, 1883-05-17
HiRy'o FirSs SchoOA

MSillidDeI, UT, uS DIG Wao luululhllJ
called, Hitty Wilson, lived in the town
of Boston.
say town, because at the time Of
which am about to write Boston had
not been Incorporated as q city.
Hitty's father was accounted a man Of
Importance, having held for many years
the position of Selectman, and having a
voice in the affairs of the town. He
was also man of wealth, and could Of.
ford to pay the sum OF ga shilling o
week and two foot of wood" for the win
ter, that his large family OF children
might, one after the other, attend q
frst-cass school.
So one day when Hitty was about 7
years old she was entered as pupil in
the school of Madam Gray. Madam
Gray's school was held in large wood
en- house situated on what was then, as
well as now, known as North square.
At that time this was the "court end !"
of the town and one of the most thickly
settled parts. At the back Of the house
was a garden, and underneath the kitch-
en- windows was q cellarway or bulkhead.
Both this yard and cellar-way bore an
important part in the education Of the
pupils, as we shall see anon.
On entering the front door, little
Hitty saw on either side of the entry a
door the one on the left leading into
the kitchen, while that on the right
opened into what was originally the liv-
ing-room, but had been converted into
a school.room. This room was large,
and Hitty thought it pleasant, for the
windows looked out upon the square,
and ON one side, too, was Gn open fire.
place with brass an6irons or dogs !;
upon these slowly burned huge logs OF
wood. In the cold days of winter the
heat from this fireplace scarcely sufliced
to render the room comfortable, in spite
OF the strips Of listing torn from the
edges of the homespun flannel and
nailed to the castings OF the doors and
windows.
In this room weTo four or five long
unpainted pine benches, or forms, with
out any backs; the height varied ac-
cording to the size of the scholars, the
lowest being in front. There were no
desks in the room.
Madam Gray was tall and stately in
form, end to Hitty's childish eye ap-
peared like an old lady, but this was no
doubt due in part to her style OF dress.
A gown Of black bombazine fitted close
" to her form, white muslin kerchiei
was pinned across her breast, while her
head was covered with n cop Of the same
material held in place by black ribbon
passing around the back of the head
and pinned at the top, tho ends left
loose. wish could draw for you nor
picture as she sat by the fireplace in a
quaint old wooden chair, and her feet
resting upon four-legged wooden
cricket.
On the floor, by her side, were two
wooden boxes, one containing the books
Of the boys and girls, and the other the
Ian bacs Of the Girls both hooks and
Dags Delng placed rnere OF the close OF
each day.
These lap-bags were aprons made in
the form of bags, and usually contained
patchwork, a handkerchief to be
hemmed, or a SHIRT to be made.
A girl in early Boston times was con-
sidered q mere Ounce who was not
skillful with her needle. Upon the side
of the bag was stitched piece Of cloth
some two inches wide by six inches in
length this Was divided by rows Of
stitching, end into each Of these divis-
ions skein of thread was drawn and
cut; for this was before tho days Of
spool.cottou.