TEACHERS’ LIFE IN THE STATES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1040, 24 March 1882, Page 3

TEACHERS’ LIFE IN THE STATES.

It was the custom, 'in the rural districts, at the time of which lam writing, to hire school teachers at “so much a month ami board ’round.” The latter expression may not be intelligible to our younger readers without a word of explanation. The teacher who “ boarded ’round ” had a Sunday hoarding place where he kept Iris trunk and spent Sunday, and during the week he boarded with the patrons of school, staying at one house and another at the rate of three or five days per scholar, according to the number of scholars and the term. To a young man the custom was not without its cluums and advantages. The novelty and chance were refreshings and the knowledge of human nature and of the ways of the world picked up at the different boarding places, more than compensated for the discomfort of the cold, spare, and occasional meagre fare. It was usually expected that' the teacher would invite himself to the hospitalities of the “ boarding ’round places',’’ but on one occasion the writer received an invitation from a Mrs B—— to come to her house on his next migration. He did so, and on sitting down to tea the host less remarked —“ 1 don’t know but you thought strange of ray sending for you, ‘ maat n r. but husband has gone away fora W“ek, and bein’ as we’ve just killed hogs, I thought I oou'd keep you hotter now than laterou.” But to my story On Monday morning 1 received a message from Mrs H , who lived about a mile from the schnolbonae, and she was “ ready to board the teacher.” Having an invitation “out to tea and spend the c ening.” I sent word that I would be there about bed-time. The company was entertaining, and it was a late hour before I reache 1 rnyuew hording pb.ee. The family, concluding I was not coming, had retired for the night. Not wishing to disturb them, and remembering that they kept a large savage dog, I returned to the schoidhouse, built up a fire in the shool-room stove, drew up a recitation bench, and with a bundle of books for a pillow, and my Spanish cloak for a coverlet lay clown and tried to sleep. But the bench was hard, the fire would burn out, and at last i concluded to go to my Sunday boarding place and try to get in. By this time it was two hours past midnight. The Deacon and bis family were sleeping the sleep of the just, arid though I knocked at the front, side, and back doors, it was impossible to rouse anybody. There was a gangway which was not ninallv fastened, by which 1 entered the cellar, and after groping my way among the pork aod soap i barrels, stumbling over firkins of butter I and fetching up against potato-bins, kc., I I at last made my way npstaiis to the kitchen I and thence to my Sunday bed-chamber. 1 The night was fearfully co’d, and 1 was nor. long in disrobing. “Few and short were the prayers I said," and 1 was about to get into bed when 1 thought 1 heard a watch tick under the pillow. Nor was this all I heard—there was the sound of breathing. Hurrying to the window, I raised the green i paper curtain, and the moon shone into the ! chamber, flooding ; t with light and making I everything distinctly visible. I returned to tbe bedside, where— horresco refi rensJ what a spectacle struck my astonished eyes ! Three youny ladies were soundly sleeping between my sheets and my bed ! It was a beautiful sight which I shall never i forget, and had I Inen an artist and had | my drawing materials with me I should ; have been tempted to sketch the scene. In | a moment, however, a sense of the ladi- | crousness and impropriety of my situation I —my scanty attire, (my presence in a bedchamber with three feminine occupants, tbe : terror and indignation the fair sleepers • would feel if they should happen to wake, all rush id upon me. 'Gathering un my , wearing apparel 1 ‘‘staid not upon order of Imy going,” but descended with hasty steps to the kitchen. Upon the kitchen hearth stood a large cradle.. I resolved to bivouac for the rest of the night in this. Placing a large foot stool at one end to lengthen it, I pot in, covered myself up with the blanke'a and was soon fast asleep. In the morning I was awakened by footfalls descending the back share- The door opened, in came the deacon’s wife, en deshabille, her clothes in her band to dress (according to her ons- ■ tom) ny tbe kitchen stove, which “ kept lire over night.” Espying a man in the | cradle, and not recognising the occupant, I she dropped her clothes and rushed back to her chamber, screaming “Thieves !” and i “ Murder 1” at the top of her voice. In a moment more down came the deacon with- ! out stopping to dress, armed with an old musket, ready cocked and prepared to shoot the intruder. He glance I at the cradle, recognised the now trembling occupant, and burst into a fit of laughter. Mutual explanations ensued, Mrs 11. came down dressed and prepared breakfast, the three sleepers made their appearance (the deacon’s daughter having two female friends to visit her, and wishing to sleep with them, had taken the master’s he i, not expecting him back to occupy it), the story of the night’s adventures, not omitting the timely discovery of the three sleepers, was rehearsed, bringing blushes to the cheeks of the fair listeners, while their eyes danced with mischievous merriment, and thus ended my pursuit of a night’s lodging under difficulties.- Danbury Newsman.