Another spring is upon us.
After spending another cautious winter in town, Pa is offered the job of heading up the building of the Perry School and wants to move back to the claim as the school will be built not far from the claim. A little bit of me always admired that Ma could just up and move with just a day’s notice without as much as a whimper.
Laura is also offered a job teaching at the Perry School when it’s complete. That is, if she passes the teachers’ examinations, which she does, of course, with a Second Grade certificate. And then Pa gives her the happy news that he’s been saving and Laura finds out that she will be paid the richly sum of twenty-five dollars a month for three months.
Which brings on my favorite passage in the chapter:
Grace’s blue eyes were perfectly round. In solemn awe she said, “Laura will be rich.”
Grace doesn’t play a very big role in the books, but as the youngest in my own family I always felt a kinship with her.
So begins Laura’s second term teaching school. This one all gleaming and brand new with only three students the whole term. Laura felt guilty about earning so much money, but Pa assured her that the large schools were paying thirty dollars a month and those three children were entitled to the same schooling as a dozen would receive. Laura made sure to give them the very best instruction.
What a wonderful spring it was! Walking through the fresh, sweet mornings with the scent of violets in the air, (a wonderful way to start and finish each work day!), Laura makes her way to the school each day. Teaching her happy, good little students who were eager to learn and keeping up with her own studying made for cheerful days.
When Pa asked what Laura planned to do with the money she would be earning, naturally Laura replied that she would give it to Ma and Pa. Pa proposes that they use it to buy an organ for when Mary comes home. Isn’t it wonderful that the family is in such a position that they can afford to make such a purchase?
Pa decides that this calls for a musical celebration…with just the fiddle for now.
Golden years are passing by,
Happy, happy golden years,
Passing on the wings of time,
These happy golden years.
Call them back as they go by,
Sweet their memories are,
Oh, improve them as they fly,
These happy golden years.Laura’s heart ached as the music floated away and was gone in the spring night under the stars.