Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-01-27
'TKE .SCHOOLMA'AM OF
WOLF PRAIRIE.
BY AID II. GIBSON.


'1,hr puzple glamour Of lovely In
d5sz.s. zcnsnu1er enwrapped the landscape
saxs5 sscmea TO lend an especial glory to
Esss, r5cb vegetation that made Wolf
Ft=sa.srse, i'll Southern Kansas, in its
z,s:eas unsettled days, even at that late
sspssx,s, sas inviting and thoroughly de-
s$sss&sful 80 the Eastern-bred family of
'SAsHss,ssxas Gay1or.
Asse esayfor family had come all the
sasy fzuns New York in covered
vurs,sns sssat fall. They were in search
e,,a Aaz,5 IN She West. and notwithstand-
5ssg Gre unpleasant reports they fire.
ass@entsy beard of Indians in the neigh
ssasacoal Of Wolf Prairie. as that beau
sssll stretch Of rich prairie land
sss.d been, seemingly, appropriately
sasressz Thomas Gaylor had concluded
~ sake thereon. upon certain por-
tsa, OF its billowy surface, at least,
xssat had particularly taken his eye.
Yse ssaylor family consisted of
II. Thomas, his wife. and an only child,
Valley, AS she was named, young lady
esf AZ.
asaonas was big. honest, hard
-ss:rksnE Yankee farmer OF more than
ordinary energy. With the help of
!swss..hsh,, he soon had O very comfort
saa5ss log cabin erected on his Western
ess:Mra, snto which the family were fain
d. nAGve themselves and their ho-
Assaas;insg after q long residence under
gsasnxaE.
hra Gaylor was busy, careful
.Ssssps!ew1fes whom the Kansas winds pro-
waked not little driving the dast of
Iha sandy road into the cabin and sift-
sasss IS into the most secret and sacred
NsL4ocE.
Hut Valley was not one to be wor-
Wed by the gales of her Western home;
os'r, indeed. did she allow anything to
wGsry her. Hers was Il CHEEKY, SIM
shiny temperament, ever seeking the
bszght side where others beheld o SOM
heE osse. But she could be very firm,
TOO. as You might Judge from the cast
OF her pretty mouth and snowy chin.
Azssr dark eyes announced more plainly
aD IN observer than words would have
aanns that she meant just what she said
=sad aimed to execute whatever she set
saer heart to do, so long as her better
Judgment approved the step. Ilnbued
sw1Eh the same spirit Of industry that
srshayarterized both her parents. Valley
dssylor determined to be as small q
asrden 80 them in their new home as
srossible- Accordingly. hearing that
the WOLF Prairie School was in want Of
d teacher for the winter term, Valley
.5snt On her bonnet and gloves, and set
"ssus 10 Bee the board OF trustees.
Valley had been we'll educated in the
Cast, Int she had never taught school.
~sIse had no fears but that she could
sn1ern the school and instruct its
zssspila, toe, she informed the board,
7xhea ahe had rendered them her oral
application for the position and they
had spoken rather doubtfully with
regard to young, inexperienced girl
iske her managing the rude urchins of
Wolf Prairie. Valleys self-confidence
carried the day for her. She was en-
gagged to teach the school at $45 per
s.onth and board furnished her ut
s8seob Hancook's during the bad
weather. At other times, or when the
walking was good, Valley preferred to
w'a[k over three miles home, rather
than put up with the Hancock family,
w.o lived but one mile from the school
zsouse, although Jacob Hancock as
sszred her Of cordial welcome to stay
with them throughout the entire term.
"Vife an NELL he mighty glad to
ihfsv 70 board along with u.s. Our ranch
IS only mild frum the skulehouse,
ullich's right over yander on tibet thar
ISS&Ie rise in the purarie," Hancock
aa.nH
School opened on Monday. On Sun
day evening MIR. Gaylor took Valley
asassr 10 Jacob Hancock's, with his mule
asA's,, go she might get an earlier start
Oh the first day OF school, than if she
mefkrd from her home.
sfley'r re pascal o tough uns, Miss,