PERSONAL HISTORY 193 



intendents, or "committee men," as they were 

 called, visited our district, which was Nmnber 

 Tliree, nicknamed "Gotham." The next district 

 adjoining Xumber Three on the north bore the 

 euphonious name of "Skunk's IMisery." The 

 other districts had similar distinctive names, such 

 as "Ponakin," "Babel," "Deer's Horn," "The 

 Xeck," and others which cannot now be recalled. 

 On that first day at school the rest of the pupils 

 seemed to have no trouble in reading off 

 promptly, but it was a terrible ordeal to Luther, 

 and when his turn came he boohooed, and was 

 excused. During the first winter, David, one of 

 our older brothers, generally took him on a hand 

 sled to school, after mother had tied a warm, 

 woolen tippet about his neck and placed some 

 thick, red and white woolen mittens upon his 

 hands. After the first day at school, most of his 

 troubles were over, though the big boys some- 

 times used to "yaff" at him. 



In this school sister Jane, brother Herbert, 

 and cousins Myra and Calvin, were at times his 

 teachers. The course of study was the usual one 

 followed by the schools at that time. His 

 opinion, as now expressed, is that he began the 

 study of arithmetic, grammar, and algebra 

 altogether too early in life, as most children are 

 required to do to-day; although they are now 



— ^Bur. Vol. 8 



