Skahciuno voh a School.
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director, niul inquired how long a school
they would have.
"Four inonllis," he replied, "and we
want it to begin the middle of Octobur.
What will you tca.h for?"
MVhat do you pay your teachers'?" I
asked in Yankee style.
" Well, last wintor we gave Payson nine,
ty-llvc dollars for three months, but he
was an extra teacher. There was a man
here the other day who talked as if he
would take the school, lie oilers to teach
for twenty dollars a month and And his
board. How much do you want? "
" I would not like to leach for less than
thirt- dollars a month, because i could
not board at home," I replied.
"ll'm! thirty a month," he muttered
slowly. "I think they will give this man
the school. He's poor, has a large family,
and didn't raise anything this year. He
thinks he can get a certificate."
"So you don't think that there is any
show for me?" I asked.
" Well, I wouldn't put too much strength
on it, as he'll teach for less."
We stopped until after the rain had
ceased, wedged into the seven-by-nine
room with the thrcsning gang like so
many sardines. We then set out on our
return, taking in the Mud Creek district
on the way. Wc first called upon the
treasurer, and found in him a deep sym
pathizer in my emergency. lie was wil
ling I should have the school, would
board.mc if I wished, and, so far as he
himself was concerned, would agree to
pay mo thirty-fivc dollars a month.
This encouraging news, the first that I
had so far met with, at once raised my
hojes from zero to one hundred degrees
above, uml I went on our way rejoicing.
The moderator wo did not find at home,
and we went on to the director's. "When
we arrived there, uncle offered to see him
himself, and I agreed thereto. I halted
the team upon the road without going
upon his premises, as we saw him at work
near by. A row of cottonwoods partially
screened mo from him, and ho was suffic
iently near for mo to hear the colloquy
that followed. After uncle had asked him
for his consent in the matter, ho com
monced a long scries of questions about
me, and having ascertained that I bad
been to college, had not taught before,
and was in my minority, ho nuulc this
formidable objection:
"Now, I'm afeard he will spark my
girls. He is just the right ago for it.
He's been to college, and I have heard
tell of the way they cany on there. No,
it wouldn't do. I'm in favor of letting
Mr. Brass have the school, lie can't find
anything to do, and has lost his crops,
lie Vill teach a four months' term tor
fifty dollars, and will board around."
My uncle endeavoied to assure him
that I would conduct myself with discre
tion, while to me the announcement was
appalling, since I was noted throughout
the neighborhood lor a contrary line of
conduct. But no, he was inexorable, and
as we knew that the moderator was a
political cat'spaw in his hands, it was
then evident that I would have to look
elsewhere.
A few days later I made another effort,
and visited a district some six miles dis
tant in auolhor direction. I started out
on foot, and reached the house of the
director about noon, as that individual
was coming in from his work. I called
him aside, and, with less circumlocution
than formerly, for continued ill luck had
developed in me desperation, I made
known to him my business.
At first he did not speak very encourag
ingly, but as I grow importunate my pros
pects began to brighten. He informed
mo that the' were intending to have a
winter school to begin early in December,
but the district was a now one, and they
had but thirty-seven dollars and forty-four
cents in the treasury. He said that sever
al had applied for the school, but on
learning the financial status of the dis
trict, had turned upon their heels and
departed in disgust and sorrow. Tho
school was therefore uucugaged as yet,