Page:Women of distinction.djvu/313

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WOMEN OF DISTINCTION.
243

mined will of her own and hearing the continual appeal of her people to "come over in Macedonia and help us," could no longer resist the pitiful cry, and laid down the pursuit of her studies, and, with that burning zeal of a missionary, laid hold of the work that she had so long desired. By so doing she did much to dispel the gloom which overshadowed her people, and financially enabled herself to resume her studies in 1875. Her first school-house was a little log cabin in a section of her own countv known as Indian Town. Her first term was marked with great success and she filled the first place in the hearts of the people among whom she labored. There she organized a Sunday-school, for which she acted as teacher, chorister and superintendent. So great was the love of the people for her that they said they didn't believe the county paid her enough for the valuable services she rendered them, and as a unit came together and made up the deficiency as nearly as they could, for they thought that currency could not compensate for the great good and the blessings that she had been the means of bestowing upon them.

Her second term was taught four miles from this place, where it was difficult to find a family near the school with sufficient room to board a teacher, most of the houses having only one room. She was sent to such a house to board. This was too much for the young teacher. The people looked upon her as a jewel and would do anything to please her, so she called the parents together and they willingly united and built another room to the house, the teacher furnishing the nails.