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26                                           Memories of a Long Life

Chapter Seven

 SCHOOL TEACHING AND LATER MEMORIES

 

             My first teaching was a neighborhood school.  I seemed to please my patrons well enough that they asked to teach the public state school in 1864.  I taught and in 1864 had a vacation a few weeks Christmas time.  I resumed my school in January, 1865, and was teaching when Robert Lee surrendered.  I was paid off by Mr. James Lassiter, who had the money in charge.  He paid me near two hundred dollars.  I got two twenty-dollar bills, four ten-dollar bills, and twenty five-dollar bills, some three and two-dollar bills, with a 25 cent paper bill called a shin plaster, and not a loaf of bread could I buy, but I was young and able to work those days and I did work and am glad I did.  I have never been afraid of work, anything I could do.

             My brother-in-law ran a farm for Mr. Thom Jenkins some 5 miles below Raleigh; I came and taught a Moore Schoolhouse. Brother William lived with us.  Aunt Sallie Johnson’s baby child lived with us and attended my school.  She went with me.  In 1873 and 174 I was teaching a neighbor school at old Mr. Billy Boon’s.  He had a vacant house so the neighbors just hired me; four of the people said they would give me a month’s board if I would give a poor widow her children’s tuition free, so I did; had quite a nice little school.  It was about seven or eight miles from home and I would only go home once a month.  I got word to come and bring two or three men with me.  I went then.  Well, that night I had the deed of my father’s home place made over to me.  Baxter Johnson and Abner Johnson signed by putting down heir names.

             My father had me to go to Pittsboro courthouse and have my deed recorded.  I did and it was from then my father told some neighbors that he was not uneasy, that he would ever feel it was not his home, nor did I ever say one time “my home” until after my father was dead.

             I was taken with my throat on Friday.  Monday the doctor gave me out before day.  Tuesday morning my jaws locked.  My brother and two sisters could not pry my mouth open, and not one drop of water did I drink nor one word did I speak in six or sever days, but I lived and got able to go and wait on others that had it in the neighborhood.  More than one family lost their last child; but I went and nursed, never refused.  I did all I could.  When no one but my sister and two doctors would come into the house I never refused.  I was sent for by a family with five down with typhoid fever, and two doctors.  I went, spent several weeks; three out of five died; not one per-