West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-12-31


1t has been some days since the
readers Of THE ARGUS have been
bored by II letter from this chimney
corner But now that politics is
laid aside and the reading public
has a breathing spell, will again
give you q few items concerning
the Aborigines Of this locality.
Here we are with bright, warm
days-no fire in school-room yet.
The birds are singing aud the chill.
dren coming barefoot to school.
There is little to break the serenity
OF these beautiful autumn DAYS,
for-as u friend of mine used to say,
each day is like the others, only a
lutte more SO.
This term | give all the pupils a
noon day lunch, and it is a great
help in more WAYS than one. l
make 1t my "cure all" for all small
otfenses by with holding it for a
time. IL works like u charm, and
the teacher need not even scold.
have trained the large girls to pre-
pare it, wait on the table and wash
the dishes. So there is another
useful lesson taught.
IL is amusing to see how readily
they march To the TIME of the organ
out to the table in the she'd, and
how readily they use knife and
fork, for fear of being sent away
from he table. The table is six
teen feet long, made of two.inch
plank. The shed is only board
roof on posts. | did all the work
myself, so you may know it is a
good Job.
The organ also purchased, and
1t is great curiosity to them. We
MN lge to get considerable singing
from the pupils.
There is enc married woman in
school. She is married TO white
mtn and they live four miles from
the school, but her husband brings
her every morning in a cart and
comes after her in the evening. He
left good job of work when school
began, IN order that be could do
the house work and take his wife
TO school. She tries very hard to
learn, and is mAkiug rapid prog
Tess. Is very tidy and cloanly.
wrote these facts to tho Indian
Commissioner ut Washington. ID.
g., and asked that she be given a
small salary, so / could put her at
the head of the cooking and keep.
ing the children clean. She got
appointed as matron at $50 per
month, which pleased her very
much.
The Indians are sowing some
barley and wheat this year, and it
- hoped there is a movement 10
favor Of farm industries among
them. What the Indian wants is
an object lesson to make BIN real.
ize the benefit Of anything, and 1
have been trying to give them
few such lessons.
Ny school ground, when ! FIRST
came, was as rough and unprepOs-
sesslng piece Of land as there was
in the canon. Nothing pretty about
1t but large tree. but by dint OF
labor l cleared, lovelod, rolled the
stones of and put out last year
some barley, corn, beans, peas,
bscts, potatoes aud alfalfa, besides
variety Of garden vegetables. /
also planted fruit trees, grape vines
and flowers The result was a fine
crop Of all, except fruit. Many
howers and roses beautify the yard
yet. I had huzdreas Of melons
and pumpkins, many Of which
gave to the Indians. have just
harvested my seventh crop Of
alfalfa. The Indians see al this
and know that ali the labor was
done by one person on Saturdays
and mornings and evenings, and
on land that they believed worth
less. A number have promised o
plant vegetables this year and to
have a garden fenced against stock.
I bought Wild. vicious little
pony Of them. u bad to be Iassocd
when wanted. aud seemed to be
no.hing bat sGin aud bones aud