CHAPTER XXII
THE FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSE
THE first winter closed
in upon us. No longer were we to be greeted by the
semi-monthly ringing of the steamboat bell, for the
river was fast bound in icy fetters. Books were the
companions that enlivened the solitude of our evenings.
The social pleasures of the vicinity were merged in
a weekly ball for those who enjoyed what, according
to the report of the parties, was little else than,
in western parlance, a "whiskey-hoe-down."
What rational, social pleasure can we devise that
shall elevate the moral tone of society?—was
the theme of discussion, when Joseph R. Bowron,
of St. Croix, proposed that a "Ladies' Sewing
Society" be instituted, to aid in the erection
of the proposed school-house, and for our encouragement,
generously pledged $10 for a commencement. Accordingly,
the "St. Paul Circle of Industry" was formed,
with eight members, and several gentleman as visitors.
These little circumstances were important in the early
history of this glorious country; and we remember,
with an allowable pride, that the first payment
on the lumber for the first school-house
was made with money earned with the needle by the
ladies of this "Circle." It was no marvel,
then, that they should feel a deep interest
in the work, or that some should solicit subscriptions
where men had failed of success; or ride to the Fort
for the presentation of so important a consideration,
and the securing of $50.
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The specified object of
the building was the accommodating of the school,
church, court, occasional lectures, elections, and,
in short, all public gatherings; with the expectation
that an expenditure of $300, on a building twenty-five
feet by thirty, would be all that would be required
for at least ten years. We had not a precedent in
the past for a guide, nor warrantable faith for the
future. The foundation was laid, the superstructure
reared, and with intense interest we watched its tardy
progress, in joyful anticipation of the time when
we should exchange the mud-walled hovel, with its
bark roof, for the new commodious edifice. But constant
exposure from those damp walls, and at the bedside
of a dying child, prostrated my physical energies;
and when, just one year from my arrival, the building
was declared finished, I was on the bed of
lingering illness; so that for many weeks thereafter
the echo of my footfall was not heard within those
walls. But the desired object was attained, and the
way was thus far prepared for educational interests
to move forward.
In this emergency it was
the desire of the Rev. Dr. W. who had ever exercised
a father's care towards me, that I should be taken
to the Mission, and though I at first demurred at
being taken in a canoe, covered with an Indian blanket,
a refreshing cordial prepared for the way, and the
good man's umbrella shielded my fevered brow from
the sun, as I reclined upon this primitive couch.
The words of comfort and hope which he spoke were
as cooling water to the thirsty traveler in a desert
land. He drew my attention to the tender vines, clinging
for protection to the stately trees beneath which
our craft
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was gliding; and "so," said
he, "should we cling to our Father's arm."
All things around us spoke in exalted strains of the
love of "Him who made them," and I could
not feel sad; my heart responded to the cheerful scene.
A few weeks of careful
nursing, and a trip to Galena, fitted me to return
in comparative health to my endeared home and labors,
where I found valuable accessions to our society;
and with a new impetus and double zest, I
entered upon my duties in the new school
room.
Stillwater, (nestled beneath
the evening shadows of a high bluff on lake St. Croix,)
at this time the declared metropolis, had made early
application to the Board of National Popular Education
for a teacher; and after nearly a year's delay, obtained,
though for only a brief period, the valuable services
of Miss Amanda Hosford, who soon
after became Mrs. Moss—a well
educated and accomplished lady, from my own Green
Mountain State. With becoming zeal the citizens addressed
themselves to the erection of a school-house, which,
though commenced many months later than ours at St.
Paul, was completed a few days after it. By the efforts
of the lady teacher, a bell was soon pealing its clear
tones from the belfry. An educational interest, never
more to flag from this period, was awakened in Minnesota,
and the light of Christian education began to irradiate
its moral atmosphere.
One of the earliest acts
of Congress, in reference to this Territory, was the
providing for the education of all classes of the
population by the appropriation of two sections of
land in each township. And thus, as we may hereafter
see, has the little seed expanded into the mighty
tree, while many find a generous shelter beneath its
extended boughs.
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In the spring of 1849,
Miss Mary A. Scofield joined our
feeble band of teachers, and was for one year associated
with the writer in St. Paul. A second school-house
was built, and ample means provided for the instruction
of one hundred and fifty pupils.
The law, organizing district
schools, took effect in the autumn of 1850, and a
school was first opened under its auspices by Mr.
D. A. J. Baker, an accomplished New
England teacher, whose peculiar tact rendered him
an adept in the greatest, the noblest of all employments.
Chapter XXIII
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