Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-12-08
EXTRACTS FROM THE BIOGRAPHY
JANE GREY SWISSHELM
A Remarkable Woman of
Ante-belllaIn Days
1816-1866

curious things, and his rifle-practice
was q neighborhood wonder. He
brought water from the cellar, and
did other chores which Pennsylvania
rules assigned to women, and when
boys ridiculed him, he fogged them,
and did it quite as effectually as he
rendered them the same service when
they were rude to girl. He was
universal favorite, even If he did hate
catechism and love cake.
So mothers conscience was worked
upon until she bound him to q cab.
met maker in the city. To him, the
restraint was uncomfortable, and he ran
away. He came after dark to bid me
goodbye, left love for mother and
Elizabeth, and next morning left Pitts
burg on a steamboat, going to that
Eldorado Of Pittsburg boys-"down
the river"
For some time letters came regular
ly from him, and he was happy and
prosperous. Then they ceased, and
after two years of agonizing suspense,
we heard that he had died Of yellow
fever in New Orleans. To us, this
was dreadful, irreparable, and was
wholly due to that iron-bedstead piety
which permits no natural growth, but
sets down all human loves and long
ings as Of Satanic origin. .-.-.
Soon after our removal to the WILL
age, grandfather's estate was adver-
tised for sheriff's sale. Mother had
the proceedings stayed, the executors
dismissed, and took out letters of ad-
ministration, which made it necessary
for her to spend some portion of every
month in the city. This threw the
entire charge of house and store on
me. AS soon, therefore, as possible,
she sent me to the city to school,
where I realized my aspiration of
studying. ancient history and the piano,
and devoured the contents of the text
book of natural philosophy with an
avidity I had never known for novel.
In April, 1880, I began to teach
school, the only one in Williamsburg,
and had plenty of pupils, young men
and women, boys and girls, at two
dollars and one dollar and a half a
term. Taught seven hours a day, and
Saturday forenoon, which was devoted
to Bible reading and catechism. I was
the first, 1 believe, in Allegheny coun-
ty, to teach children without beating
them. I abolished corporal punish
ment entirely, and was so successful
that boys, ungovernable at home, were
altogether tractable. This life was
perfectly congenial, and followed it
for nearly six years. Mother started
Sabbath School, the only one in the
village, and this, too, we continued for
years.
One of the pupils was a girl of thir-
teen, daughter of a well-to-do-farmer,
| who lived within a mile of the will
age. Her father had been converted
at campmeeting and was a devout
Methodist: The first day she attend.
ed, asked her the question:
"How many Gods are there?'
She thought moment, and then
lsatd, with an air of satisfaction:
i give"
was shocked, and answered in the
language of the catechism:
20 Margaret! There is but one
only living and true Cod"
She hung her head, then nodded it
and with the emphasis of Judge who
had weighed all the evidence, said:
! II am sure ha' hearn tell O. more
nur one Of en-
| A young theological student came
sometimes to stay over Sabbath and
assist in the school. He led in fam
lily worship, and had quite a nice time
until one evening he read a chapter
from the song of songs which was
Solomon's, when bethought me that
he was very much afraid of toads.
began to cultivate those bright-eyel
creatures, so that it always seemed
probable had one in my pocket OF
sleeve. The path of that good younf
man became thorny until it diverget
from mine.
I was almost fifteen, when I over
heard young lady say was growing
pretty. went to my mirror and spen
some moments in unalloyed Happiness,
and triumph. Then thought, "Prett,
face, the worms will eat you. All thu
prettiest girls I know are silly, bu
YOU shall never make a fool of me
Helen's beauty ruined Troy Cleo
patra was a wretch. So if you ar,
pretty, I will be master, remembe,
that"
i Ito be continued).