Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-08-14

of education"
"Glad to know it. You're the only
right sort O. teacher we've had in the
community for some time"
books with which your children have
been provided are by no means appro-
pirate"
whats tina matter with emp
Gone treats of agriculture several thou
sand years ago, telling of wooden plOws f.
and OK threshing machines; the other IS
a book which only advanced pupils can
read and understand"
wall the feller we got them Of said 4
they was good books, and he is a older /
man than you are. Better let 'em worry /
along with them books awhile, and arter
they've dun learnt all there is in 'em
why then I'll git some better ones. Good |
day. Wush you mighty well with your
undertaken"
Fortunately, Hayloid had brought a
few books for beginners. He had no
trouble in effecting an exchange, for the
bright pictures settled at once the ques-
ton of their worth. Windin' Blades and
Weed had scarcely explored the mys-
teries of the alphabet, but they proved
to be attentive and eVinced such desire /
to learn, that HaylOid did not regret
having begun school with "such slim
prospects,"
Inc Ieacn6E DOdI0Cu IL a Qul6B ldllll4y5
where the sunlight that a little child
brings was unknown, where a deaf. old
man and a knitting old woman sat down
nightly to the exploration of 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 self
investigation.
Windin' Blades and Weed, day after
day, continued to be the only pupils.
Corn was 'laid by" and the 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 interesting study
She was remarkably bright and learned
with a readiness which surprised Hay
loid Windin' Blades, after all, was in
clined to be idle. He had passion for
carrying grasshOppers in his pockets.
These insects occupied his entire time on
the playground, and at last, after much
experiment, he succeeded IN Harvesting
them to an diminutive wagon which he
had constructed. The teacher remOn-
strated with him concerning this worth
less absorption, and once he spoke to his
father, but the old man instead of being
Gispleased, smiled until the tobacco spit
IL
"Let him 90" he replied. 81 was sor-
ter o. that turn myself when was a boy,
an daddy lowed that 1t wouldn't amount
to nOthin' but arter awhile l turned out
to be the best plow handin the country"
Winter came, and still no other pupils
appeared. By the bright fire, while the
snOwstOrm ragged outside, HaylOid found
himself better cOntented than he had
ever been before, and his interest, in
of rTvnrr
The teacher had at first decided that he
would not beg for pupils, and on no Oc-
casiOn did he request the farmers to send
their children. He was treated politely,
yet he could see that the people of the
neighborhOOd cared nothing for his
society, but as this Indifference was
mutual, he spent very little time in re-
greet.
One day Windin' Blades failed to
come, but Weed, with her face all aglOW
with healthful exercise, came as usual.
| When she had hung up her hOmespun
cloak and shaken the snow from her
bright hair, HaylOid asked:
Where Is your brothcr?"
'He amt here"
81 see he's not here, but where is he?"
CAT home"
"Why didn't he GOMEZ"
"Had to 90 to mill"
"Weed, don't you think that you are
learning very rapidly?"
eyes, sir"
81 don't think that I ever saw any one
make such rapid progress. You have a
fine order of mind, and hope that after
L leave the neighbOrhOOd you will still
pursue your studies"
"You are not thinking of leaving, are
you?' looking up with eyes in which
lurked traces of sadness,
Il shall not leave Immediately, but in
justice to myself 1 cannot remain here
much longer"
She twisted the flax homemade but
ton on her dress, and gazed fxedly at the
roaring logs.
"Do you want me to stay hereP' he
asked.
Eyes" twisting the button.
"But you know that I cannot stay
/ here always"
mo-" she replied, with Frightening
! eyes, 1--WE can't stay anywhere always.
/ We have to die sometime?"
/ "Why, Weed you are running ahead
/ of your studies. You have jumped from
the fourth reader to an advanced book
/ of philosophy"
She did not thoroughly comprehend
his meaning, but she laughed and be-
! slowed on him a glance which forever
remained a pleasant memory.
"Do you, so fresh and vigorous, with
/ such boom Of perfect life ever think of
/ dying?"
Yes" she replied, sadly, "my little
sister was the picture of life, with more
/ bloom than I have and with a face so
/ bright that everybody wanted to kiss it,
/ but she died. When they said that she
! could not get well I did not believe them,
| but one morning when I went to the bed
/ and found the bloom all gone. knew
/ that they had told me the truth. Now I
] l-r,1vrr hoA I 70 100 Ahr,
/ bloom does not mean life but many
I times means death"
! He looked at her in surprise. He had
| taken great Mains TO cnrract her lanonaoa