The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-11-20
n OF MANY.
The American Rural Home.

No one would have dreamed OF call
ing her a heroine, or OF attributinga N
heroic qualities to the slender, sad
faced woman robed in gray, who dali
ly passed to and fro from her board
ing place to the little white school,
house meath the NAPLES, where for
nearly a year she had taught the
young belligerents OF Westdale hamlet.
Few knew ought regarding her, and
none were acquainted with any of the
facts pertaining to her past, or its
history.
Bearing testimonials relative to her
calling from the faculty OF q seminary
in q distant State, she had been en-
gagged to fill the position as instruct
ress in the rural district of Westdale.
Faithfully performing her duty andsi-
lencly going her way, the inquisitive
could only speculate as to what they
in no way understood her reticence
and deeply sorrowful conference and
demeanor.
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 a 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 a eyed askance by the ire
iiglous 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 andhick'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 martrydom.
She was harrassed and annoyed, her
]persuasions disregarded, her authority
defied, till she would have gladly bid
den adieut to so unpleasant and unfruit-
full a field Of labor where her t~ireless
efforts had proved so unavailing and
unappreciated. Though none would
ever know how much heroism andfor-
bearance she displayed, still she re-
mainedfaithful to what she considered
to be her duty till the time should ar
rive for her honorable release from the
years engagement.
How long before school will be
out?"inquired faxen-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.
"1n one week, my dear!'
"Ihen we can have a new teacher"
was the oars and unfeeling remark
OF a great, boisterous, over-grown boy,
as he cast q wicked eye towards the
p~ale-faced womnn by the recitation
desk who was quietly gathering up
books and papers for the night, hay
ing dismissed her scholars.
Her dark gray eyes turned upon him
a reproachful look for asingle 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 a feeling of contrition
for his unfeeling words; and with con-
siderable noise and widely extended
arms he swept the promiscuous crowd
OF juveniles before him. through the
open door way.
There was a sharp metallic blinking
OF dinner pals, a variety OF ooh,
dear's!" and "Oh, my's'," as some
body's feet proved too large or too
numerous for such q stampede. There
was a confused %tluttering of pink sun
bonnets and torn straw hats; the
high-keyed voices gradually died away
III the distance, while the weary wom-
an. with a deep-drawn, quivering sigh
sank, into a seat, alonein the deserted
school room.
Her wistful eyes did not look
through the uncurtained windowupon
the long stretch OF field and meadow
where the dry grass and stubble rus
tied III the late afternoon breeze.
Neither did she see the distant wood
land, gorgeous in its autumnal color.
ing; for the heavy eyelids dropped;
the nervous tluttering 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.
She a 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 ayear:-
"Darcia, it is time you did some
thing for yourself. We are fatherless.
Our mother is poor. We are obliged
to provide for ourselves, and youm MUS
begin life in earnest, sister; and it wifi
be an endless battle as it has ever
been for all our SEX" :
"But what can l do7" had been her