CHAPTER XVII
ENTERING UPON DUTY
THE arrival of a steamer
at the time of which we write was not of daily, nor
weekly, nor scarcely of semi-monthly occurrence, and
the sound of its high pressure in this land of silence
would reach the ear at a distance of eight or ten
miles. The sun had just looked over the bluff, and
was peeping in at my window, when the welcome sound
greeted my ear. I had been anxiously waiting to return
to St. Paul, where "all things were now ready,"
but had shrunk at the remembrance of sea-sickness
from a canoe ride up stream. Joyfully did
I hasten my toilet, and await the "Argo."
Now day had dawned, not only in the natural world,
but in my life, and a golden sun heralded a triumphant
progress. Its first tintings on the eastern horizon
disclosed the faint outlines of the future; but its
onward course revealed objects more and more beautiful.
The dreams and yearnings of my childhood had now reached
the dawn of fruition, and Hope was by my side to tell
of coming scenes.
It seemed to me the trees
had never worn so rich a foliage, nor the flowers
smiled so lovingly, as when again I trod that grass-grown
street, and received the spontaneous greetings of
the youthful crowd—a welcome to their homes
and harts! Nor were my emotions less pleasing when
I "learned to stoop," and entered that memorable
mud-walled log hovel, a primitive blacksmith's shop,
where those young minds were to receive impressions
for immortality.
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Some wooden pins had been
driven into the logs, across which rough boards were
placed for seats. The luxury of a chair was accorded
to the teacher, and a cross-legged table occupied
the center of the loose floor. Such were the evidences
of transforming power, where the moulding of iron
was to give place to the moulding of mind. As a "light
shining in a dark place," I saw two fair childlike
faces amid the dark, forbidding group convened within
those decaying log walls; but another, and yet another,
was added to brighten this oasis in the desert of
life.
To procure means for ablution
was one of my first duties; and in due time a portion
of the unnatural darkness disappeared, and revealed
a skin tinted with other than native American blood.
A full rehearsal of duties of that room might offend
the delicate ear, and we withhold the details. Soon,
all was bright and joyous. Our domicile was converted
into a rural arbor, fragrant evergreens concealing
the rude walls, with their mud chinkings, and even
the bark roof. A friendly hen, unwilling to relinquish
her claim, on the ground of preoccupancy, daily placed
a token of her industry in the corner, and made all
merry with her loud cackle and abrupt departure. Snakes
sometimes obtruded their heads through the floor,
rats looked in at the open door, and dark faces were
continually obscuring the windows. An old pitcher,
minus the handle, received the rarest specimens of
wild flowers, from which our "center table"
exhaled a generous perfume. In front, and at our feet,
flowed in silent majesty the Father of Waters, with
two beautiful green islands reposing on its bosom,
which have since been named Raspberry and Harriet*
Isles.
*This name is from the
author of this work.
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Why should I pine for
halls of science and literature, when such glorious
privileges were mine—when to my weak hand was
accorded the work of rearing the fabric of educational
interests in the unorganized territory—of establishing
the first citizen-school within its undefined limits!
True, since the erection of the fort there had been
a garrison-school, taught by the chaplain, under pay
of government, and praiseworthy zeal had been manifested
by the laborious missionaries in their labor of love
among the red children of the plains; and in one or
two instances a few weeks of teaching had been performed
in families; but nothing of this sort was permanent.
Now had commenced a work which was to continue so
long as there was a youth to educate, and when the
hand that laid the "corner-stone" should
have been for ages mouldering in the dust. There was
not a spot in earth's broad domain that could have
tempted me to an exchange. True, I was far from former
friends and home, contending with a rough world, but
it was not heartless.The law of kindness
ruled every heart, the avenues of which were not closed
by vice. In health, my wishes were anticipated, so
far as limited means would allow; and when acclimating
sickness fell upon me, I was watched with anxious
eyes, kind hands bathed my burning cheek, and smoothed
the pillow for my aching head.
Society was, indeed, limited,
but nature supplied the deficiency. With her I held
sweet council, and feasted upon her rich charms. Vigils
were prolonged beneath her stately trees, and converse
with flowers in their own pure language. The Mississippi,
glittering with her thousand diamonds when "the
silent moonbeams fell," inspired the soul with
new enthusiasm, and thus life's bitter waters were
changed to sweet.
Chapter XVIII
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