Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-04-09
Mts1ellaneous
THE BARD SCHOOL.

one OF the experimenting scnool committee OF the
town Of G, in the State Of New Hampshire.
lie introduced himself as Mr.. Bowen, and at once
proceeded with his business. He wished to en-
ploy q teacher for ono Of the schools in his town.
He ran his eyes over my frame, and saw the re-
suis was satisfactory, for be Immediately expressed
a desire to secure my services, l asked him what
sort Of n school it was.
"walf," he said, with a peculiar nasal twang, and
pronunciation not set down by any Of our lexi
cographers tits a pooty hard school naow, / tell
ye. But yeou'ye 60: the bone an muscle, an ]
reckon as haow yeou might dew it,"
lie again ran his eyes over my large and sinewy
frame, and rubbed his hands with evident ~satislac'
tion.
'IIavc scholars been in the habit Of gaining cOE
troll Of the school ?" | asked.
Bless We, yes. Why no master can stand it
week. Ye see, Squire, thar's some pooty stou'
boys in that school. Ye see, they work in swamp'
an they're rough in their ways. We hearn tell o
yeou an | was sent to see yo. An l was privileg
cd to offer 20 forty dollars a moath, eff yo'd only
come an keep it. That's more'n twice "a much
IS We ever Paid uforc."
"IIow large is the school ?" I asked.
"Wal-thar's nigh QUITO sixty scholars, all told
wnen tDey COme-sOme Ooys Ut bome Sdlt.
had heard of the school before, and had been
acquainted with on excellent teach er who had
bsen thrown cut from the s:hool.house and rolled
IN e snow bank by large boys yet | resolved to
90 and try it. OF personal danger l had no fear,
for / happened to possess a large frame and a pro-
portionate amount Of nerve and muscle. l had
exercised freely in our gymnasium. and thore was
not another man in the place who could at all hold
his strength by the side of mine. Nature had
been very lavish in her favors, and evil habits had
not impaired the faculties God had given me.
/ told Mr.. Bowen l would keep the school. 1t was
10 on the first day of December, and to
continue three months. But l told him / must
have nay own way that in oil things appertaining
20 the shool | must be master-that my will! must
be absolute, even to the casting out of half the
scholars. lie said l should have my own way
aud he pledged his word the committee should not
interfere in any way, nor under any circumstances
AT the appointed time | packed up my wardrobe
and school books, and started for O.
When l reached the village | learned that
my school was in n distant part Of the town,
in o rugged region known a Raw Bone Hol
low. On the following morning Mr.. Bower
took me over in his sleigh. l found my schOo
house upon the edge Of quite n settlement, which
was located in a wide valley, with high, bleak
mountains upon ali sides. ! was taken at once to
the place where | was to board, and in this latter
respect / was fortunate.
My hosts name was Elias Bonney. lie was e
weilto.do farmer, about forty'6ve years of age, &
firm. intelligent man, and one OF the selectmen o
the town. He had FIVE children to attend tn,
- =. e :-..- $500
Lydia, and the youngest q boy of seven.
MI. Bowen remained TO dinner, and then too
his leave. ! began to inquire particularly abot
the school. My host shook his head with a dub
Gus expression.
"You know " hat boys are" he said, "~especiall
if they've had their own way for a long time.-
For six winters we've had no school here thi
could be called a school. There are a quite
number of stout boys. and they generally contri'
to get the master out at the end Of q week. But
think they'll find it hard work to put you out"
II don't know" l replied. But | real
shouldn't want thea to try it,for l am not apt to |
vssy considerable when acting on the defensi,
sgaiDs st mere brute force"
Bonney said he should think ',would be darge
Gus for the scholars to make an attempt. But
he auueu, with luOLner uHOlOu5 5Htke Vi tue utt
"the boys are not only stout and hearty, but yC
must emember there's q number of them. On,
get 'em started, and they don't fear anything.
They'v had some pretty stout masters to deal with
"But how many are there in tie school," l as
ed, "who are really bad-who are ready to
ahead 10 any evil p~ranks?"
BoBney pondered o few moments, and then 7
piled:
"Why. there's only two CT them that are real
ugly and even they amt bad neighbors. Tn
IRE kind aud ready in cases Of need, but they see
determined to resist the
We kept up the conversation, Ut intervals. I'm
bedtime, and when ! had retired for the nigh
had about made up my mind as to the nature of
work | had to do. | had learned enough to assr
mo Of several important facts. In the first pla
each succeeding teacher had gene into the scho
house with the firm belief that he had got to FL
his way through. This very feeling had served
excite his combativeness, SO that his first posit
to the scholars was an antagonistic one. The
emit had been inevitable. At fighting, the lal
scholars were handy they had prepared for
and expected il, and consequently were easily
to an exhibition of their pugnacious qualities.
On the next morning, | wen. to the schoolhol
slittle earlier than the usual hour for commenci
found the building nearly new. and looking Gle
and neat. I went in and arranged my books
the desk. Mr.. Bonnsy had given mo the key
this desk. at the same time informing me that tn,
we're some implements there l might need.
found a heavy rock maple ferule, some two {
long by two inches wide, and three quarters Of
inch thick.
1t was a perfect club. and was, moreover, enor
to excite the ire of any decent person who mi
see il brandished about in the hands Of q super
1t was not alone. 1t had q companion in
shape OF a long, stout, heavy raw hide, or "gr
hide" as they are sometimes called. l let II
remain in the desk.
Al nine o'clock I rang the hand.bell with wh
my host had supplied me. and the scholars t