Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1884-05-01
WEED AND WINDIN' BLADES.

---thriStSR ldrOcGtc.
WEED AND WINDIN BLADES.
Young Henry Ilayloid experienced
much difficulty in finding, in his some
what contracted sphere of operation, Il
vocation which would yield Il pleasur-
able, not TO say rcmuncrativc return.
One day, after having experimental
with quite number of "callingS," in
cIuding Il mild attempt in the pulpit,
he heard that school teacher was
greatly needed in far removed dis
trict known rs "Pantcr Walk He
had begun the study of veterinary sur
gerry, but not being very much taken
with the profession, he decided to 20
at once TO PAINTER Walk and begin
the much-nccdcd course ofinstruction.
Arriving, he found small log school
house sparccly supplied with benches.
The farmers whom he consulted.
agreed that Il school was the very thing
they needed, but that no one could en-
pcct much "of shown" till airtcr the
crops was laid by" This was GER
tainly discouraging, but as Young Hay
loid had nothing else in view. he dcci-
dcd to remain and take his chances,
When school opened, only two "SchOl-
ars made their appearance, the fam
lily property of old Jim Socklastcr.
One was "gangling' boy, whose
awkward form and rccklcSsncsS of gait,
had won the appcllation Of "Windin'
Blades The girl, tall and with Il
disposition to rOmp. was rather good
looking and wore around her light
hair Il blue ribbon -silkcn strcaIis of
civilization.
"And what is your namc?" asked
the teacher.
They cal me Weed, sir" She said.
why did they give you such Il
name?'
"Cause she growcd so fast, =" inter-
posed Windin Blades
As no other pupils came, Haylod
decided TO goahcad regardless ofnum-
bcrs. 1t was with some trouble that
the two students could be classified.
Windin' Blades had only one book, Il
tattered copy Of "Paradis Lost of
which he could not read Il line, and
Weed had brought work treating of
agriculture among the ancient Egyp-
tians.
"Whcre did you get these books?'
asked the teacher.
"a tramp gave EN- TO us fora iugof
buttcrmilk," replied Windin' Blades.
"Can your father read?'
"lIc can read little books, but he
can t read one as big as this
Your mother can doubtless read, y
turning to the girl.
"Shc cant read now, but She ulster
could
"Why cant she read now?'
Because the book she learned to
read is dun lost There comes pap
Old man Socklastcr entered, nod
ded and said;
"Mornin' to you, mornin, sir. Got
sort o slim prospcck."
"Ycs, the children don't seem to be
coming very rapidly
Old Socklastcr was not disappointed
at the "slim prOspcck,' In fact, he
was rather pleased to note what en-
couragcmcnt, above his ncighbOrS, he
was extending to the cause Of cduca-
tion.
II rcckin' you're goin' to go right
on with the undertaken ics' the same
as if you had Il whole passc o schol-
ars?'
Yes" replied Hayloid, 81 came
here to teach and so long as can Sc
cure the attendance Of Il single pupil,
| shall continue to make my best eff
forts in behalf of learning
Glad to know it. You're the only
right sort o teacher we've had in this
community for some time
by the way, Mr. Socklastcr, these
books with which your children have
been provided are by no means appro-
pirate y
whats the matter with emp"
"One treats of agriculture several
thousand years ago, telling of wooden
plows and OK thrashing machines; the
other is Il book which only advanced
students can read and understand.
"Wall, the fcller we got them from
said they was good books, and he's u
older man than you are. Better let
'em worry along with them books
awhile, an airter they've dun learnt
all there is in en-, WY then I'll git
some better ones. Good day. Wush
you mighty well with your undertake
in"
Fortunately, Hayloid had brought a
few books for beginners. He had no
trouble in etlecting an exchange, foI
the bright pictures settled at once the
question as to their worth. Windin'
Blades and Weed had scarcely cx-
plored the mysteries of the alphabet,
but they proved attentive and evinced
such desire to learn, that Hayloid did
not regret having begun business with
"such slim prospecks.'
The teacher boarded in u quiet fam
lily, where the sunlight that little
child brings was unknown, where q
deaf old man and knitting old wom-
an sat down nightly to the exploration
of their own thoughts. All that Hay.
loid 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 uninter.
ruptcd 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 per-
form, yet the census of the school re.
mained the same, To watch the de-
velopment of Weeds mind was an in
terresting study. She was remarka-
bly, bright, and learned with read
mess that surprised Hayloid. Windin'
Blades after all was rather inclined to
be idle. He had a passion for carry
ing grasshoppers in his pockets.