The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1884-06-24
MY FIRST SCHOOL.
ETHEL ELLWOOD.

CRY.
The way of it was, just this /: | had
lived with my uncle tor the last seven
wears, having no nearer relatives
and as had received what | cousid-
cred a good education, | applied for
a position in one of the city schools
| was ambitious to earn something for
myself, as my uncle had large fam
ily OF his own to support by the labor
of his own hands.
But my services were politely de-
clined, and the coveted position given
to another. Hence my disappoint-
ment.
Soon after this, an acquaintance of
my unc.e's, from the country, pro-
posed to him that | come out aud
teach their school. | had always
lived in town and it had never &C.
CURED to me to leave the city TO seek
employment. But | was anxious for
work and rather against the wishes OF
my friends, | agreed to take the
school.
/ was young, only seventeen, aud had
seen little of the world outside the
noisy town. But felt very wise and
important when | thought of the
duties | was about to assume. The
wood Country" was to me synonym
for all that is wild and dreary. L
wondered about the people ] should
find there. and pictured them In my
own mind as very ignorant and be-
nighted.
In thinking of it all | felt some
what as, [ suppose now, the mission
aries feel when they start to the wIlds
of Africa. But | resolved to do all L
could for them. | would teach the
entire community if they would per-
NIT me.
EOf course the young men would fall
in love with me, country SWANS al
ways do fall in love with city girls,
in novels at least. But | thought OF
nv particular friend Mr.. Smith,
who was porting over law-books and
curling his nous ache, and my mind
was made up as to the answer | should
give them all.
October came at last, and ere many
of its golden days had slipped away
| found myself in my new place of
residence. The family consisted OF
Farmer Brown, his wife, and their
ONLY son, Jamie, his mother called
him, and Mary Heath, girl of about
my own age who had come to help
for her board and 60 to school. The
farmer was rough, but kindly, Mrs.
Brown was a good, motheriy woman,
and loved her from the first, Jamie,
we'll he was. as | said to myself, a
fair specimen of what l had pictured
the young country man to be. His
hands were big and brown, his clothes
were coarse. But he had straight.
tall figure and really handsome blue
eyes. Mary Heath was a shy quiet
girl with brown eyes and hair and a
pleasant face.
Somehow in the presense of this
group / did not feel so wise as |
thought should. | had great re-
spect for them all, and if they were
not versed in every rule of etiqette,
| know their hearts were kind.
NV school duties proved sufficient
to employ most of my time. But
often on those glorious autumn even
ings | strolled out with Mary as she
went to the woods pasture to drive
home the COWS that still cropped the
grass for food. With our aprons full
of autumn leaves we would return,
aud Jamie would come out and assist
Mary with the milling, while | stood
by and talked to them both.
During these early days at the
Brown farm house | found myself
contrasting this life with the life at
home, and these people with the peo-
pie there. Here comfort was first
instead of show and appearance. Ev-
erything was not rush and hustle
here. The evenings were delightfully."-
quiet, and there was time to sit down
and enjoy the pure air. Mary Heath
was not like any girl friends | had
left behind, but [ was learning to love
her. Jamie was not like Mr.. Smith,
he did not know how to bow as gen.
teely as that gentleman, and he blush
ed like a girl sometimes. But |
could read human nature well enough
to know that he possessed a good, true
heart. | did not wish to break his
heart as my much loved novel hero
ines had fondness for doing. So |
told myself that | hoped he would not
fall in love with me, but would simp-
" be friend.
| enjoyed these pleasant days more
than | had ever dreamed Of doing.
As time passed on, | ceased to wish
10 return to the CITY. There were