Her talent for nursing was called into requisition soon after her return to Castile when the children of the Presbyterian minister, the Rev. Mr. Hurlburt, became ill with typhoid fever and she was called to assist in caring for them.  It was an anxious time for the nurse as well as the parents, as one child after another fell ill.  Two of the children died, and later the father succumbed to the fatal illness.  The faithful nurse remained with the distracted widow and the remaining children can cared for them tenderly as long as they needed her services.  In an old and well-worn Bible is this inscription in her handwriting:  “This is the first Bible I ever owned.  It was presented to me by Rev. and Mrs. Hurlburt.”

The sumer of 1855 found Miss Swain, then twenty-one years of age, teaching a few private pupils in the village.  One of her scholars of that summer recently spoke of her loving interest in her pupils and her care for their welfare.  The following year she went to live with some cousins in Pike and attend the school there.

Mr. Swain had a sister living in Canandaigua, who, knowing of Clara’s strong desire for self-improvement, invited her to come there for a year of study in the seminary, an invitation which she gladly accepted; and after a year of close study she obtained a position as teacher in the primary department of one of the public schools.  “Clara was determined to get an education and make use of it if she could,” wrote one of her cousins.

TEACHING IN CANANDAIGUA

In the spring of 1859 began an acquaintance with one who was ever after one of Miss Swain’s dearest friends.  Miss Martha McFarland of Albany accepted the position of teacher in the intermediate department of the school in which Miss Swain was teaching and they at once became friends.  As Miss Swain’s aunt was soon to leave Canandaigua, the two friends secured a pleasant boarding-place, and for three years they walked to school together in the morning and home again in the afternoon.  Bothe were nature-lovers and many a delightful hour they spent on their holidays and Saturday afternoons and whenever they could find leisure for one of their picnic outings.  They were both members of the Methodist Church and were constant in their attendance at the Sunday services and at Sunday school as well as at the midweek prayer and class-meetings, and were ever ready to help in all forms of church work.

Through her years of teaching Miss Swain showed the same conscientious spirit that was evidenced in her child and school life.  “Have I done all I ought?  Have I been as helpful to my pupils as I might be?” she often asked herself.  For a time she taught a class in Sunday school, and her boys were impressed by her consistent life.  Later, one of them said, “We noticed that you always went to prayer meeting so we thought we would go and see what was in it.”  This class was a joy to her and her pleasure was great when one and another gave himself to the Lord for service.