The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-07-27
Owe VS.. DISCIPLINE.

Wv II W DlSSlL At4N bs
1t was evening in the gloomy old
fashioned kitchen CT Farmer Grey
The green paper curtains, covered
with pictures of impossible scenery
and stronge grotesque figures, were
lowered shutting out the white
moonlight as it lay upon the snow
covered fields like glittering crys.
tails.
Great logs of oak and cedar filled
the wide fireplace, casting a ruddy,
cheerful glow around the room; an
Angora cat lay basking in the bright
freight, while upon the opposite
side of the hearth, stretched at full
length; lay a great Newfoundland
dog; the yellow painted floor was
clean as hands could make it, and
altogether the room presented a
scene of rural comfort not to be
despised.
The farmer sat- in his easy chair,
deep in meditation, with his eyes
fastened upon the fire, while the
busy housewife, with def fingers,
piled the knitting needles, and
glanced occasionally at the table
busy with their books. 1t was their
daughter and the district school
teacher.
Faith Grey was an only child, and
from the time when she first began
to talk had ruled her loving subjects
in the little kingdom of home with
absolute sway. She was now II
years of age, with laughing brown
eyes and waving auburn hair, that
rippled and shone with IL touch of
gold in it's soft meshes when she
faced the sun. Her complexion was
fair and pure as an apple blossom.
Her dress was simple brown meri-
no, with a plain white collar fastened
at the throat by n blue ribbon,
while streamers OF the same azure
hue confined the meshes of waving
hair. She was tall and slender, with
n supple, willowy grace perceptible
in every movement of her graceful
form.
Her companion was apparently 25
years OF age, with broad white
brow and dark hair, which clustered
in little ringlets about his forehead;
his eyes were black and penetrating;
the grave, firm mouth betokened in
domitable will and strength of char
acter; his face was smooth, and his
large. well made form was arrayed in
a suit of plain black. He was col
lege educated, and while waiting
for q situation had learned that he
could have the winter school in this
district to teach, and being poor,
had accepted il rather than remain
idle until q more eligible one present
ed itself. He was far from despising
small beginnings.
He well knew that the school bore
no viablereputation, for by report
it was known far and near. Only
the winter before the scholars had
chosen to give the teacher seat in
II snowdrift, and then entering the
school room had held high carnival,
laughing and jeering at him as he
tried in vain to enter, and in despair
he had turned his back upon the
school and the town. He we'll
knew that it was no light task which
he had undertaken, but only O
tighter closing OF the firm lips was
visible as he accepted the trust, and
silently vowed to conquer or die.
1t was a school of fifty scholars,
ranging from fourto twenty years of
age. A mixed assembly, some good,
some bad, and some neither the one
nor the other, but ready to join the
strongest party.
He was obliged to board around,
and as he was exceedingly particular
and tastidious in all his personal
affairs, some encounters which he
was obliged to make were laughable
in the extreme. He chose the place
fartherest from his school for his first
boarding place, and as he took his
seat at the supper table he glanced
appalled, at the view which the board
presented. The dishes were cracked
and grimy, and the supper was
composed of a dish of potatoes,
iamiliarly known among the coun-
try people us the "long Johns"
Gigantic in size, they lay black and
heavy upon the dirty plate, fanked
by a deep yellow dish, two-thirds
full OF pork fat, while slices of the
pork, fried to n cinder, floated upon
the top. A plate OF bread, with a
leaden strip at the bottom of each
slice, and a small piece of butter
composed'of alternate stripes of
white and yellow, completed the
riGnds.
He crushed down the rising feeling
of disgust and made no sign, even
when the young son, a boy of 10
years of age, seized one of the pota-
toes in his dirty, unwashed hands,
and, squeezing it, exclaimed: "Marm
this ere 'tater amt DONE" and lay
ing it down cody repeated the oper-
alton with the rest.
This was q sample of the, meals
which he was compelled to partake
of while he stayed ut his first board
ing place, butthe was more fortunate
in HIS next selection. TWAS at Farm
err Gray's, and Mrs, Gray was a noted
housewife. Faith was one of his
hardest pupils to manage. Neverdo-
ing any mischief which he could trace
directly to her, yet by some unac-
countable Influence, he was sure that
she induced the rest to act in direct
defiance OF his authority, and when
detected her own face would be as de-
mure andinnocentlooking as that of
n kitten.