64
Skmichixg roil a School.
I was told that I had better not take the
school in our own district, since I had
lately attended the school and was too fa.
miliar to the little fellows. So the next
day I got a leave of abscence from the
hay field, attaohed a paper collar Jo my
colored shirt, brushed my granger attire,
walked briskly to the house of the direc
tor of an adjoining school district, build
ing, meanwhile, many a pleasing air cas
tle. Tno director was not at home and
his wife came to the door.
" Is Sir. A. at home?" I inquired.
"No," was the encouraging answer.
" Well, could you tell me if the Winter
school here is engaged?" I next inquired.
" Yes, it's engaged. You see," she pro
ceeded to explain, as my countenance be
gnu to lengthen, "our toucher this Sum.
mcr was taken sick and had to leave, and
they promised her the school this Win
tor.
She also expressed the comforting opin
ion that I would be able to find a school
somewhere else. I then" went home, after
having received this check to my ardor,
and reported my success, or, rather, want
of success.
'Pooh!" was uncles remark, "that's
nothing. There are plenty of other
schools nearby. If I were you, I wouldn't
have the one you went to. Go in for the
best pay you can get, my boy."
Mustering up something like my for
mer courage, I sullied forth the next day
but with similar result. All the schools
situated within an hour's walk from home
I found to be engaged, usually by some
direct sufferer from tnc grasshopper raid.
I was then compelled to try my fortune
in more distant regions. Uncle ilezekiah
my steadfast friend in my emergency, vol
unteered to go with mo to the Hard-to-Suit
anil Mud Creek districts, the journey
comprising a drive of about twelve miles.
We visited the former district first, but
upon reaching the house of the supposed
director, found, to our vexation, that he
had resigned and that his successor lived
twe miles beyond him. We went there
and learned that ho was then threshing
grain a mile and a half beyond. To add
to our increasing vexation, the aspect of
the clouds betokened an approaching
storm. Nevertheless, we decided, since
we had come thus far, to find him if pos
sible. Wo found him, t , the place designated,
as the threshing gang were about to finish
their work. The director was ,l feeding "
the machine, but a substitute was provided
at my request, and I culled him aside
I first meekly inquired if his district
would have school that Winter.
"Yes, they are going to have a school
in the deestrict," he replied.
I feared from his manner that he wished
that I were with Phavoah's host in the
Hod Sea, but I inquired as to my chances
of getting the school.
"Well," he replied, " If you want the
school.you had better sec the other mem
bers of the board. I don't allow to have
much to do with the matter myself. One
of them lives about a mile and a half
from hero in the vory first house beyond
the grove yonder. You see it, don't you."
As he spoke, ho indicated a grove in an
easterly direction.
I nodded.
"Tim other one," he continued, " lives a
little farther off, over thore," pointing to
the West," you want to go right West
on this road until you get tp the section
corner, then south half a mile, then West
again. lie lives on the further end of
his homestead."
Feelings of dismay came upon me as I
listened to his directions, looked upon
the damp-looking clouds, and then con
sidored that it was now nearly noon. The
fact that I could call upon these worthies
on another day disposed of the least ob
stacle, but at this juncture ho turned with
an expression of impatience toward the
machine, and I knew that if I would see
him again I would have to meet him at the
house.
We drove thither and got well drenched
in doing so. At noon I button-holed the
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