St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-10-22

the WINTER, ana thereby earn money
enough to carry me oyer the following
summer.
The journey in these first days of
railroad travel had to be made part of
the way by coaches, and occupied some
three days; the coach ride being from
Lebanon, N. H., to st. Johnsbury,
through the fertile valleys and over the
mountainous roads, made charming by
the "Swiss scenery" which lines the
northern banks of our picturesque Con-
necticut river. The journey was made
doubly delightful by the charming COM
pany with whom 1 had the honor of
travelling; and who, 1 am happy to
say, still graces the society of your spir-
tied town. Iu passing, may mention
that at the town of Lyme, N. H., we
took aboard the coach the gentlemanly
and talented 1. K. H., who not only be-
came my school-fellow, but my board
ing-house chum. While the coach was
waiting for him to get aboard, with bag
and baggage, l noticed for the first
time coy young maiden IN. L. L.) of
some 12 summers, picking daisies for a
goodbye souvenir to her favorite
neighbor and friend "Ireneus." As
write she now resides in a foreign land,
and is know as "Frau Plunkett:"
Nothing of striking interest occurred
during the fall term of the st. Johns
bury academy. p. P. remembers, how
ever, with affectionate interest the diff
ferent teachers of that most excellent
institution its manly school fellows and
many beautiful young ladies.
At the close of the term, 1 found l
was obliged to borrow few dollars of
my good uncle in order to "square up
all round-besides l had no school Sc
cured to teach for the winter, although
1 had made much effort for such an en-
gagement. found that the neighbor-
ing school districts had either contract
ed for their teachers or would accept
none but those who had seen the inside
of a college, aud l became discouraged.
But l am sure none of my school mates
mistrusted my poverty, since 1 had the
happy faculty of excepting up appear
ances;" and then l had such flow of
the genial that no one suspected my be-
ing other than the happiest of mortals.
of ha alo - T
ceived an invitation to visit and spend
Thanksgiving with Mr.. George Reid, a
cousin of my mothers, residing in the
town of Scroggs River, some twenty
miles from st. Johnsbury. 1 gladly
availed myself of the opportunity, for
had faith to believe that something to
my advantage would come out of it.
Before proceeding further feel that
must make a personal reference to this
| fine specimen of the Vermont farmer
and gentleman-Mr. George Reid-or
"Uncle George" as all the young peo-
pie called him. He was of Scotch Irish
descent, of large stature, broad and
deep physically and mentally, of liber-
al views, infinite jest and warm affec-
ton, and with sympathies correspond
ing. In fine and taken as a whole in
his neat and comfortable homespur
clothes, his ruddy and manly counte-
nance showed him to be just what he
was-viz: fine specimen of the we'll
to-do Vermont farmer. And we al
know just what that means. 1t may be
superfuous for to add, such men are the
glory of nation, the best and strong
est type of New England manhood anG
are bound to make themselves felt anG
respected at all times and under all cir
cumstances. He was just the man tC
cheer me in my dependency.
had not been with him but day OIL
two before he discovered that had {
weight upon my mind, and when h'
found that 1 felt it absolutely necessary
to have school to teach, unbeknowI
to me be hitched up his team and wen
to canvassing. The first night after re-
turning he said to me, "Well, you arr
in luck to-day. I've engaged a schoo
for you at Griggsville in this township
and upon my recommendation they
have promised to pay one dollar ;
month more than they ever paid be
fore" l went "daft" with joy, wher
Uncle George "put on brake" afte
the following style: "Now don't fee
too 'chipper; 1 might as well tell yo
the whole truth. The fact is, visite'
the most respectable districts in the
neighborhood before hauling up a
Griggsville, but 1 found them all sup
piled and as last resort went t
Griggsville where they had no schoo
master engaged, for the simple reaso
that no one dares to undertake the jot
: for it is notorious that for the past sew
en- winters the school has been broke
up by three or four rowdies, who hav
made themselves terror in that com
munity. Last winter they had littl
skim milk Sophomore from Dartmout
, college, and the first week they took
| fence rail into the school house and tie
| the masters legs under it, and then cal
ried him out with his head downward
and dropped him in the snow; an
when tired of this sport they compelle
the girls to go and unite him. 1 kne'
all this, but l also knew it was Hobson
choice, so l told the committee man
he would increase the salary one dolla