Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-12-09

ii ssllOW did this happen!' l asked
"Dis yer Charlie" they all scream
ed in q breath, che done did it
done chunk de bench, an dash W.
all on the ilo'." so -l,;m srf~ =,
"Why, Charley l said, "wha1
made you do that?" 1u s-rs9.
81 does hate girls,' said Charlie
and seemed to consider that good
and sufficient reason. for upsetting q
bench full of them. gytf WEE II III /.
But they very soon got over all
this, and became as quiet and or
derly; as any one could desire; and
never saw any children of the North
SO eager to learn, OF, who tried SC
hard as these. Their parents were
all very poor, and but few of them
were able to get books for their chill
dren; SO many Of the boys used to
work after school hours and earn
money to buy their own books. One
little fellow, only seven years old
had looked with longing eyes, as
day after day one and another came
with a primer. AT last l missed
him. He was gone a week, then
came with primer, which he show
ed in triumph. "Done got my book, .
he said. He was such n little fel-
low that l never thought of his hav-
ing bought it himself, SO said, 81
am very glad. Who gave it to
you?" He drew himself up With of:
Tended dignity as he answered,
"Didn't nobody CUB it to me. Da1
don't nobody buy my books; buys
um myself"
"Where did you get your mon
ey?" | asked.
"Done kotch bait for it,"
He had caught small fish, which
he had sold to the fishermen for bait.
and, saving up the pennies he earn
ed in this way, at last had enough
to buy a book. The boys had all
sorts of ways of making money, and
knew quite well how to take care OF
their own interests. One boy ten
years old, as soon as he could read
in the primer, started night school
There were several men who want
ed to learn to read, but, as they were
at work all day, they had no chance
to 60 to school. They engaged lit
tie Dick to teach them in the eve
ming, paying him five cents week
each. lie always insisted upon be-
ing paid in advance. l asked him
why that was.
"Well,' he said, 81 dunno noffin
bout dem ar men; dey mout go of
any time, an eff dey's got dar week s
larnin' fus', l mout whistle for my
money. But Tsc on'y chile; !
can't go nowhars widout my NAM
my, an dcy pays dar money, dey's
sho nutf ter git de larnin."
| thought that was bright enough
for Yankee boy. He earned mon
cy in this way to buy all the books
he needed, and put quite a little sum
into the savings bank besides.
These children would spend theil
last cent for a book, if they went
without anything to eat in conse-
quencc. They did care more to
learn than to eat. Often they would
come to me late in the day and say,
'Please mann, kin l run home ijes' a
few minutes when my class is troo!
| ain had muffin ter eat to-day"
"Why," / would ask, "what made
you come without your breakfast"
clad work ter do dis mornin'
an when I got froo it wor late, an
I'se feared | be late ter school, so
didn't wait fer no brctius."
They had no clocks; their only
way of telling the time was by the
sun; and on cloudy days, when they
had no guide at all, they were 50
afraid of being late that it WAS a
very common thing for them to
bring their breakfast to school and
eat it there. There was one little
girl who lived more than 4 mile
from the school. The roads were
very bad in wet weather, and she
had to cross brook where there
was no bridge, only stepping stones
After II heavy rain the water would
rise so that the stones were entire
ly covered, and she had to wade
through the best she could. She
used to come through storms that
would have kept many grown people
in the house, and with the water
running in streams from her clothes
For one whole year this little glrl
was neithor absent not tardy.
Whenever any of the children
happened to be late, they were very
sure to bring some very good ex
cusc, though sometimes it would be
very comical. One morning about
ten o'clock, a boy came rushing all
out of breath into the school room
exclaming: "'Dced, ma'am, |
couldn't help bein' late dis mornin
not ter save my life. My NANNY
done got COW, an the COW done
got calf, an de calf done runneo
away, an de COW done gone at'e'
calf, an l done gone afcr de COW
an spec l be late cherry mornln
now gwine af'er dis yere."
My class in Sunday school con
sisted of q dozen boys between th'
ages of eight and. twelve; most o.
them bright, and one real origina
"a sort Of boy Topsy; unlike any
thing in the wide world but jus
himself. He belonged also to m!
daily school, and on entering gave
his name as "Chris."
"Chris what?" | asked.
"Namc Chris he repeated.
"But, have you no other namc?"
"Donc tole yer my name fore
name Chris" and he looked at mi
in amazcmcnt at my stupidity. -
as "Chris' he was registered, ant
that melodious monosyllablc wa
the only name he ever acknowl
edged.
His dress was the most wonderful
thing that ever was seen, and wa
arranged without the least consider
alton of times or seasons. On
stormy winter day, when the COLI
seemed to pinch ones very bones
and an Esquimaux suit Of furs woul'
| 1o.,. forto ,ln ooI cuifn IL.