The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-08-29
cloud Of dust In Il could ses :
prairie schooner and some cattle
trailing behind.

trailing behind.
''When they came up quite close I
was able to take in the whole outfit.
Sitting on the front seat, and looking
out from under the wagon cover, was
the old man; next him was his wife
q youngster in each arm. and strung,
along for two or three hundred yards,
behind were cattle, horses and chill.
dren of all sorts and sizes, till you
couldn't see out To this day don't
know how many there was in that
family, for never to ok the trouble to
round 'em up -
lit was about a week after they had
got fairly settled, when the old man
came over to me one morning with the
two biggest boys, one of them a fine
grown fellow about sixteen.
"'Fine lad that said, as l shook
hands with the boy; i suppose he's
the eldest?'
"'No, replied the lad smartly. Let
me see Che reckoned on his fingers).
there's five gals and two boys older'n
me-but can lick 'em.
"'You see,' said the father proudly,
Bill here is left-handed. That's it,
why he is such right smart chance Of
lad. Yer see, we raised 'em up (such
raisin' as they had) on hash; they had
it set out to EN- in a big bowl. All
the rest of 'em is right-handed. Waal,'
they would all 60 for it, till round and
round went the hash in the bowl, so
as none of EN- could catch much be-
side soup. Then Bill come in with his
left-handed sweeps, yer see, and caught
all the chunks. But he went on, Just
as was going to speak. 4 come over
this morning ter see you on bisness.
Seems ter me it's about time this town.
ship had schoolhouse.'
The deuce, you say exclaimed
(for you see we were the only two set
tiers. and half the expense would come
on me). But l added. I've got no
children to send to school, so l don't
see how it affects me-
":More fool you,' he replied-and I
don't know now whether he meant for
having no children or for not seeing
how his having enough for both (or a
dozen, for the matter of that) affected
me.
"'You see, he went on in an author.
alive tone, the law provides that when
there is certain number of children
in township there must be scotiblo
schoolhouse. Now you and me is the
only voters-in fact, we're the school
board and the taxpayers. Sort o. rocky
on you, he broke off, but laws is laws!'
''Perhaps the old man saw q queer
kind of expression on my face, for he
added quickly:
Maybe you don't think that I've
got as many children as the law pro-
81 don't doubt it one bit! I broke in
(you see, l was sort O. hot), but there's
pile of difference between the law
providing for 'em and Dan Dunstan do
ing it.
''But saw clearly that l was at fault
for having no family Of my own; and, l
swore that that should be amended
Just to get even with him.
$50 we went peaceably to work to-
gether, and put up the school-house on
the school section
1--WE had nearly finished lacking
down the floor one day-the old man
was wedging up with a chisel while I
tackled down-when he looked up and
said:
"Dan, you amt exactly fixed to
board a "schoolmarm" he startled
me. for, you see, I hadn't Thought any
thing about school teacher), and 1
| amt got room; how would it strike yer
If my eldest gal-she's got her certifi-
cate-taught the kids:?'
"1said, very agreeably. that it would
strike me where the wool was short
for, you see. thought that the girl
would be glad to teach her own brothers
| and sisters, and any one else would want
pay. Thought he just asked for my con-
sent, so that the motion would be car
| ried unanimously.
"'Waal, he went on, I've talked it
over, and, bein' as things is as they
are, she's willin' to teach our school
Changed if he didn't lay stress on 'our')
for $28 dollars a month; we couldn't
get any one else less'n $780,
This fairly knocked tho breath out
of me. 1 can tell you, gentlemen. Was
going to pay $14 month for the
| benefit of having his kids whooping
and bowling around like Indians? Not
much, wasn't! But didn't let on.
when got home shook the coal
oil can. There was au0St gallon or
so left.
early in the morning (before day.
break) 1 got up, caught my horse and
saddled him, rolled up the bedding
and tied it on behind the saddle in a
pack, and slung my rife under the
stirrup-le2tber. Then, when all was
fixed. sprinkled the coal-ol1 ,c<pd
on the floor and took a match"
In the laughter OF his guests at this
point Mr.. Dunstan lost the thread of
his story. Presently he continued:
Il hadn't got more than ten miles or
so up the valley, when 1 was met by
buggy load of men evidently headed
for our valley. The driver knew me
Che came from Sage). l saw that it
was survey party by their instru-
ments.
"'Hello, Dan! exclaimed the driver,
these gentlemen were just coming
down to your place-want to know
whether you can board emp
"Can't board any thing, ANSWERED.
They looked at me as though they
would have liked to ask, What kind
Of man are you?' before added:
"'Tm burnt out
That's tough said one or two of
them.
Then they told me they were going
down to 'cross-section' the old railwa&
survey which ran through our valley,
and that the contractors were going TO
| commando wOrlc at onca To oxfond 4ho