The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-10-17
WEED BLADES.

course of instruction. Arriving, he
found small log school house, sparsely
supplied with benches. The farmers
whom he consulted agreed that q school
was the very thing they needed, but
that no one could expect much "of a
shown till arter the crops was laid by. :"
This was certainly discouraging, but as
young Hayloid had nothing else in view,
he decided to stay and take his chances.
When school opened emily two Scholars
made their appearance, the family prop.
erty of old Jim Socklaster. One was
o "gangling" hoy. whose awkward form
and recklessness of gait had won him
the appellation of ''Windin' Blades. :"
The girl, tall and with o disposltion to
romp, was rather good-looking, and
wore around her hair blue ribbon
silken streak of civilization.
Sand what is your name?" asked the
teacher.
"They call me Weed, sir" she said.
"Why did they give you such nancy"
"Cause she growed so fast, inter-
posed Windin' Blades.
As no other pupils came, Hayloid de-
cided to 60 ahead regardless of mum.
bers. 1t was with some tronble that
the two students could be classified.
Windin' Blades hid only one book, q
tattered copy of Paradise Lost" of
which he could not read Q line, and
Weed had brought work treating of
agriculture among the ancient Egypt
inns.
"Where did you get these books?"
asked the teacher.
"a tramp give 'em to us for 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."
"Your 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"
coming very fast"
Old Socklaster was not disappointed
at the "slim prospeck"-in 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? ?"
"Yes," said Hayloid. II came here
to teach, and so long as I can secure the
attendance of a single pupil I shall con-
tinue to make my efforts in behalf of
learning"
"Glad 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 q book which only advanced
students con 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 in 'em, wy then I'll get them
some better ones. Good day. Wush
you mighty we'll with your undertaken"
Fortunately Hayloid had brought O
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 he attentive and evinced such
desire to learn that Hayloid did not
regret having commenced with "such
slim prospects,"
The teacher boarded in q quiet FAM
lily, where the sunlight thut a little
child brings is unknown, where deaf
old man and knitting old woman sat
down nightly to the exploration of
their own thoughts. All that Hayloid
could get out of the old man was "hahn
with one hand behind his ear-and as
the old lady seemed to drop stitch
every time he addressed her, she was
allowed to pursue ON uninterrupted
course of self-investigation.
Windin' Blades and Weed, day by
day, continued to he the only pupils.
Corn was laid BY" and the farme RS
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 q readi-
ness which surprised Hayloid. VIM
din Blade was, after all, inclined to
be idle. He had 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
had constructed, The teacher remon-
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 co." he replied, II was
bOrter U tuBt TURN myself when was q
boy, an daddy allowed I wouldn't
amout to notllin,' but arter q while
turned out to he 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 contented
than he had ever been before, and his
interest, instead Of growing less, be-
came greater. The teacher had at
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 could
ses that the people fthe neighborhood
cared nothing for his socisty, but as
this indifference wss mutual he spent
very little time in regret.
One day Windin' BladsY failed 20,
come, but ed, With h)r faee ALL
r lpy MI ~ althfnl xsfu ca,ns u
!sss