South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-06-01

services Of any person whom they
were willing to engage. aud there
WAS some prospect that the experience
might be repeated. when one alter
noon . young woman came on the
stage and inquired for the school com.
mittec Of the district. Jared Mark.
ham, one OF the few prosperous farm.
ers in the community filed that posi-
ton. and when Misc Rodgers made
known her wish TO secure the school
he was quite taken by surprise. He.
easy, dignitied manners, her faultless
speech, and the cafnestness which
beafncd from her largo, beautiful gray
eyes, assured him without a formal
examination that her. coming would
be godsend for the rustic district.
But lie was not with0nt misgivings,
for he could not understand why SO
capable a person "a the applicant
lRaeInad shonid seek go unpromisins q
field of labor, if che understood its
many drawbacks.
we want teacher, Miss Rodgers
as you have been told, but Pm afraid
we can't offer you any, inducements
to come here. The district Is large
and scatterin', the school small, the
pay still smaller aud not always ready
when the wo, K is done, and the teach.
err has TO board around, and maybe
don't need to tell ron that she don ;,
always find it qnite pleasant. Our
people mean well, but some Of them
have queer notions. and they don't
always stand on the way they give
expression to them
Miss Rodgers smiled, and the smile
went straight through the heart of the
bewlldered committee man.
None of those things which you
name give me moments uneasness,
she said. L care little for the pay,
Tor that is Il secondary consideration
though | shall expect to receive what
earn, it after trial you think | earn
auyihing. As to the people, they
will have no occasion for prejudice,
either for or against me, and if do
well by their children, do not doubt
that they will give me what credit
deserve. | only seek something that
will Fill my time, that will give me n
chance 10 be useful, even in n snal.
way. Your school can hardly fail
to do that
She produced some letters of intro
ton which the farmer scanned, and
when he handed them back. he
said.-
We'll, Miss Rodgers. you can try it,
and If you can got along. 1 am sure
we can
Surely not without an examination,
she said with another of those smiles
which made Mr.. Markham feel so un-
comfortable. You have no means
of knowing whether am qualified
for the position Of teacher, and | tell
you candidlJ that | have never had
charge OF q school. But / think
can teach successfully, by not at.
tempting too much at the outset
'lIang the examination = thought
Mr. Markham. Bat he took his list
of standard questions from the anti.
quatcd secretary in the corner, and
began.
Truth to say, Miss Rodgers did not
always give the answers prescribed
by authority, and not intrequently
when she had done so in substance,
she branched off into little disserta.
tons upon the manner in which the
subject matter could be best brought
within The youthful comprehension,
which made Mr. Markham feel that
there were worlds of thought which
with all his patient plodding he had
rcvcr discovered. Before the list of
questions had been half exhausted it
was replaced in the case, and Miss
Rodgers was formally engaged as
teacher of District No. 7.
The term OF thsee months was near.
ly over at tie time VIC introduce the
reader to the bnsy scene. No school.
term before had shown such marvel.
Gus results. Tho children had not
only learned their lessons well but had
learned 70 love their teacher with
devotion and unity never known
'I Tue uiStTiCl DSiOTe' auu tnelr re-
spect was shared by their parents as
well. Those who had never been
known 10 do so before, actually spoke
warm words of praise for her, and
were only disappointed that there
were none of different mind with
whom they could quarrel as to the
conduct of the school. From home
10 homo, Susan went as messenger
of happiness and the MISSIONARY If
sweeter life than the community had
previously known. UnObtruslvcly
she found her way into the affections
OF all, and became their confidant and
adviser. Were any sick or in dis.
tress? 1t was her hand tbnt minister.
ed to them. her soft yet firm voice
that spoke words of hope and cheer.
her presence that brought healing aud
consolation to the tried and sorrowing
hearts.
In the home Of Mr.. Markham she