Town Herman, Shawano, WI. Nov 4th. 1889

… On Sunday, Pa and Ma brought me out here and I was surprised at the neat look everything were. The woman seems to be very pleasant and eating has been excellent so far. I taught my first day of school today here and did not find it very tiresome. It is hard to get acquainted with all the children’s names and characters and how far they are in their books. But I think before the week is out I shall have my school thoroughly established. I will keep it in order come what will. The walk to school is quite long and I take my dinner. I thought I never could put a morsel into my mouth with all the children looking on, but I did it.

Oh, I guess I shall get along all right. The getting acquainted is hardest of all. I will do some earnest teaching and be approved. Mr. Roberts will come quite early I think, for he visited all the other schools so quickly. Well he shall be pleased — I will do my very best to please him. I mean to get along as no one ever did before, only those books that they have are so horrid, all except the Arithmetic’s seem strange to me. Well if I stay well all right.
E.B.E.

Source: Emma Eberlein’s diaries