Smyrna times., 1911-04-26
Adventure Of a
School Teacher

In the winter of 1874-75 was
teaching country school in Ohio, |
not far from the village of Medina,
was girl only seventeen years
old, and weighing less than a hun
dred pounds and those who knew me
would have laughed at the idea of
my having any presence of mind in
the face of danger. 1t was walk
of mile to the farmhouse where l
was boarding, and in stormy wealth
er was conveyed to and from in
sleigh. 1t was clearly understood
that should it come on to snow and
bulster during the day the farmer
was to come for me at the close of
school. In ordinary weather the
walk was ona to be enjoyed. Just
| after noon on the thirteenth day of
January, it began to snow and blow
in the most furious manner, while
the temperature fell twenty degrees
| inside of two hours.
We had snug brick school house,
and large pile of dry wood, and
no one knew how cold it was until
school was dismissed for the day.
Then there were many complaints
from the scholars, but all finally
got away and l was left alone to
wait for the farmers sleigh, which
I'had every reason to believe would
| eoon ho of tho door
1t was almost dark at four
O'Clock, and soon got my things
on and sat down by the stove and
waited three-quarters of an hour be-
fore beginning to wonder why
Farmer Watkins did not drive up.
We had a couple of lamps and l
lighted one and began to work on an
intricate mathematical problem.
Time slipped fast away and when l
go up it was halt past five. l then
felt that some accident had happened
my friends and l decided to foot it
home.
l had not left the school house a
hundred feet behind when l realized
that | must return to it. The
wind was blowing at the rate OF
fifty miles an hour and directly ir
my face, while the air was so full
t of snow that one could not see six
feet away. That night the ther'
mometer registered IL degrees be-
low zero, and much live stock froze
to death.
1t was a bit lonesome when
!. returned to the school house and le
\ myself in and felt the little struc
ture trembling under the rising gale
but l relighted the lamps, brough
in a lot of wood from the store
room, and fourd enough of my moor
. day meal left in the basket to taxi
the edge of my hunger off. l hat
no idea of being obliged to pass tn
night there, but confidently expectet
to be called for at any moment.
1t had come to be eight o'clocl
and l was getting very nervous
when the outside door opened and
heard a step in the hall. l jumpe
: up to close the stove door and tur
out the lights, but before 1 had az
complished the latter object tn
door opened and in walked tots
stranger. He was covered wit
snow and his cap was drawn dow
until most of his face was hidder
,, He did not seem to even glance ;
me, but advanced to the stove, shoe
=, off the snow, pulled off cap ar
p" overcoat and then held his hands
the warmth.
| was what you might justly ter
q dumbfounded. There was no fei
~ of him, but his unexpected adve
and the cool manner in which
acted quite took my breath away f
a couple of minutes. However,
finally found voice to inquire:
"Did Uncle Bill send you
me?"
He looked me in the eyes for
r few seconds, then walked through
the outer door, locked it, came ba
to the inner door and locked that, a
as he slipped the keys into
pocket he said:
'This is going to be bitter &C
night.
A faintness came over me as
spoke and l had to sit down.
were on the opposite sides of t
stove, and l saw that he was m
of about thirty years. medit
height, slight build and respectful
appearance. There was nothi
about him of the tramp or toue
and his voice was a pleasant OF
/ was certain | had never seen h
before, and / also felt from the Fl
hat there was something wrong
IL his coming the way he did. A