The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1888-06-29
AFTER MANY DAYS.

-h0ston Transcript.
AFTER MANY DAYS
Tho Mason district il not an interest:
ing locality. It lies niiong the hills,
but includes also Foundry Hollow, SO
that although the children Of the thrifty
farmers attend the school, they are TAI
Outnumbercd by the children Of the la-
borers at tho foundry. Few teachers
care to retain the position after q sim
gle term, yet few schools afford great
CT opportunities for doing good,-if
that be the teachers purpose,-than
the ungraded school in the Mason dis.
trict.
Tho schoolhouse Is an unattractivs
building. standing alone in u clearinG
and separated by a rail fence from the
low growth of birch and evergreen
that enclose 1t on three sides. The
ground slopes from the front to the
road that leads to the tsfour corners"
IL few rods below. BY the low stone
wall opposite the s%choolhouse, stands
an oak; under the oak . few stones and
boards make up the simple playhouse
where long summer leccsscs have been
whilcd away by happy children.
This schoOlhOuse was once. ltnS Aga,
painted red, and hcfe and there patch
c.s of cnlor stain the wcathcr-bcaten
boards. The high, square windows arc
s%hutterlcss and curtainless. The wide
door bears marks of something more
destructive than the decay that is loos-
ening the hinges and weakening the
rusty paddock. You have seen it: ALI,
yes; during a vacation ramblc, per-
haps. You thought it a-lovcly spot
a trifie lonely, but the squirrel running
upon the fence. the messy spring where
you dipped II cap Of water, tho pine
hecdles TINT Glrpetcd the bank where
YOU rested, made it u place to remeln
Der. Did you mount tho stone placed
under the window AND l.~NN i.itnil.h
the small. r.siiHY %.,:,.'.s Y": uut:cc,.
the dcsM, li,c box stove, the implanted
seats, and dcfaccu walls?
Then you know how it looked that
morning when Miss Daniels came in.
Years have passed since, yet the room
is little changed. 1t was midwinter.
Snow had fallen during the night, and
little drifts shut in tho first row of
pancs on one side of the room. but the
glowing stove sent its heat to the most
remote cOrncr,-that at least seemed
cheerful.
.'lt will fair off before noon," pre-
dicted Farmer Haynes at the breakfast
table, and protected by ample wraps,
and provided with IL generous lunch,
Miss Daniels stepped upon the sled
that seemed the only conveyance over
the unbrokcn road.
..Yes," said the farmer. presently;
'sChcre's smoke coming from the school
house chimney. | thought the boys
would be on hand"
The wind had hcaped the snow in
diagonal drifts and progress was slow.
1t was past nine o'clock when Miss
Daniels stepped from the sled into the
wide path that had been opened from
the schoolhouse.
..I'll be round for you about two
O'clock" said the farmer, as he turned
his oxen for the homeward Journey.
Only David Holman, the boy who
served as janitor, was present when
Miss Daniels entered. Her greeting
met little response from the stolid
looking boy who was replenishing the
fire.
Presently, in reply to a question, he
reported the roads .down below" ir
an almost impossible condition, and
further gave his opinion that .narJ
boy or girl would get through thu
1--WE might as we'll go home, them
said Miss Daniels, looking a~nxiously
through the window at the recedine
oxen. 81 suppose you do not care t.
stay, Davidp"
I'D just as lives" replied the boy
"Periaps YOU can cali M. Holman
back; run to the door, David, and set
if you can make him hear YOU"
"Naw," said David after o long lool
from the window; he's too fur away
HE wants to stay" thought th,
teacher. sWhat can I dop Five hour
with that stupid boy!"
1t added to her perplexity to discov
er that a book she had intended tt
bring had been left behind. There wa,
absolutely nothing to do but TO attent
to David. Taking her Bible, she drew
a chair near the fire and began the us
ual morning exercises. How the day
passed she scarcely knew. It seemed
impossible to ascertain whether tn,
boy understood the subjects undo
consideration. Beyond repeating til,
precise words of the book he refused
to speak. but in his eyes that seldom
wandered from her face, she fancie'
she sometimes read intelligence an,
interest. The hours wore slowly away
and the weary teacher gladly WELDON
ed Mr.. Haynes.
my day has been wasted" she sal
in xnply to his question; 1.-THE benche
Of the schoolroom are not more sense
less and unresponsive than that boy.
"Don't say that - replied the farmer
"David Holman has had no chance YET
but he's from q good stock and ma;
turn out we'll. They say he's treatet
like a dog by the man he lives with
Perhaps your time wasn't wholly vast
ed"
A few days later David Holman
seat was vacant. Upon inquiry, Mis-
Daniels learned that he had run ava
from his employer, who had taken n
pains to bring him back.
Miss Daniels afterwards spent man
. dreary day in the schoolroom, br
found none % dreary - the one passe
with the dull, silent boy.
Years passed. Miss Daniels was sti
l. teacher. but her schoolroom was
-