from
school and ignorant of teaching,
was employed in his stead. Again
the old story was told. With true
womanly sympathy for all things
weak and pitiful, she taught him his
duties and bore his burdens until he
could walk alone Half the year
passed away agrceablv. The schol-
ars could not fail to see that the
nominal head Of the school was in
competent, and their remarks came
surely back to the principal, exas-
pcrating him beyond measure.
When, at last, a gossip informed
him that a member of the board had
said the school was under 'pettic"at
government he determined to force
his benefactress from her position,
and show the town that he could
run that school,
Unconscious of trouble brewing,
Miss A. worked on faithfully,
until one morning she received Il re-
quest to resign. Upon asking the
cause of this request, she was in
formed that the principal had for
some weeks been making complaints
of her and had at last refused to
teach with her any longer.
He was young, and this was his
first school. If they let him go it
would injure him greatly, and he
would be thrown out of employ
ment for the rest of the year. Her
reputation as a teacher was made,
and she would have no trouble in
finding employment. So the gentle
man talked who had been sent to
her by the school board. He was a
father and his heart was touched
by the look of heart-sickness and
hopeless despair which came into
the girls face while he talked. He
took her hand kindly. at parting
little knowing that his few words
had crushed all the buoyancy and
hope out of a brave life.
1t would have been well with her
had her reputation been less exten-
sive. The cause of her resignation
was not known beyond the village
where she taught; but the fact that
!, she had been asked to resign, and
that she had left her two preceding
situations at the end of her first en-
gagement, preceded her every
where. School room doors were
closed to her. SO through the long
summer days she plies her needle
for bread, with no prospect OF other
employment, when fall comes with
it's garnered fruits, its dreamy skies,
and Fairgrounds filled with happy
children. And, while she works
she prays: God speed the day when
ability, and not sex, shall decide
the question of position and pay
when the key to the room up stairs
may be held by those competent tc
Judge of the merits of those who
would enter; when mere boys shall
not be preferred as teachers, while
comnetent women wait below; Whel