The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-12-25

Even the grand old river, stately and
solemn, rolling with ceaseless swirl TO
the ocean, failed to distract her mind
from the desolation around her.
Havana was a blot on q beautiful
landscape-man's defilement of nature q
| loneliness.
Sidewalks lacked boards, fences were
broken down and barns and outhouses
showed great rents in their sides like
gaping wounds. The streets were
tracks in the virgin soil, at one season
sand and dust, at another axle deep in
mud, and only enjoyable when winter
laid over them her soft carpet of snow.
1t was nearly noon when Mr.. Dol
mans carriage drew up at his gaunt,
angular residence of Imprinted wood,
with hideous blue paper blinds, which
made the eye ache to look upon them.
Wanda saw and shuddered.
The "gyurls" were on the "stupc" to
welcome them, for there were four Miss
Dolmans in various stages of celebato
decay.
The interior of the building was more
prepossessing. The great square sit
ting-room, with its neat array of simple
furniture. its pretty rag carpet, its Con-
necticut clock and its capacious rocking
chairs, gave promise of degree of
homelike comfort not assured at a first
glance at the place. Then the bed
room, with its dainty curtains and
snow white drapery, charmed and sur
prised the young teacher, who with the
pliancy of youth soon began to make
herself at home.
The next day seemed like dream to
her-a horrible nightmare, which dis
turbed her thoughts for years, when
the days of her bondage would other
wise have been forgotten.
Squire Robson escorted her to the
scene of her labors, a rude little cabin.
standing in the middle of square,
arid play ground fully mile from
the village. With his own official
hand he rang the bell t summon the
scholars, who having shuffled into their
seats were treated to an eloquent dis
course, which Mr.. Robson had origin
ated as q Fourth of July Grafton, and
which contained many graceful illusions
to the 'Star-bi-spangled Banyer."
Then, having discharged all his
oratorical fireworks, he left the pretty
teacher to her fate.
Could she ever forget the horrors of
that unhappy day? How she fell into
confusion worse COMPOUNDED; how there
were thirty-six pupils and thirty-seven
classes; how no two children possessed
the same text book how this ones NAV"
didn't take mo account o grammar"
and that ones paw" said he "warnt
to be learned nawthin but 'rithmetic;"
how, when the shyness of the red
checked, brown-legged urchins wore
away, and the hot sun made them cross
and stupid, they began to quarrel and
fight; and finally how-pandemonium
broke loose. How she vainly tried to
still the storm, and ut last bent to its
fury in pitiful flood Of tears, helpless
and crushed by her miserable failure;
how that big, rude boy, Jim Slocurn, of
whom she had been in honest terror
from the first moment she set eyes on
him, suddenly and gloriously came to
her rescue by Selling two of the worst
malefactors and humping their heads
together till they roared for mercy, and
vowed that he would ''sl1in the hide off
the first Teller as troubled teacher"
How deliciously quiet was the calm
which followed this sanguinary
announcement; and, how, when the
rest were gone, she kissed the lads
bronzed cheek in fearful gratitude and
bound him to perpetual servitude.
But Wanda's trials were not ended
with the close of her school duties. The
climax of that days miseries were
only attained when she reached her
lodgings and found the Dolmans in
fussy preparations for company.
"A surprise party, teacher! All the
tip-tops of the place coming to call
upon you," Miss Martha announced in
kindly glee.
oh" said Wanda, with little gasp.
''Must 1 really be present? / am so
tired, /"
THE idee! Not be present, indeed!
Why, there'll be the pastor an his
family, the SINNERS, the La FORCES,
Josh Black, the gentleman as peddles
the milk, the Reidenbrocks, and Hull
dah's feller-likely as you could disap-
pint EN-"
'sHuldah's fellow?" Wanda queried,
amused in spite of herself.
"Yes, Huldah's Teller, Jabez Short"
Martha Dolman snapped, 80 don't be