The Control of Teachers' Destinies

During her first winter as a teacher Laura Ingalls Wilder boarded with a local family who received a portion of her pay for their services. She recalled vividly the jealousy of her "benefactor," Mrs. Brewster. One night, in a voice loud enough for Wilder to hear, she said "she'd not slave for a hoity toity snip who had nothing to do but dress up and sit in a school house all day." The following night, Wilder had frightening nightmares^{. 1}