Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-04-14

and he pledged his word the Commit
tee should not interfere in any way,
nor under any circumstances.
At the appointed time packed up
my wardrobe and school books, and
started for c.. When / reached
the village, learned that my school
was in a distant part of the town-in
a rugged region, known as Rdnbone
Hoilou. On the following morning.
Mr.. Bowen took me over in his
sleigh. / found my school house upon
the edge of quite settlement, which
was located in a wide valley, with
high, bleak mountains upon all sides.
| was taken at once to the place where
was to board, and in this latter re-
spcct, was fortunate.
Ny hosts name was Elias Bonney
He was wcll-to-do farmer-about
forty-fv years of age. firm. intelli-
gent man, and one Of the selectmcn OF
the town. He had five children WHO
were to attend the school-the oldest
being a girl of nineteen, named Lydia,
and the youngest hoy Of seven.
Mr.. Bowen remained to dinner, and
then took his leave i began to inquire
particularly about the school. My
host shook his head with dubious
expression.
You know what boys are he said,
especially if they have had their own
way for long time. For six winters
we've had no school here that could
be called a school. There are quite q
number of stout boys. and they gene.
rally contrive to get the master out al
the end of week. But l think they'll
find it hard work to get you out
Il don't know l replied. But
really shouldn't want to try it, for ]
am not apt to be very considerate when
acting on the defensive against mere
brute force
Bonney said he should think j,
would be dangerous for the scholars tc
make an attempt
But he added with another dubi
ous shake of the head. the boys ar,
not only stout and hearty, but yot
must remember there's number o
them. Once get 'em started. and they
don't fear any thing. They have hac
some pretty stout masters to dea
with
But how many are there in tn
school, / asked, who are ready to g,
ahead in any evil pranks?'
Bonncy pondcred few moments
and then replied:
why, there's only two Of them tha
are really ugly; and even they ain
bad ncighbors. They're kind an,
ready in cases of need, but they seen
determined to resist the school
MASTER
We kept up the conversation, at in
tcrvals, until bedtime, and when
retired for the night, had about mad
up my mind as to the nature of tn
, work | had to do. / had learne
, enough to assure me of several impor
tant facts. In the first place, cac
succeeding teacher had gone into tn
school house with the firm belief tina
he had got to fight his way through
This very feeling had served to excit
+, his combativeness, so that his first pc
sition to the scholars was an antagc
! nistic one. The result had been inc,
, liable. At fighting, the large scholar
n were handy; they had prepared for il
and expected it, and consequently wei
easily led to an exhibition of the
pugnacious qualities.
On the next morning went to ii
e school-house little earlier than Il
I usual hour for commencing. foun
the building nearly new, and lookin
n clean and neat. l liked that. liver
/, in and arranged my books on the desl
Il Mr.. Bonney had given me the key
this desk, at the same time informir
o me that he believed there were SON
o implements there l might need.
,r found heavy ock-maple ferule, son
y two feet long by two inches wide. al
n three quarters of an inch thick.
> 1t was perfect club. and wa
! moreover, enough to excite the ire
any decent person who might see
/. brandishcd about in the hands of
70 superior. 1t was not alone 1t had
companion in the shape of a lon
e. stout. heavy raw-hide. or green hide
= as they are sometimes called. /
n them remain in the desk.
ii At nine o'clock l rang the han
ct bell with which my host had suppl
r. me, aud the scholars took their sea
p The school was full, and as | gaz
a carefully around, l was pleased VI
nd the appearance of most of the schola
ur Tney were n comely. Intelligent