The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-05-05

the sum- "Surely, two days and nights
must have passed, and It must now be
about the third day. How long could one
live without foodi And The coldf How
intense" Often he was tempted to lie
calmly down, and at once meet the death
which at best could not be far distant,
and only the mute patience Of his dumb
companion made him yet cling to life a
little longer.
At last, when all hope is nearly dead
within him, light that is not a star APP
pears low on the horizon. With fast
beating heart the boy watches 1t as it
rises, higher and higher, and at last there
appears the glorious sun, whose light he
had scarcely expected ever to see again.
The horse is released, and paced up
and down to try his chilled and stiff
fened limbs, and his young master can
scarcely keep from shouting for joy, al
though he looks out upon world all I'M
known. AS soon as 1t was light George
mounted his horse and rode to the top Of
the eminence, on the side Of which he had
passed that long, lonely night. From
there were to he seen familiar landmarks,
and over there in the valley, but some
three or four miles distant, was his own
fathers house. The horse was urged into
his best speed, and never was more joyful
journey undertaken.
He soon arrived at home, where he re-
lated his nights adventures, and his
wants ministered to by mothers hand,
than whose none could be gentler or more
plying. After breaking his fast of more
than twenty-four hours, his weary limbs
were laid to rest in warm bed. Though
it was but a pallet of straw, no couch Of
down ever seemed softer, nor sweeter
sleep ever came to palace bed thar kissed
the weary eyelids of the tired boy
4
He has now grown to mans estate, but
ever does the memory Of that night, alone
on the wide prairie, in midwinter, lost,
with bowling wolves around him, bring
sensations which no pen can ever but
dimly describe.
The pioneer did not willingly neglect
the cause of education. Schools for the
young were always instituted as early as
practicable; though often under very dis
advantageous circumstances. / might
easily give many incidents, but the expe-
rience related to me recently by a lady Of
culture and refinement will illustrate my
subject as well as any other, so will
give it,
"with my family and friends had
moved into new settlement, and on count
ing Up, in the spring, it was found that
there were children enough in the neigh
borhood to open u school. I was just
fourteen, but was large for my age, and
had been accounted good scholar in the
school which 1 had attended. 1t was
thought that might muster sufficient
dignity to play the part of "school-
maam," and being the only person in that
vicinity who seemed available, l was Sc
lected to discharge that onorous duty.
"The first step was to procure certif.
cate. 1t was in the days of town school
superintendent, a system which l am
glad to know has passed away. One
Spring day took a long ride to see the
superintendent, and obtain the moment
GUS paper, authorizing me to "teach a
common school in the town of jackson, for
one year, unless this certificate is sooner
annulled," the considerations on which it
was based being "good moral character,
learning and ability"
"We found the Superintendent at work
in his field, but he came to the house on
learning our errand, and proceeded to
business. was little embarrassed at
first, but soon found that the Superinten-
dent was the most embarrassed of the
two, and after being requested to read a
piece from Saunders Second Reader,
and to spell few such words as baker
"bacon." etc., gathered courage enough
to answer intelligibly and pretty correctly
such questions as these =" What State do
you live inr "What town." "Who is
PRESIDENT" "Whati is Geography "what
is ArithmeticF" and other quite as diff
cult and relevant ones. After all this, it
is almost needless to add that l obtained
certificate to teach. / think / would
have received one, even if could not
have read a word.
We'll, the scholars were ready to be-
gin work. So was the teacher; but there
was no school house. or other building
that it seemed could be used for the pur-
pose. The settlers had agreed to put up
a school building, but they were all so
busy attending to their own work, which
must, of necessity, be done, that there
seemed to be no time to give to this work,
and, besides, the few nails and glass that
would be required to be used would cost
money, and there were no millionaires who
felt able to advance the required sum.
"The school must be opened by the LIST
of May, in order to obtain public money,
and at that time not stroke had been
made for a school building. A. few neigh
bors who were interested, got together on
the last evening in April, and at their re-
quest the school was opened the next
morning-where do you SUPPOSED 1t was
in the upper room, or chamber, of my
own home, close to the roof, with long
rows Of beds on either side, which were