St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-03-31
BRAVING A STORM.
Tho True Story Of School,
Teachers Heroism.

1uC .b1Sl |" bCttI1luSts lou 10 ~
membered by many persons rs the date
of the beginning of one of the widest
and most fatally destructive winter
storms that ever swept across the
wide, unprotected prairics of the West.
The inhabitants of Illinois. Iowa. Wis
conan and Minnesota. and Of the West
generally, suffered severely.
In Middle Illinois the storm broke
with almost the sutldcnness of a tor
nado. resulting not only i'm great de-
struction Of domestic animals, but in
the loss Of many human lives. The
season until then had been uncommonly
mild. and even on this last day Of the
year the roads were deep with mud.
The morning dawned with adeceitful
brightness; gentle, spring-like breeze
came from the south, the sky was
cloudless, and the old-fashioned rail
fence cast distinct ziszag shadow
along the south side of the road. rs
Mary Rast. a girlish school-teacher, and
several OF her small pupils, all in high
glee over the approaching New Years
hold i. picked their way carefully to
waro the school-housc. This building
stood out by itself on the prairie. and
the only dwelling within half mile
was that of Mr. Kent, in whose family
Miss Rast boarded.
The attendance on that day was un-
usually small: only twelve scholars re-
ported themselves; and these were
mostly from the nearest families; for
the older settlers. accustomed TO the
capricious weather Of the West, had
viewed the brightness OF the morning
with suspicion. and kept their children
at home. By noon a slight haze over
cast the sun, but the air was still quiet
and mild. Three boys, who lived about
. mile distant. and cousin staying
with them, ran home across the fields
to dinner, and. somewhat to the teach
er's surprise. did not return.
She was thus left with a flock oi
eight. Four Of these were children oi
MIR. Kent; two Of the others lived mile
and half away, while the remaining
two, Willie and Mary Wood. who were
only ten and eight years old. respect
;vely. came from q house fully three
ouarters of a mile west Of the school
house.
At about two O'Clock the day sud
denly began to darken. and there came
\ few short, but fierce puffs Of wint
from the southwest The young teaches
looked out anxiously. wondering At th'
change. and saying to herself that sh'
must hold short session and send thu
children home in good season. Fol
half an hour all was quiet again. but I
thick, murky gloom came creeping ove
the landscape, and few flakes Of snow
fell slowly and silently. melting IS fas
As they touched the muddy ground.
An older and more experienced per
SON would have known what to expec
from such signs. and would have flet
with the scholars to the nearest plac'
If safety; but Miss Rast. rs we hav'
said. was only . girl, and. moreover
had never wintered in the West before
N that she knew little about the fierce
ness Of : winter storm on the prairie.
Again the wind blew in angry gusts
this time longer. louder and more di
rectly from the west. and again followe'
: short interval of strange silence. Tn
temperature fell with great rapidity
until. in . few minutes. the air wa
freezing cold; then all ut once. with {
wild. thunderous roar. the storm burst
From west to north stretched black
heaving sea Of cloud. tossed and tor
bv the wind. that now shrieked an
screamed like q storm demon. i
trembling haste the teacher set abou
preparing the children for their terri
HE Journey. There was no staying
the school-house, with neither food no
f,el for the long. bitter night. and sh
determined to take the whole compsn
a. her own boarding-place. knowin
how welcome they would be-lt onl
they could get there
Rv this time the frightened childre
~ere cliuyinc about her. and little Mar
wood began crying to 60 home. Poe
1;ttle thing. she could not bear to .
..n.r.ted from her mother. even owe
r;rht Willie strrdily declared thu
thew could get home well enough. o.
the teacher would not consent to the
making the attempt BY going ca
v;th her they would have the win
nearly at their backs. and it was cles
-.r., that m child could live in Il
eaca uf such q storm.
-. ,l,cl.,~ tho nlsleSt ",