Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-11-13
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The American Rural Home. 81
b No one would have dreamed Of call
Ing her 4 heroine, Of Of attributing any
heroic qualities. to the slender, sad
laced woman robed in gray, who dali.
" passed to and fro from her board
ing place to the little white school
house meath the naples, where for
nearly year she had taught the
young belligerents Of Westdale hamlet.
Few knew ought regarding her, and
none were acquainted with any Of the
I facts pertaining to her past, or its
history I: (. 81
Bearing testimonials relative to her
calling from the faculty OF seminary
| In = distant State, she had been en-
gagged to fill the position as instruct
ross in the rural district Of Westdale.
Faithfully performing her duty and 81
lently going her way, the inquisitive
could only speculate as to what they
IN no way understood her retice,lce
and deeply sorrowful conference and
demeanor. /. 81. Pc lar
That she failed to bepopular among.
her patrons was not to be wondered
at, as few persons admire, or love,
what they fail to understand; and
Darcia Tresswell was an inscrutable
and unsolved enigma to the simple
country folk among whom she dwelt.
OF q deeply religious nature, cultur-
ed and refined, her thoughts, tastes,
and desires in no way assimilated with
those of her employers, though she
patiently and conscientiously en-
. deavored to- do her duty to their
children, and sought to instil in their
youthful minds some Of the principles
which actuated her own.
But when it was ascertained that
the new teacher "read and prayed"
she was eyed askance by the ire
ligious of the community, and finally
ignored; public sentiment being more
truthfully than politely expressed by
the neighborhood oracle-"prayers
may convert the South Sea Islanders,
but nothin' short of beech and hick'ry
will tame the young ones of this ere
town!''
AS said "young ones" were
fully as precocious and observing
as children in general, and
fully aware Of the opinion enter
tanned by their elders, they were not
slow to take advantage of their teach
er's mild rule and merciful disposition;
neither did they scruple to make her
situation a most unenviable one and
her life almost unbearable from it's
daily ma1trydom.
She was harrassed and annoyed, her
persuasions disregarded, her authority
detied, till she would have gladly bid
den adieu to so unpleasant and unfruit-
full field of labor where her tireless
efforts had proved so unavailing and
unappreciated. Though none would
ever know how much heroism and for
bearance she displayed, still she re-
manned faithful to what she considered
to be her duty till the time should ar
rive for her honorable release from the
years engagement.
Chow long before school will be
out?'inquired a flaxen-haired, freckled-
faced girl, who made a point OF asking.
the same question as often as once
each day.
In even, pleasant tones came the re-
ply, as if it were the first time the
teacher had ever heard the question.
''In one week, my dear!'
'"Then we can have a new teacher"
was the. coarse and unfeeling remark
of great, boisterous, over-grown boy,
as he cast q wicked eye towards the
pale-faced woman by the recitation
desk who was quietly gathering up
books and papers for the night, hav-
ing dismissed her scholars.
her dark gray eyes turned upon him
a reproachful look for q single instant;
! then indignation's fire leaped from
their depths as she arose and silently
pointed towards the door.
For once the impertinent STRIPPING
concluded to unquestioningly obey;
perhaps from O. feeling Of contrition
for his unfeeling words; and with con-
siderable noise and widely extended
arms he swept the promiscueusc crowd
OF juveniles before him, through the
open door way.
There was sharp metallic clinking
OF dinner pals, q variety of ooh,
dear's!" and ooh, my's" ss some.
j body's feet proved too large or too
numerous for such stampede. There
was confused iluttering OF pink sun
bonnets and torn straw hats; the
higll-keyed voices gradually died away
IN the distance, while the weary wom-
an. with a deep-drawn, quivering sigh
sank, into a seat, alonein the deserted
school room. -, "a j.
Her wistful eyes did not look
through the uncurtained window upon
the long stretch of field and meadow
where the dry grass and stubble rus
tied in the late afternoon breeze.
Neither did she see the distant wood
land, gorgeous in it's autumnal color.
ing; for the heavy eyelids dropped;
J the nervous f1uttering hands dropped
.. upon the sombre gray dress; the head
with its masses of dark braids sank
upon the desk in front, while memory
held its mirror before the weary and
half-unconscious toiler. ,y@s .,Ez,-.2
She saw herself, a girl OF sixteen,
among her sisters, one of whom said
and how familiar and plain sounded
the echo OF that voice, though it had
been hussed in death for many and
many q year::---Is ). ...+x..S Fl. sd
'Darcia, it is time you did some
thing for yourself We are fatherless.