The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-08
BOARDING AROUND.
Experiences Of the schcoImsster In his Tran-
STORY Homes.

From, me Aeih0stsi.
When IL was customary for school teach
ers to board among the employers, was among
The advantages Of the system were so many
aud so apparent to those who sometimes used
in their large nrcplnces stone " b0ck-logs " and
irOu fore-stcks, that ~ was not the thing of
day," but a condition of things that lasted sew
ofu wears, md passed away like some other
u.acea OF the olden dine.
Inero was trouble in inqIiring for place
to bYnrd the terchcr; no words about ptice or
pn, for board no fault 10 nnd with any, but
merely to md whore the family lived that was
ready 10 "bourd tho teacher" was All that was
necessary, and tiis 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 sur
prise me, and did the same to them. Rattle
snakes and other tribes Of the serpent family
lived among the rocks. AMI large blue buckle
berries grew 90 the bushes. We picked the
berries and killed the snakes. VARIETY spiced
TINS KIND OF itinernnt NE. More than necessary
preparation was often made when f'miies ex-
pccted the teacher TO board with them for a
week. On reaching their homes the children
would frat show me what Interested them
their water wheels or rabbit traps after enter
Inc the house, their books. cspecially any that
had pictures on, or were presents.
lies In conversation and helping the children
alona IN their lessons for the next day; the
room was m de cheerful by talOw candles and
hlazing FIRE u pine knots.
With some families the grinding OF the coffee
IN the morning was the signll bell to arouse and
have us get ready for breakfast. AT one place.
after going down stairs and out Of doors a little
while, | mutioneu ny though | wanted some
water to W sh. and asked tue man Of the house
where could wash. Down to the brook" he
said, pointing In hat direction; and down to
the brook went, where was plenty Of water
washed and returned, seeing that was the way
thew ala. Sometimes trout from the streams
would be the fare, veuison from the forest or
Housekeepers knew how TO prepare these for
the plate and the palate. and once they gave me
some OF bruins beef. as was pie, sed To- call IT.,
which was procured at some risk Of life. A
good-szed black bear left his tracks the
snow so plainly as to arouse a hunters valor.
who with his rlhe pursued the bear to his re-
treat In large hollow tree, in which he was safe
Tor the time; there was no getting at him there.
70 start him out tho hunterN hoy. who was one
OF my scholars, pounded the tree with an axe,
until the bear elm bed 10 the top to survey the
coast, md see who was disturbing him ia this
way. This was the hunters opportunity. With
good aim he sent up the ball that gave poor
bruin bleeding heart, after which IL was safe
ana easy To get him down and divide him up In
liberal portions among the neignbors and that
was how came to taste the qualities Of bruins
beef.
ono OF nv best boarding places was at a loo
mouse, not cabin. but a good house, where
lived Il sturdy Presbyterian deacCn,with large,
Interesting family. 10 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 20. The deacon AWAY $
had hearty way Of shaking hands with some
thing ready to say that was worth hearing. lie
had his rules without their being Ia writing or
In scoldiug. In that family there was order and
kindness. The children played and worked. or
learned at home II they pleased. till they were
they went to school, AS some " them did to me,
beginning at the alphabet; and II WIS easy for
them to begin. and soon 20 by others VINO had
been TO school almost from their infancy. 1t
seemed \ little strange to ne TO nud that this
hardy old PRESBYTERIAN deacon was IN the habit
~ reading by course, with the Bible Cark's
Commentary. of course he read SCOTS aud
other books with the papers. In his family the
~ WAS begun with reading the scriptures and
PRAYER and closed with prayer. Que II his sons,
alter knew hin, was an able editor Of "A paper,
and Governor Of one If the Western states.
wanted De- 4 VI Il l.
Gated. and the churches TO thrive. lie gave me
MANY an encouraging word.
A different mIn from him one day saw me
pass on NY way up 20 the scno lhouse. and to A
neigho Dor expressed his regrets thar many per
SOM OF beaith, with limbs all sound and able to
do hard work, were employed to teacn in the
schools 50 much loss to the country schools
were well enough. he said. Out should be taught
by those who were crippled in some way-who
could do nothing else very well. This poor man
could work. but ne could not read.
Still pleasant in my memory are some Others
of my experiences IN boarding around" Tue
system VIII probably not he revived during this
Incoming century, uni IS some new continent u
discovered.