Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-10
School Teaching in the Country.

come to make up my jewels in heaven.
Happy Days.
School Teashing in the Country.
always thought it would be delight
full to teach school in the country in the
winter season; the country is so beautiful
in its pure robes Of snow, you know, es-
pecially these prairies spread out in vast
fertility as far as the eye can reach, only
crossed here and there by smooth streams
with their fringes of timber standing out
against the clear blue of the sky, and
dotted with neat farm houses here and
there; and the country people are so kind
hearted and genial, you know, and the
children and youth so innocent Of the
follies and vices of the world!
I've been trying it!--teachlng in the
country. I considered myself fortunate
in getting school only eighteen miles
from home, as the teachers in our coun-
try are little thicker than locusts when
the seventeen year kind come; and, about
the middle of November, I packed my
Algebra, Geometry Zoology, Latin books,
Webster's Unabridged, Shakespeare, the
red-lined poets, the best Of my wardrobe,
and dozen or two little fancy articles
to adorn my expected coy room at my
boarding house; and in due season found
myself at my country retreat.
The house was not exactly elegant, nor
was it really Economically lovely although
it looked old enough to have as much of
a history as Adams SIMMER residence.
Well, always admired age, especially in
architecture. I followed my trunk into
the house bravely, thinking how beauti-
full in contrast with the dreary outside
would be the warm carpets, glowing fires
books, pictures, and good sheer within.
I knew there were bnt two in the family,
Ian old gentleman and his wifc,-and
pictured the quiet, pleasant evenings 1
shall spend with them, listening to his
cheerful, kindly voice, watching the play
of the freight over her silver hair and
soft folded hands, as I sat with them when
the day was spent.
A sharp-faced, little old woman met me
at the door, in short calico dress minus
any over-dress, ushered me into the house
with as few words as possible, and seated
me in room which knew instantly was
the kitchen. Then, after having disposed
of myputer wrappings, she returned to
certain culinary operations which my ar
rival had interrupted. There was that
odious thing, '.johnny-cakc," visible
through the half-open door of the oven,
and on top the stove, Kissing vigorously
in frying-pan, were some enormous
slices of something sending out the unmis-
taxable odor of pork that is no longer
youthful. The amount of food took
that evening was no strain on my diges-
tive apparatus. I longed to get to my
own apartment, rest in the cozy depths of
a longing chair, or curl myself up COM
fortably on my sofa, and find some re-
prieve from my loneliness in the pages of
my favorite authors. So said quite early
that would retire, if they pleased, and
was shown to the ''school-ma'am's room.
1t wasn't large enough to make it seem
dreary, yet it wasn't exactly what you
might call cozy. The floor, like all the
rest in the house was perfectly free from
any hint Of a carpet; the two windows
were hung, not deliberately, with blue
cambria; there were two cane seated
chairs in the room, long box covered
with calico, and a bedstead! It was not
antique or ancient, or anything of the
sort, perhaps, but it was certainly ''four-
poster and the tour posts were fastened
together with four strips of board. The
outer covering Of the board was quilt of
most marvellous design, that resembled
nothing I had ever seen upon the earth,
or over it, or under it, except itself. In
front of the bedstead was arug consisting
of four parts, each occupying one-quarter
of it,-a blue ground dotted with red, in
one corner; red ground with blue
cross upon it, in each Of the two opposite
corners; and blue quadruped whether
canine or feline never could determine)
with red eye, in the other corner.
did not call that bed hard bed the first
night; I made up my mind had taken
a cold which had settled i'll my bones.
The next hight I concluded 1 had the
rheumatism: and the next day I looked
to see what the bed was made Of: after
that I didn't call it-nor its inhabitants;
they came without calling.
There was no apparatus about my room
particularly designed for purposes OF alb
luton, and, in the course Of the first
morning persuasivcly limited wash
bowl to mine hostess. My impudence
was rewarded by the sacrifice to my es-
pecial use Of a portion of the family
property. It was new pint tin basin. ]
felt the sacrifice.
I thought saw prospect of crnsola
ton in my school, for l was informed
that should have some pupils nearly as
old as my self. Doubtless [ should for
get the discomforts of my boarding place
in the delight Of soaring up the heights
of wisdom with those ardent joyous, un
tried yong spirits.
1 started out early Monday morning
acress lots. l had several fences to ge
over, or under, on my way. These
managed quite comfortably, until came
to the last, which was of wire, -two lines
of barbed wire and one, the lowest, I'M