West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-01-27
A HEROINE OF THE STORM.
How a Young Nebraska School Teacher
Saved Her Pupils.
From the Omaha Bee, Jan. Is.


Mr.. j. H. Ager of Ord, Neb., one
of the Secretaries of the State Board
of transportation, tells an ninterestlng
tale OF the pluck and good judge
ment exhibited by young lady
school teacher of Valley County.
Not many miles from the town OF
Ord is situated the schoolhouse OF
Mira Valley school district. This
house is a small frame structure,
and the nearest dwelling to it is at
least one-half mile distant. Thurs
day morning, Jan. II, when the bliz-
zard came, there were in the little
schooihouse Miss Minnie Freeman,
the teacher, yet in her teens, and IL
pupils between the ages of 6 and 10
years. The children were wrought
up the highest pitch of excitement
by the fury of the storm. In the
midst of the teachers assurance
that all would be we'll a terrible
gust of wind struck the building,
the windows ratified, the house
shook. and the door of the structure
was torn from its hinges. 1t was
then the young teacher realiz-
ed the necessity of preparing for
emergencies. With an exhibition
of rare judgment, she gathered her
little brood together, and, securing
a coil of strong heavy twine, began
with the largest ones and tied them
together by the arms and bodies,
three abreast. This completed, she
huddled her charges around the
stove and awaited the pleasure of
the storm king. Its furious work
came sooner than was expected,
The terrific gale, sweeping every
thing before it, struck the building
and carried away, in the rwinkling
of an eye, the entire roof of the
structure, leaving the frightened lit
tie ones exposed to the elements.
The time for prompt action had ar
rived, but the plucky teacher was
equal 30 the emergency. Taking
the youngest and frailest of her
charge in her arms, she tied the re-
naming end of the twine around
her own body, and with all the
words Of encouragement she could
muster, the courageous teacher start
ed with her ''team" of frightened
little ones out into the fury Of the
storm. Those who have braved the
terrors Of Nebraska blizzard need
not be told that it required courage
to enable young girl to breast
those furies having in her keeping
the lives of thirteen little ones and
the happiness of thirteen homes.
Those who felt and suffered from the
effects of Thursdays storm need not
be told that the act of that young
girl was one from which strong men
might quail. Selecting her way
carefully, following in the course of
the storm, the brave girl led her lit
tie charges through snow drifts and
binding blizzard, now cautioning
them about their steps, now encour-
aging them to cheerfulness, and all
the way, herself bearing an addi-
tional burden of somebody's darling,
urging them into renewed efforts.
And thus it was that after weari-
some journey of three-quarters Of a
mile, through all the fury a storm
could muster, the little band reach
ed the threshold of farmhouse,
where they received a hearty vel
come. At the house where they
found shelter one Of the children
made its home, and if the eyes of
loving mother filled with tears as
she pressed her little one to her
heart, they were not dried when she
gave to the brave young teacher an
embrace In which was embodied all
the love and gratitude within a
mothers heart. 1t is safe to say
that the subsequent reception of
Miss Freeman in all the homes
whose little ones she had rescued
perhaps from death was equally as
warm as that accorded in the first
instance.
Miss Minnie Freeman is only 10
years of age, and is teaching her
first term of school in Mira Valley
district.