The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1892-06-16

~'SaAph w a0vftdtt my OTlR1I1dl tADtTl-
ence. 1t was In the time when the
pedagogue bearded around in the
''deestrict," and barring the teacher
out was among the most cherished
privileges of young America l was
young, rather inclined to think that life
was worth living only for the fun to be
extracted from it, and became a rural
instructor only because parental
authority thought the attendant ex--
perience would tend to cure the mis-
chief and frivolity which seemed to
predominant in my makeup. My IA
Their secured position for me and
passed an examination that was easier
than the catechism. Wise counsels
were dinned into my ears, and accom-.
panying them was an intimation that l
had pretty difficult lot Of scholars to
deal with. This did not bother me so
much as the fact that must be seclud-
ed from the outer world and it's en-
chantment with which had been so
enamored.
had sympathetic brothers, for we
were "a big family of boys, and, while
enlivening existence with occasional
quarrels, we always stood by each
other as against the rest of the world.
On the morning Of my departure was
full of troubles and half inclined to cut
loose from home restraints in the in
terest of the army, navy or develop
ment of mineral interests in the far
west. In the first place, my clothes
did not fit. This is, not a resort to
modern slang, but the candid state
ment of solemn truth My fathers
idea of developing boys was to make
them thoroughly Independent and un-
-hampered by conyentionalities. So /
was not dressed in accordance with any
suggestions of fashion, but after plans
and specifications original with the
head Of the household. The coat
wore was first donned on the occasion
Of wealthy aunt's wedding. At the
time of that somewhat gorgeous event
kept in the background as much as
possible, but even then could hear oc-
casional expressions of curiosity as to
who cut that coat?" 1t was too long,
too big around and without any claim
to popular Endorsement. The rest of the
outfit was in harmony with the coat
To obviate the humiliation which
thought must attach to such make
up had anticipated my salary and in
vested in a stunning suit Of fine cloth
and excrutiaringly broad measure bind
ing. This was slowed underneath a
pile of books In an old satchel in which
Twas to carry my possessions to an un-
tried field of labor. But when | went
to hitching horse to the buggy pre-
paratory to making start those ia
therly ideas Of STURDY independence
again obtruded themselves. must
walk. The best men in the history of
the country had started out with no
aids save their own talents and their
indomitable will. The first stages
toward greatness were not to be taken
with horse and buggy
OF course, was bluer than bound
boy at a husking, but l read good deal
in the sly wink brother Cash gave me
as started across the orchard to short
en- the six-miles trip ahead of me. A
half-mile walk took me around q curve
into the woods, and there ] sat on an
old moss-grown log, wondering with
the perspicuity of youth whether ! was
an adopted son or natural offspring,
thus to be treated. Soon there came
the sound !, Of rapidly-approaching
wheels, and around the corner whirled
- Cash at terrific rate of speed, using
the whip and holding the lines like a
first-class jockey in close finish. - 4
We found the schoolhouse, dingy,
somewhat out " plumb and somewhat
distigured by = coal shed in the rear
that suggested the cooked hat of glo-
riously drunken man, while there was
aknotty conundrum in the query as to
whether the shed was leaning on the
schoolhouse ,r the schoolhouse on the
shed.
Cash simply deposited the grip and
myself, told me to keep stiff upper lip,
and spec, for 'home. found the school
house unlocked, walked in, and there
stood a veritable Amazon with sleeves
rolled " her arm pits, skirts pinned up,