Editor’s Note: This is an ongoing series which runs each Thursday morning titled the Richland Chronicles Volume 4, by author Paul Lintern. It is set in the 1830s and tells the story of Richland County through the eyes of young people. This is the fourth in a series. Volume 1 was Amelia Changes Her Tune. Volume II was Isaac and Wolf Paw Find Their Home. Volume III was Autumn Keeps Her Secret.
Autumn thought of the word of advice her father had given her as she was heading out that morning for her first day as a teacher.
“Don’t let them know you don’t know what you are doing, and they will know only that you know everything you need to know,” he said.
Autumn smiled as she realized it was working, especially when she added the gem that her Aunt Elizabeth had said: They don’t care what you know, until they know that you care.
The first hours found Autumn being as “marmly” as she could be, trying to act like a school marm even though each of the students made her smile when she thought of how much she had in common with them.
She liked Georgette’s properness and politeness and knew that she would have a knack for serving at the Oakland Inn as Autumn had learned to do.
She liked Natalie’s way of being “down to earth,” and thought of her own adventures through the woods with her cousin Isaac and friends.
She new that Jacob’s love of the water and Tom’s love of running were her own bailiwick.
Sammy and Esther’s love of raising sheep and goats also was something she shared. And Philip’s interest in Wyandot Indians, which he had mentioned three times already, made her want to introduce him to her friend Wolf Paw.
But the first task at hand was to find out what they already knew, so the morning was spent listening to people read (or not read, in the case of Esther and Jacob), and finding out who could add and subtract, who could spell and who knew basic history facts.
It’s not a disaster, but it’s not so good that they don’t need me, thought Autumn.
At noon, the students did something Autumn never would have expected. They made rabbit stew.
Jacob and Sammy built a cooking fire behind the mill, near the river. Esther and Tom fashioned a pole on which they hung a cooking pot they borrowed from Mr. Gamble. Natalie skinned the rabbit with Georgette obviously impressed, while she peeled and cut up potatoes and carrots that the students had brought.
Tom’s contribution was to include some ham that he had brought for his teacher and Philip had a loaf of bread to share with everyone.
Mr. Gamble couldn’t resist adding a few herbs and spices to the effort, knowing he would enjoy some of the results.
“This school, yes, the school is a good idea of mine,” he said, as he wolfed down the first bite.
During preparation, the kids starting bragging about who could do what. Not surprisingly, it turned into a discussion of what boys could do better than girls, and visa versa.
“Boys run faster and swim better,” said Jacob. “That should be obvious.”
“Not if we get to use our legs,” Sammy laughed, grabbing her cumbersome skirts.
“That’s just an excuse,” Tom said. “Just like boys can hunt better and fish better, dress or no dress.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” Natalie asked. “I can outshoot anyone here.”
“But boys are stronger,” Philip offered.
“Stronger smelling, maybe,” Esther said, and everyone laughed.
“I don’t think we should compare,” Georgette suggested. “There are certain things each of us should do better. For example, girls sew better and cook better.”
“Have you tried my stew,” Tom asked.
“Your stew?” Natalie asked. “Seems I fired the shot and removed the skin.”
And thus the discussion continued, until Autumn brought them back in from lunch and made a suggestion.
“Let’s have a contest. It will be boys against the girls. Each of you can pick a challenge. It can be physical or mental, inside or out. With each one, I will design a challenge that will put one boy against one girl, or all the boys against all the girls.”
Philip raised his hand.
“There’s one more girl than boy, Miss Zeiters.”
“True. I may have just three girls compete when it’s against all the boys. Fair enough?”
All agreed.
“That would be seven contests. Whichever side wins four of the contests, wins the event. Deal?”
All agreed again. Sammy raised her hand.
“What do we win, if we win?” she asked.
Autumn paused.
“I didn’t think about that,” she thought.
“The chores,” she said. “Whoever wins doesn’t have to do their chores for two weeks.”
Everyone was excited. Sammy raised her hand again.
“Miss Zeiters, what chores?”
“Well…” I didn’t think about that either.
Sammy spoke up.
“How about this, if the boys lose, they have to wear dresses to school for a week.”
“Dresses?” Autumn asked.
“We were saying at lunch how our dresses keep us from doing some things a well as they do. This would give us a chance to prove it.”
“What if they win?” Autumn asked.
“We’ll wear pants,” Esther said.
“Speak for yourself,” Georgette said.
“Not just pants, but shirt, suspenders, straw hat and boots,” Jacob said.
Autumn paused again, as she watched them all agree.
“Sounds good,” she finally said.
“Tomorrow will be the contest. You will suggest your challenge, which I must approve. Each of you bring an extra set of clothing, for another to wear if they lose. Deal?”
“Deal!” they all shouted, almost in unison.
“Deal,” Georgette finally said, quietly, after the others all looked at her.
