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make the fires or carry in the fuel； and it was often
necessary to fetch the wood myself； sometimes for
long distances through the forest。 Again and again；
after miles of walking through winter storms； I
reached the school…house with my clothing wet
through； and in these soaked garments I taught
during the day。 In ‘‘boarding round'' I often found
myself in one…room cabins； with bunks at the end
and the sole partition a sheet or a blanket； behind
which I slept with one or two of the children。 It
was the custom on these occasions for the man of
the house to delicately retire to the barn while we
women got to bed； and to disappear again in the
morning while we dressed。 In some places the
meals were so badly cooked that I could not eat
them； and often the only food my poor little pupils
brought to school for their noonday meal was a
piece of bread or a bit of raw pork。
I earned my two dollars a week that year； but I
had to wait for my wages until the dog tax was col…
lected in the spring。 When the money was thus
raised； and the twenty…six dollars for my thirteen
weeks of teaching were graciously put into my
hands； I went ‘‘outside'' to the nearest shop and
joyously spent almost the entire amount for my
first ‘‘party dress。'' The gown I bought was； I con…
sidered； a beautiful creation。 In color it was a rich
magenta； and the skirt was elaborately braided with
black cable…cord。 My admiration for it was justi…
fied； for it did all a young girl's eager heart could
ask of any gownit led to my first proposal。
The youth who sought my hand was about twenty
years old； and by an unhappy chance he was also
the least attractive young person in the country…
sidethe laughing…stock of the neighbors； the butt
of his associates。 The night he came to offer me
his heart there were already two young men at our
home calling on my sisters； and we were all sitting
around the fire in the living…room when my suitor
appeared。 His costume； like himself； left much to
be desired。 He wore a blue flannel shirt and a pair
of trousers made of flour…bags。 Such trousers were
not uncommon in our region； and the boy's mother；
who had made them for him； had thoughtfully
selected a nice clean pair of sacks。 But on one leg
was the name of the firm that made the flourA。 and
G。 W。 Greenand by a charming coincidence A。
and G。 W。 Green happened to be the two young
men who were calling on my sisters！ On the back
of the bags； directly in the rear of the wearer； was
the simple legend； ‘‘96 pounds''； and the striking
effect of the young man's costume was completed
by a bright yellow sash which held his trousers in
place。
The vision fascinated my sisters and their two
guests。 They gave it their entire attention； and
when the new…comer signified with an eloquent ges…
ture that he was calling on me； and beckoned me
into an inner room； the quartet arose as one person
and followed us to the door。 Then； as we inhospit…
ably closed the door； they fastened their eyes to
the cracks in the living…room wall； that they might
miss none of the entertainment。 When we were
alone my guest and I sat down in facing chairs and
in depressed silence。 The young man was nervous；
and I was both frightened and annoyed。 I had
heard suppressed giggles on the other side of the
wall； and I realized； as my self…centered visitor failed
to do； that we were not enjoying the privacy the
situation seemed to demand。 At last the youth in…
formed me that his ‘‘dad'' had just given him a
cabin； a yoke of steers； a cow； and some hens。 When
this announcement had produced its full effect； he
straightened up in his chair and asked； solemnly；
‘‘Will ye have me？''
An outburst of chortles from the other side of the
wall greeted the proposal； but the ardent youth
ignored it； if indeed he heard it。 With eyes staring
straight ahead； he sat rigid； waiting for my answer；
and I； anxious only to get rid of him and to end
the strain of the moment； said the first thing that
came into my head。 ‘‘I can't；'' I told him。 ‘‘I'm
sorry； butbutI'm engaged。''
He rose quickly； with the effect of a half…closed
jack…knife that is suddenly opened； and for an in…
stant stood looking down upon me。 He was six feet
two inches tall； and extremely thin。 I am very short；
and； as I looked up； his flour…bag trousers seemed to
join his yellow sash somewhere near the ceiling of
the room。 He put both hands into his pockets and
slowly delivered his valedictory。 ‘‘That's darned dis…
appointing to a fellow；'' he said； and left the house。
After a moment devoted to regaining my maidenly
composure I returned to the living…room； where I
had the privilege of observing the enjoyment of my
sisters and their visitors。 Helpless with mirth and
with tears of pleasure on their cheeks； the four rocked
and shrieked as they recalled the picture my gallant
had presented。 For some time after that incident
I felt a strong distaste for sentiment。
Clad royally in the new gown； I attended my first
ball in November； going with a party of eight that
included my two sisters； another girl； and four young
men。 The ball was at Big Rapids； which by this
time had grown to be a thriving lumber town。 It
was impossible to get a team of horses or even a
yoke of oxen for the journey； so we made a raft and
went down the river on that； taking our party dresses
with us in trunks。 Unfortunately； the raft ‘‘hung
up'' in the stream； and the four young men had
to get out into the icy water and work a long time
before they could detach it from the rocks。 Natu…
rally； they were soaked and chilled through； but they
all bore the experience with a gay philosophy。
When we reached Big Rapids we dressed for the
ball； and； as in those days it was customary to
change one's gown again at midnight； I had an op…
portunity to burst on the assemblage in two cos…
tumesthe second made of bedroom chintz； with
a low neck and short sleeves。 We danced the
‘‘money musk；'' and the ‘‘Virginia reel；'' ‘‘hoeing
her down'' （which means changing partners） in
true pioneer style。 I never missed a dance at this
or any subsequent affair； and I was considered the
gayest and the most tireless young person at our
parties until I became a Methodist minister and
dropped such worldly vanities。 The first time I
preached in my home region all my former partners
came to hear me； and listened with wide； understand…
ing； reminiscent smiles which made it very hard for
me to keep soberly to my text。
In the near future I had reason to regret the ex…
travagant expenditure of my first earnings。 For
my second year of teaching； in the same school； I
was to receive five dollars a week and to pay my
own board。 I selected a place two miles and a half
from the school…house； and was promptly asked by
my host to pay my board in advance。 This； he ex…
plained； was due to no lack of