64 DEEP FURROWS 



ation on the prairies at that time, there being only a 

 few private schools scattered here and there. Though 

 it was not much of an opportunity for anything but 

 something to do, the offer was accepted, and every 

 morning, after sucking a couple of eggs for a breakfast, 

 E. A. Partridge took to loping across the prairie on a 

 " Shag " pony. 



But the little school put an idea into his head. He 

 wondered if it might be worth while starting a private 

 school of his own, and in 1885 he thought the Broad- 

 view locality offered profitable prospects. He decided 

 to go down there and look over the situation. 



By this time the occupants of the sod house num- 

 bered four three Partridge brothers and a friend. The 

 problem of fitting out the school-teacher for his Broad- 

 view trip so that he would create the necessary 

 impression among strangers was one which called for 

 corrugated brows. The solution of it was not to be 

 found in any of the teacher's few text-books; it quite 

 upset Euclid's idea that things which were equal to the 

 same thing were equal to one another when it came to 

 finding enough parts to make a respectable whole ! For 

 among the four bachelors was not one whole suit of 

 clothes sufficiently presentable for social events. Every- 

 thing was rough and ready in those days and in spite 

 of the hardships the friendly pioneer settlers had some 

 good times together; but the sod house quartette had 

 never been seen at any of these gatherings not all 

 four at one time! Three of them were always so busy 

 with this or that work that they had to stay home, you 

 know; it would have been embarrassing to admit that 

 it was only by pooling their clothes they could take 

 turns in exhibiting a neighborly spirit. As it was, 

 there was often a secret fear of exhibiting even more 



