The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1891-01-08
MY "DEESTRICT SCHOOL. .


cntional institution, in which shout
be Incorporated some of the mos
striking urances-amusing, com
ical, pathetic, even tragic, of whicl
the old time country district school
houses were the scene. Such a bool
would be not only entertaining, Blu
valuable, throwing light upon tn
unique features of our public schoo
system generation ago.
l was one OF the first female teach
ers' who ventured to take charge o
q winter school in certain country
district. As such for several years
encountered an absurd but very pre-
valent prejudice against womer
teachers, as well as unruly instincts
of the "big boys in the back seats
and the deep snow drifts OF the
country roads.
The adventure beiell me during my
first winterschool. was then about
25 years old. During the early au
tumn Ihad resumed my studies at 9
well-knoWn New England seminary
where | had already been for two
years. Then in September, my IA
ther died suddenly. He left small
property which, with prudence and
lnbor, might, perhaps, enable my
mother to give her children q home
until we should, one after another,
be old enough to 90 forth and strive
with the great world.
went home to the funeral of my
father with the knowledge that ]
could not return to the seminary,
but was still resolved to earn enough
to finish my studies there. At home
met my uncle John, brother oil
my mother, who lived in Northern
Vermont, and who, when | told him
my trouble, offered me the position
OF teacher of the winter school in his
district. The rate of pay was six
dollars a week, for the term of six
teen weeks duration.
The school was n country school,
where the teacher "boarded around
and took the consequences. Isnffered
few minor Inconvenience, such as
having to warm the "spare- bed" in
every house at which took my
quarters, and running the risk of
dyspepsia as the result of the en-
deavor OF every clever housewife to
set the best table" for the school
ma am. But, on the whole, the first
five weeks of my teaching passed
very agreeably to me.
Many of the boarding places were
quite mile distant from the school
house, But ] was strong and full of
health, and in pleasant weather
found the walk to and from the
school invigorating and enjoyable.
When the day was stormy | was
conveyed to the school-house in the
farmers big ''lumber box" and
took lunch OF the good, crisp
"twisters" and sage cheese for the
incoming.
The school-house was an old-fash.
Toned one, strongly built. with
heavy doors and small, high win
dows. In one corner of the great
room was broad, shallow closet. in
which the children hung their wraps.
This closet sometimes ser-ed MS II
palace OF solitary confinement for
very young offenders against the
good order of the school. Its heavy
door was fastened with n great
clumsy button. against which, when
once 1t was turned upon him, it was
useless for the prisoner to contend.
1t was the 23rd of November
and the sixth week of the school.
The weather had been clear and
cold in the early morning, but short
ly after sunrise the sky became over
cast. Early in the afternoon snow
began to fall and n biting wind
sprang up, sending the temperature
rapidly downward.
When school closed at o'clock the
storm was in full blast. Amid wild
bewailing the children were bundled
OIL in their respective vehicles for
home, leaving IRE to wait alone for
the arrival OF my uncle, in whose
family | was to spend Thanksgiving.
Darkness was already falling. /
put on my rubber boots and wrnps
and sat before the stove, expectina
every moment the arrival of Uncle
John. A half an hour went by-an
hour. Then | began to think that
something had happened to prevent
his coming. My uncle's house was
in remote part of the district
and IL would have been imprudent
Tor me to undertake to walk there
through the drifts. But n Mr.. Eos.
ter lived only half n mile from the
school house, and to his house | de-
cided to walk.
l had not gone twenty rods when |
realized that | must return. The
wind blew furiously in my face
and nearly took away my breath.
and the mir was so full of snow that.
IN the gathering darkness, | could
not see Tor two yards before me. /
was almost blown back to the school.
house, and despite its loneliness, was
thankful for its shelter, as | felt the
tremble and crack beneath
the heavy gusts.
There was lamp in the school.
house which was used Mt snelling
schools. This lighted. brought in
some wood from the shed, built n fire
and got out my lunch basIet. which