Before going on with my story of life on the farm I must include my school days at Patterson. I started to school at six years of age. My first teacher, a Miss Nellie Bell, taught a summer school of three months’ duration. These were subscription schools, because the pupils were subscribed at $1.00 per month, per pupil. This is the way they received wages for teaching as the district did not pay for a summer school.
We never had more than six months of regular school term, so there was a long time between terms and subscription schools were not uncommon. I learned very fast, and by the time school began in the fall I was ready for the second reader.
In a very short time I had completed it and was promoted to third reader. In those days pupils were not kept back in one subject if poor in another, but I was also good in spelling. My first, second, and third years of school I received a prize for highest mark in spelling. I received a book each time as a prize.
My first real teacher was a man, George Montgomery. I confess I was a little afraid because Miss Bell was so nice and being a woman I felt free with her and liked her very much. It was with a great deal of misgivings that I started to school dressed up in my pretty ruffly percale dress. Although Mr. Montgomery was a very quiet and reserved man, he was kind and I soon learned to like him and learned very fast.
My second, third and fourth years were taught by Jim Bowers. He also was an excellent teacher. It was from him that I received my prizes in spelling. I almost idolized this teacher, and just a frown from him would almost break my heart.
Whippings are very few in my memory, but two stand out, and tho’ they were not hard whippings, they hurt more because I was so unused to them. My mother spanked all of us, but her spankings were soon forgotten. My father rarely ever whipped any of us for just a stern word from him was all that was necessary. One time he gave my sister Virgie and me a good whipping with a switch for playing in Mother’s bedroom and breaking her lovely big wash bowl and pitcher. He just happened to be home and took command.
The one that hurt me worst of all was from my school teacher, the fall before we moved from Patterson. His name was Murray, a very nervous, excitable man. He is the only teacher I ever disliked. I was sitting at my seat doing nothing as my classes were over. The girl behind me broke a cigar box lid into and it made a loud report. Mr. Murray was busy at the blackboard. He whirled around and brought his long hickory switch and gave me five or six licks over the shoulders. He asked no questions, and I was so surprised and overwhelmed it almost broke my heart.
Of course I told my parents for I went home crying as if my heart would break. It made my father very angry, and I never knew it for years but he went to that teacher and made him apologize. It was said that he and his wife were having trouble, and I guess it was so as they separated not long after that.
