River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-12-05
That DREADFUL TRAMP.
Row Miss Penn Tried to Put Him
on the Right Pathway.

When Laura Penn found herself friend
loss in the world, all her possessions
bounded by the four sides 81 a Saratoga
nj. and With purse in her pocket
rCidiHg exactly nineteen dollars and
twenty-five cents. she felt il necessary
e. think Of something besides her
troubles. unless she desired - become
dependent ON charity She was now
r1ying a visit 20 friend. but she was
aware that visits ShOuld never be- too
long.
The details Of the causes that had
combined Ia throw her Ola her own re-
sources AT nineteen years 81 age are not
ieccsSary. Death. a. you may suppose
Itd been very busy. and there had been
he old story Of name signed for a
friend. bankruptcy. home sold at auc-
non. and "a broken heart.
Laura had nothing 70 do with all this
sat 10 look ON and wonder: To weep first
or her mother. and then for her father.
and 10 find herself dressed in black and
quite alone on earth.
Onc thing She had. however. that the
zuctiOnecr's hammer could not rob her
sf-a good education. She could Ger
ainly teach. The thOUgLJ came into
wer mind one morning A. she opened her
-yeS. and with il the question: How
snail get elias, or a school, Adver-
lsemcnt seemed 10 H. th, usual way, 80
he girl advertised. Ii she had not
oarn very ignorant Of the ways Of the
E0rld. she would certainly have given
initials or the number of post-ofiice
nux. but a. She Was mere baby in all
that perJaincd To the working world.
the advertisement ended with: "Ad-
dress Miss Laura Penn. No
street.
Happily her friends did not read the
advertisements. 81 She was spared advice
and lecture and information a. 10 the
improperly of her conduct; and the adj
vertisemcnt resulted in a single call.
About nine o'clock the bell rang. A
portly matrOn inquired for Miss Laura
Penn. and the girl hurried down stairs,
expecting To see thc principal of very
important seminary for Young girls
anxious To secure her services. In the
shadow OF the curtained parlor she
could see only figure Of large dimen-
sionS which arose and advanced toward
her
You don't know me. said a soft.
kindly old wOluan's voice. but I've
knOwcd You from babe. | served your
pa and ma with milk when you took it
from bottle. used 10 ride in
with my old man when first We
were married later. when | was
q widow. served myself: now my
boy serves. But all along I've seen YOU
frequent. and if Your pa failed, he paid
up noble And when I see that YOU
needed 10 teach. and wanted a school. l
said. The poor child" here the old
lady was forced To hunt Tor her hand
kcrchief 10 wipe away her tears The
poor child, when shed been brought up,
~ Ia speak. on cream. la cunie IL earn
ing her own bread Rut since she's ia
Nuut uf a school 70 teach, thank fortune
I've got one 10 give her. il she'll take
il
-. remember YOU very well now.
Ms CIiG.~ said Laura. who was in tears
herself and the milk was always 81
good and how kind Of YOU 10 tell me
about school. suppose you serve il
with milk
No. Miss Penn, don't. said Mrs.
Cliff Its only a day >,hoOi but /
hoard the teacher and make, her drink
all Size ran, for l believe milk IL be
wholesome. and the way some of 'em
fartcn up IS astonishing. don't say il
because have i dairy bat the truth is
tho truth. It's the district school at our
place. and Miss Chester. whO taught last
year. IS married. ami can get il for YOU
if YOU like. Twenty-Five dollars month
and board in. iii arrange it shall be
with me. Is did last year. There's no
great distance Ia walk and my family Is
only me and my boy and my husband 5
sister. and you'll be quite quiet, a folks
Ike to DE- after affection. I know that
myself.
4 country school. love the country
So much: / shall be very glad indeed.
said Laura And am - much obliged,
Mrs. cliff.
80 ii was settled. and after certain
delay. and a curious ceremony. supposed
10 be- a strict examination of the new
teacher, had been duly performed. Laura
fouud herself and her trunk in Mrs.
CliG-S front upstairs bedroom and mis-
tres ~ q little barn-libe School-houss in
the midst OF the wooi>-
The scholars We're all Young and there
were Hor many Of them. The backs
were. not the best Of their sort: the
blackboard was gray with age. and
thor, was map Of the United states on
the wall which. had it been studied 10y
the scholars. would have misied them as
tu the number of territories
However. most OF the babies were still
in their \. Il. C's. or words of one sylia-
BILE: aud Laura hoped To influence the
economical board 70 greater generosity
in time She had suffered - much that
Sho could not expect happiness until
time had come To her aid. and rude sur
roundings or inelegant appointments
made little matter. The children were
gUod enough: the little girls careSsing.
Flowers ami bigapples were on her desk
every morning. Little mouths were
lifted 70 her own in goodbye kisses
ANY boy OF them all was ready 70 Il,
escort duty: but the wood-path. though
long and lonely. only delighted her; ant
Mrs Clif was kind and notherly. OT
the whole. her lines had not fallen il
unpleasant places.
For month after Laura Penn begaT
T. tearh the school the weather wa
clear and bright. "a. September often Is
bur with October came Monday with !
great storm. The roads We're >Odden
the trees drippeJ: people kept their lit
lie girls al home. The boys came
splashiug in under Waterproof coats, ant
with rubber boots t0 their knees. ant
hoa~led q. their bravery; and ''th'
teacher isghted a little fire in the bi.
wood s.ove that they might dry them
selves That was fun for all. Mean
while. not Ia lose time. she so the n
SAYING she multiplication table
suddenly a big Voice Joined in th'
chorus -.'Twice ten are twenty; twic
eleven ara twenty-five; twice twelve ar
t,venty-four:' aud turning With a start
Laura saw :, s.Eurc. soaked in mad --mu'
on its hair. mud On its nose, mad 10 II
outstanding in the door \ tramp
certainly. She had hcarl such dreadfu
things q: ,ramps that she turned pale
SrfIl. In such rain she could haN
holted the door IN his face, II II ma
becn 10 her power.
"A fire. said the tramp ADVANCING.
expected nothing a good as that. Ma
come nearer. Dram I too muddy
bring a chair. Johnny, said "a
teacher. 1T is DIRE adful weather. IL