Excerpted from Views From My Schoolroom Window : The Diary of Schoolteacher
Mary Laurentine Martin by Jennifer Cain Bohrnstedt. AuthorHouse, © 2006. Reprinted
by permission. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, August 29th, 1860
Pa saw Mr. Cass today for the first time since his return from the East. He says he has spent the vacation very pleasantly and is
ready to "put on the harness" for another year's work.
By the by -- I have forgotten to note down that I have been assigned the position in the Grammar Room as Asst. Isn't this good luck!
It is just the place I have coveted for the whole past year. It is so much pleasanter than either place I have before occupied in the
Intermediate and Primary.
Can it be possible I have been so successful? I can hardly believe it. Here I have taught only one year, am now but just sixteen and
am to occupy only the fourth position from Mr. Cass in the High School. Truly I am blessed.
Flora came home just after sundown tonight, and shortly after her coming, Mr. and Mrs. Richardson and Miss Dow (sister to the latter)
called here. They seemed very pleasant and affable. One drawback however, to our full enjoyment of their neighborly call was the
absence of light. We just happened to be without a single candle.
I think we realized, in part, the sensations the blind have in conversation for though the moon shone in very pleasantly, we could
not distinguish each others features or their expression in the least.
Miss Dow intends to start for her home in Vermont on Monday so that I will not have time to cultivate her acquaintance. I am sorry
for I liked her appearance much.
Thursday, August 30th, 1860
How frail are human expectations! Now but yesterday I was all aglow with joyous expectations and looking forward with bright hopes to
the certainty of my occupying the much-desired position in the Grammar School. And this noon Pa came home with the news that there
is to be a great examination of all the city teachers at the High School Building on Tuesday next. What a damper to my anticipating
is this!
But this is the way, all through life -- we must have some bitter mingled with every sweet. I do not feel very much alarmed that I
shall pass examination, but still there is no certainty that I may miss some question in a moment of fright or confusion and then,
Where would I be placed!
I believe 'twould kill me, almost, if I should fail.
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