River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-10-16

young 1aylOlu Iitd lloliiltS oloO AZ 'A0"'
he decided to stay and take his chances.
When school opened only two scholars
made their appearance. the family prop
erty of old Jim Socklaster. One was
a gangling" hoy. whose awkward form
and recklessness of gait had won him
the appellation of "Windin' Blades"
The girl, tall ana with disposition to
romp, was rather good-looking, and
wore around her hair blue ribbon
silken streak of civilization.
"And what is your name?" asked the
teacher.
"They call me Weed, sir" she said.
"Why did they give you such nameY'
"Cause she growed SO fast, p" inter
posed Windin' Blades.
As no other pupils came, Hayloid de-
cided to go ahead regardless of mum i.
bers. 1t was with some tronble that
the two students could be classified.
Windin' Blades had only one book, a
tattered copy of Paradise Lost" OF
which he could not read line, and
Weed had brought a work treating of
agriculture among the ancient Egypt
ians.
"Where did you get these books ?"
asked the teacher
"a tramp give 'em to us for a jug of
buttermilk," replied Windin' Blades.
''Can your father read?"
''He can read little books, but he
can't read one as big as this one"
"Yosr mother can doubtless read ?"
turning to the girl.
"She can't read now, but she ulster
could"
"Why can't she read now?"
Because the book she learned to
read is dun lost. Here comes pap"
Old man Socklaster entered, nodded
and said:
'Mornin' to you, mornin', sir. Got
sorter slim prospect.
ayes, the children don't appear to be
coming very fast. :"
Old Socklaster was not disappointed
at the "slim prospeck fact he was
rather pleased to note what encourage
ment, beyond his neighbors, he was
giving to the cause of education.
II reckin you're goin' to go right on
with the undertaken ies' the same, as
if you had whole passed. of scholars ?"
dyes" said Hayloid. 81 came here
to teach, and so long as I can secure the
attendance of single pupil l shall con
tinue to make my efforts in behalf OF
learning.
"GIad to know it. You're the only
right sort of teacher we've had in this
community for some time.
"By the way, Mr.. Socklaster, these
books which your children have been
provided with are by no means appro-
pirate.
whats the matter with emp"
zone treats OF agriculture several
thousand years ago, telling of wooden
plows and OK threshing machines, the
other is book which only advanced
students can read and understand.
wall, the Teller we got 'em of said
they was good books, and he's an older
man than you are. Better let 'em
worry along with them books awhile,
an arter they've dun learnt all
there is i'll 'em, wy then I'll get them
some better ones Good day. Wush
you mighty well with your undertaken. y
Fortunately Hayloid had brought a
few books for beginners. He had no
trouble in effecting an exchange, for
the bright pictures at once settled the
question of their worth. Windin' Blade
and Weed had scarcely exploded the
mysteries of the alphabet, but they
proved to be attentive and evinced such
a desire to learn that Hayloid did not
regret having commenced with such
slim prospects,
The teacher boarded in quiet fam
iIy, where the sunlight that little
child brings is unknown, where deaf
old man and a knitting old woman sat
down nightly to the exploration Oh
their own thoughts. All that Hayloid
could get out of the old man was "hah'
with one hand behind his ear-and as
the old lady seemed to drop a stitch
every time he addressed her, she was
allowed to pursue an uninterrupted
course of ADMINISTRATION.
Windin' Blades and Weed, day by
day, continued to be the only pupils.
Corn was laid by" and tue farmers
boys had no particular work to perform,
yet the census of the school remained
the same. To watch the development
of Weeds mind was an interest
ing study She was remarkably
bright, and learned with a readi-
ness which surprised Hayloid Win
din Blade was, after all, inclined to
be idle He had a passion for carrying
grasshoppers in his pockets. These in
sects occupied his entire time on the
playground, and at last, after much ex-
pertinent, he succeeded in Harvesting
them to diminutive wagon which he
I.
strated with him concerning this useless
absorption, and once he spoke to his
father, but the old man instead of be-
ing displeased. smiled until the tobacco
juice ran out of the corners of his
mouth.
Let him 60" he replied, at was
sorter O. that turn myself when I was d
boy, am daddy allowed / wouldn't
amout to nothin, but arter while
turned ont to be the best pillow hand in
the country"
Winter came, and still no other pu-
pills appeared. BY the bright log fire,
while the snowstorm ragged outside.
Hayloid found himself better eontented
than he had ever been before, and his
interest, instead of growing less, be-
came greater Inc teacner nad ~
first decided that he would not beg for
pupils. and on no occasion did he ask
the farmers to send their children.
He was treated politely. yet he conld
see that the people ofthe neighborhood
cared nothing for his society, but as
this indifference was mutual he spent
very little time in regret.
One day Windin Blades failed to
come, but Weed, with her face all
aglow with healthful exercise, came as