Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-05-14
CHAPTER w.

| teacnlnB scnOol nad been the one great
subject which engrossed my thoughts,
and frequently. when strolling down the
shady hill side which led to our school
house, have l fancied myself the teach
er, thinking that if such were really fhe
case, my first act should be the chastise-
ment of half a score or more boys who
were in the daily habit of annoying me in
various ways. Every word and action of
my teacher, too, was carefully noted and
laid away against the time when should
meet them, and which came much sooner
than l anticipated; for one rainy morn
ing when Lizzie and | were playing in
the garnet, | overheard my father say
ing there was chance for Rosa to teach
school.
| What, that childw was my mothers
exclamation; but ere he could reply, 1.-THE
child" had bounded down two pairs of
stairs, and stood at his elbow, asking
| who is it-where is it? And do you
suppose | can get a certificateP
| You teach SCHOOL, You look like it,
said my sister Juliet. "Why in less than
three days you'd be lettering with the
girls, If indeed you didn't climb trees with
the boys"
This climbing was undeniably n fail
|
on the farm on whose topmost limbs l
hadn't at some time or other been perch
ed; but l was older now. / was thirteen
| two days before, and so | reminded Jul
| liet, at the same time begging of father
to tell me all about it. 1t appeared that
he had that day met with Mr.. Randall,
the trustee of Pine District, who was
in quest of a teacher. After learning
| lot fha fot
| cd to propose me-. who, he said, was
| crazy to keep school,"
| "a dollar q week is the most we can
give her." returned Mr.. Randall; land if
you'll take up with that, mebby Wen try
| her. New beginners sometimes do the
best"
| So 1t was arranged that | was to teach
fifteen weeks for four dollars per month,
and board round at that! When Mr..
| Randall came to see me, calling me Miss
Lee, and when l was really engaged, my
happiness was complete In country
neighborhood every item of news, how
ever slight, spreads rapidly, and the fact
that l was to teach soon became gener-
ally known. creating quite a sensation.
| One old gentleman, who, times innuIner
able, had held me on his knee, feeding
|
| with sweetmeats, was quite as much de-
lighted as l, declaring "he always knew
was destined to make something great"
Aunt Sally Wright, who looked upon me
as pert, forward piece" gave her
opinion freely. what! That young one
keep school. Is Deacon Lee crazy 2
Amt Rosa stuck up enough now? But
never mind; you'll see she won't keep cut
| m half bar he
Mrs. Captain Thompson, who was bless
ed with an overwhelming sense of pro-
priety, was greatly shocked, saying
shed always thought Mr.. Randall knew
| just enough to hire child" and consol-
ing herself with the remark that ''it was
| not at all probable I'd get a certificate"
On this point / was myself little
fearful True, l had been sent away
to school, and had been fattered into
the belief that l possessed far more book
knowledge than l did; but this knew
would avail me nothing with the formid-
able committee who held my destiny in
.their hands. / ransacked the cupboard,
where our school books were kept, all of
which were for days my constant COM
panions, and l even slept with one or
more of them under my pillow, so that
with the earliest dawn | could study. l
was just beginning to feel strong in my
own abilities, when one Monday morn
ing news was brought us that Mt three
o'clock that afternoon all who were in
tending to teach were to meet at the
house of the Rev. Mr.. Parks to be ques-
toned of what they knew and what they
didn't know. l was further informed
that as there had the year previous been
some trouble among the school Inspectors
the town had this year tl0ught to obvi
ate the difficulty by electing nine!
One was bad enough; but ut the
thought of nine men in spectacles my
heart sunk within me. In the midst OF
our trouble, Aunt Sally, whose clothes OF
Monday morning We're always swinging
on the line before daylight, came in, ant
after learning what was the cause of my
flushed cheeks, said, by way of comfort
ing me, that "she didn't wonder an atom
If l felt streaked, for 'twan't no way
likely I'd pass"
This reused my pride, and with thu
: mental comment that I'D pass for al
} her." | got myself in readiness, Julie
lending me her green veil, and Anna he
fine pocket handkerchief, while mother
. soft, warm shawl was wrapped lovingl.
: about me, and Lizzie slipped into m.
: pocket the Multiplication Table, whicl
! she thought l might manage to look Il
, slyly in case of an emergency. On on
: way father commenced the examination
; by asking me the length of the Missis
sippi, but l didn't know as it had
, length, and in despair he gave up hi
t questioning.
: When, at last, the examination com
2 menced l found, to my great delight
E that geography was the subject intro
: duced. and my heart beat high, for
/, thought of the pages l could repeat an
: ardently longed for chance to display
+ Unfortunately for me, they merely ques
y toned us from the map, and breathlessl
= | awaited my turn. At length the youn
. lady who sat next to me was asked
+ what two rivers unite and form tn
I OhioT l looked at her sideways. Tn
r bloom deepened on her cheek, and | wa
{ sure she had forgotten. Involuntariy
4 felt tempted to tell her, but did not, an
e Mr.. Parks, looking inquiringly at Inc
r said, Perhaps the next one can. Ahem!
t l spoke out loudly and distinctly, "Alle
Y chany and MonongAhela" glancinR at m