The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-12-21
A Cowboys Funeral.

A little adobe schoolhouse feias
from the surrounding ranges With
WIRE, a vide expanse Of semi arid
with small areas under cultiyatioR
large herds of cattle roaming overeexi
ed tracts of nearly sterile country
was the picture outside. Within
little Massachusetts schoolteachef.
bigger than a pint of cider; hej
mirers in the neighborhood said, sbegi3
a missionary school with half al dozel
pills.
There was need of work. There "a
place OF worship, and there had bee
school until the opening of the little
sion, and the coming of the little y
from Massachusetts,.
Slowly the school grew, and giad
other pupils entered than the very
ones who had constituted the first
dozen. But there was a wide disparit
tween the age of the Oldest pupil and
of the one who arrived one morning
the school had been inNoDeration[a abb
month. He was a tall young man.
spurs, lariat and sombrero, and he sal
Indian pony as if he3had beensa ceD'
Fastening his horse to the barhed
fence he came inside without kpoc
and took his seat without removing bis
Would You like to become a memb
the school?' asked Miss Selby.
well. / don't know" said he.
how I like it."
His investigation continued that d3y|
the next. He took no part in the III
beyond the occasional throwing OF q
wads. This disconnected the school a.
tie at first, but later attracted no at
ton, for the teacher herself disregardeI
and found means to suggest quietly To
younger children that they show
visitor a model school. When the SCI
was dismissed at the close of tb" se4
day he approached THE teacher With
sombrero in hand and said:
II know I hain't behaved decent
hain't been 20 school since I was al
shaver, and don't know how to act. b
know better,n I've done, and if YOU'LL
give me I'll settle down to study. I'D
to come and learn"
The teacher had been waiting. for |
capitulation, and she improved the OPT
tunity by telling him what obligations
must assume in the way of conduct q
became a member of the school, and
this time he was ready to promise 4
thing.
With great diligence he applied him
to his books and with even greater an
to the reading Of the papers and magazl
which friends n-the East were sendind
the teacher.
The little schoolteacher also had o 8
day-school, and although at first tbe q
boy pupil thought little of this institnt|
he attended that he:inight assist the ted
er in. the arrangement of the seats. 4
soon became o most attentive pupil, Z
before long an earnest seeker after a |
ter life.
Sc matters went on for more than a y
and the second winter came, the seve,
known in the settlement. Cattle perisl
on the prairie. The horses which
children rode to school shiyered In
frail sheds in the real of the building,
in one terrible blizzard these very sh
had to be torn down ,and burned, 81
other fuel was lacking. A week the /
gard lasted. and when it was over the G
boy pupil did not reappear in school.
was sick with pneumonia, and in a
days he died.
There was no minister within twenty
miles, and no Christian funeral had e
been held in the settlement, but the WI
community deemed it unbecoming I
Jack should be buried without a reGgi
service. So they brought his body tn
miles across the, plains to the little sch
house, and the Efrail young teacher st
before the open coffin and read, g! am
resurrection and the life" Then
closed her Bible and spoke to the pee
who had gathered. What she said
never could remember. At first it
seemed impossible that she should
anything, but the blood of Puritan ant
tors that had never Guailed at duty 7
within her. and she stood between
living and the dead, and spoke of
change that had taken place in Jack 81
first he gained the love of learning, {
then the love of God.
The little schoolteacher's health br.
down soon afterward, and she returned
her Massachusetts home, but the sch
mad grown. and two teachers eame to t
her place. Many were the traditions WI
these gathered Of their predecessor in
work, but Of oil her good influences, t
most frequently referred to was the
nest word and prayer of the little schi
teacher at the grave Of her cowboy pupi
Youths Companion.