Rose also grew close to the children in the village. Whenever they gathered outside to play, she would sit beneath the large oak tree with them. Using a small wooden stick, she wrote letters and simple words in the dirt, patiently teaching them how to read.
The children laughed whenever they got the words right and pouted whenever they made mistakes. Rose never scolded them. Instead, she praised every small improvement, making learning feel like a game.
Before long, the children began running to her house every morning.
"Miss Vielle!" they would call excitedly in front of her house. "Can we study with you today?"
Rose opened the window and looked at the children waiting outside. A gentle smile appeared on her face, but she slowly shook her head.
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "My husband isn't feeling well today, so I need to stay home and take care of him."
The children gasped in surprise. "Mr. Osbert can get sick?!" one of them exclaimed.
