The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1888-04-20

tlO SHSuCEs
''Ihcy call mo Weed. SIR" sho said.
why did they give you such q
''Causc she growcd SO fast" inter.
posed Windin' Blades.
As no other pupils came, Hayloid
decided to so ahead regardless of mum.
bers. 1t was with some trouble that
tho two students could DO classified.
Windin' Blades had only ono book. a
tattercd copy of paradise Lost" Of
which he could not read q line. and
Wood had brought q work treating of
agriculture among tho ancient Ecyp-
tians.
.'whero did you get these booksl"
asked tho teacher.
b%uttermilk," replied Windin' Blades.
''Can your father readP"
..He ri read little books, but he
can't read a as big as this one"
..Your mother a doubtless readp"
turning to the girl.
''She can't read now, but she lister
could"
'sNNhy can't she read now?"
''Bccausc the book she learned to
read is dun lost. Here comes pan"
Old man Socklaster entered. nodded.
and said:
''Mornin' TO you, mornin', sir. Got
sorter slim p%rospeck."
"!es. the children don't appear to be
coming very fast"
Old SockIsstcr was not disappointed
at the ''slim prospeck." In fact he
was rather pleased to note what en-.
couragcmcnt, beyond his neighbors,
hc was giving to the cause of eduoa-
ton.
II reckin' you're goin' to 90 right
on with tho undertaken jes' the same
as 4 yo@ had q whole passed. Of
"Yes." said Hayloid. 81 came here
to teach. and SO long as I can secure
the attendance of a single pupil, I shall
continue to mako my efforts in behalf
OF learning"
"Glad to know it. You're the only
right sort of q teacher we'vc 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 ap.
propriatex"
lev . tuS 10WISCI WIVu CIus
"One treats of agriculture several
thousand years ago. telling of wooden
plows and OK threshing machines. the
other is y book which only advanced
students can read and understand"
.'Wall. tho teller we got 'cm of said
they was good books. and he's an older
man than you are. Better let 'cm wor-
~ along with them books awhile, an
Arter they've dun learnt all there is in
EN-. wy then I'll git some better ones.
Good day. Wush you mighty we'll with
your undertakin''."
Fortunately Hayloid had brought a
few books for beginners. He had no
trouble in cffecting an exchange, for
tho bright pictures ut once settled tho
question of their worth. Windin' Blade
and Weed had scarcely explored the
mysteries of the alphabet, but they
proved to be attentive, and cvinced
such a desire TO learn that Hayloid did
not regret having commenced with
.:such slim prospects,"
The teacher boarded in a quiet FAM
lily. whore tho sunlight that q little
child brings is unknown, where q deaf
old man and q knitting old woman sat
down nightly to tho exploration of
:heir own thoughts. All that Hayloid
could get out of the old man was '.hah"
with one hand behind his ear-and as
tho old lady seemed to drop q stitch
every timc he addressed her, she was
allowed to pursue an uninterrupted
course of self investigation.
Windin' Blades aud Weed. day by
day, continued to be the only pupils.
Vo~n ,..~. sS1osl l~, ~ n,x1 fnrn,o,.es Eo~,
had no particular work to perform. yet
the census of the school remained the
same. To watch the development Of
Weeds mind was an interesting study.
She was remarkably bright, and learn
cd with q readiness which surprised
Hayloid. Windin' Blades was, after
all inclined to be idle. He had q pas
sion for carrying grasshoppcrs In his
pockets. These insects occupied his
entire time on tho playground. and at
last, after much experiment, he sue
ceedcd in Harvesting them to n dimin-
utive wagon which he had constructed.
The teacher demonstrated with him
concerning this useless absorption, and
once he spoke to his father. but tho old
man instead Of being displcascd smiled
until the tobacco Juice ran out Of the
corners Of his mouth.
'Let him Co." he replied. Il VA
sortsr o. that turn myself when ! was 4
boy. an daddy allowed I wouldn't
amount to nothin'. but after . while ]
turned out to be the best pillow hand in
tho country"
Winter came. and still no other pu.
pills appeared. BY the bright log fire.
while tho 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 ut frs,
decided that he would not beg for pu,
pills, and on no occasion did he ask the
farmers to send their children. He
was treated politely. yet he could see
that the people Of the neighborhood
cared nothing for his society. but as
this indifference was mutual ho spent
very little time in regret
One day Windin' Blades failed ID
come. but Weed, with her face all
aglow with healthful exercise, came a.
usual. When she had hung up hel
homcspun cloak, and shaken the SNOW
from the bright hair. Hayloid askeds
.sWliere Is your brothere"
..He Amt here"