Connecticut western news., 1876-11-03
BOARDING AROUND.
Experiences of the scho0lmaster in his
 Transit0ry Homes.


 Experiences of the schooImaster In his
 Transitory Homes.
 When it was customary for school teachers to board among the employers, I was among the happy boarders. The advantages of the system were so many and so apparent to those who sometimes used in their large fireplaces stone back-logs" and iron fore-stieks, that it was not the "thing of day." but con- dition of things that lasted several years and passed away like some other usages of the olden time. <
 There was no trouble in inquiring for place to board the teacher; no words about price or pay for board; no fault to find with any, but merely to find where the family lived that was ready to ssbosrd the teacher" was all that was necessary, and this was done by going home with the children after school. As we went over the hills, or through the woods, the children would relate what they thought would please or surprise me, and did the same to them. Rattle snakes and other tribes of the serpent family lived among the rocks, and large blue huckleberries grew on the bushes. We picked the berries and killed the snakes. Variety spiced this kind of it. inerant life. More than necessary prep aration was often made when families expected the teacher to board with them for 8 week. On reaching their homes the children would first show me what interested them-their waterwheels or rabbit traps; after entering the house, their books, especially any that had pie lures in, or were presents. F=zv~@s
 Pleasant evenings were passed in many families in conversation and help ing the children along in their lessons for the next day; the room was made cheerful by tallow candles and blazing fire of pine knots. sa8 fE S4<s
 With some families the grinding of the coffee in the morning was the signal bell to arouse and have us get ready for breakfast. At one place, after going down stairs and out of doors little while, motioned as though wanted some water to wash, and asked the man of the house where I could wash. "Down to the brook" he said, point ing in that direction; and down to the brook I went, where was plenty of water, washed and returned, seeing that was the way they did. Sometimes trout from the streams would be the fare, venison from the forest or silver cells from the Delaware, Sullivan county. Housekeepers knew how to prepare these for the plate and the palate, and once they gave me some of bruin's beef, as I was pleased to call it, which was procured at some risk of life. A good sized black bear left his tracks on the snow so plainly as to arouse hunter s valor, who with his rife pursued the bear to his retreat ina large hollow tree, in which he was safe for the time; there was no getting at him there.~ To start him out, the hunters boy, who was one of my scholars, pounded the tree with an ax, until the bear climbed to the top to survey the coast, and see who was disturbing him in this way. This was the hunters opportunity. With good aim he sent up the ball that gave poor bruin bleeding heart, after which it was safe and easy to get him down and divide him up in liberal portions among the neighbors; and that was how I came to taste the qualities of bruin's s beef.
 One of my best boarding places was at a log house, not a cabin, but good house, where lived sturdy Presbyterian deacon, with large, interesting family. To reach the house his boys would row me across the Delaware river, where we jumped the bank, and soon found our way where always liked to go. The deacon always had hearty way of shak- ing hands, with something ready to say that was worth hearing. He had his rules without their being in writing or in scolding. In that family there was or der and kindness. The children played and worked, or learned at home if they pleased, till they were several years old, strong and healthy, before they went to school, as some of them did to me, beginning at the alphabet; and ii was easy for them to begin, and soon ge by others who had been to school almost from their infancy. It seemed little strange to me to find that this hardy old Presbyterian deacon was in the habit o reading, by course, with the Bible "Clark's Commentary. Of course hs read Scott's and other books with tn. papers. In his family the day was be gun with reading the Scriptures an6 prayer, and closed with prayer. One O his sons, after knew him, was an abl, editor of paper, and governor of on' of the Western States. This deacol wanted all the children to be educated and tue churches to thrive. He gave m many an encouraging word.
 A different man from him one day say me pass on my way up to the school house, and to a neighbor expressed hi regrets that so many persons of healtll with limbs ali sound and capable to d. hard work, were employed to teach il the schools; 30 much loss to the noun tryl Schools were we'll enough, h said, but should be taught by those wh were crippled in some way-who coul do nothing else very we'll. This poo man could work, but he could not read
 Still pleasant in my memory are som others of my experiences in :" boardin around" The system will probably nc be revived during hisincoming century unless some new continent is discovered
 Life in Oregon