Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-03-04
daureestrr 4ailg Spp,
THE HARD SCHOOL.

mittee OF the town of C., in the State of
New Hampshire. He introduced himself as
MIR. Bowen, and at once proceeded with his
business. He wished to employ teacher for
one of the schools in his town He ran his
eyes over my frame, and l saw the result was
satisfactory, for he Immediately expressed
desire to secure my services. l asked him
what sort of a school it was.
oval" he said, with peculiar nasal twang,
and pronunciation not set down by any of
our photographers, cts poorly hard school,
naow, tell ye. But yeou've got the bone an
muscle, an reckon as haow yeou might dew
it,"
He again ran his eyes over my large and
sinewy frame, and rubbed his hands with evil
dent satisfaction.
'Have scholars been in the habit of gaining
control of the school 2" asked.
'Bless We, yes. Why no master can stand
it week. Ye see, Squire, thars some poorly
stout boys in that school. Ye see, they work
in swamps an they're rough in their ways
We hearn tell o. yeou, an was sent to see
ye. An | was privileged to offer We forty
dollars month, eff ye'd only come an keep
It. That's more'n twice as much as we ever
paid afore."
GLOW large is the school 2" | asked.
'Wal-thar's nigh onto sixty scholars, all
told, when they come-some boys an some
gals"
had heard of the school before, and had
been acquainted with an excellent teacher who
had been thrown out from the school-house and
rolled in snow-bank by the large boys; vet
resolved to go and try it. Of personal dan
ger had no fear, for l happened to possess
large frame and q proportionate amount of
nerve and muscle. l had exercised freely in
our gymnasium, and there 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.
l told Mr.. Bowen l would keep the school.
1t was to commence on the first day of Decem-
Der, and to continue three months. But told
INN L must have my own way that in all
things appertaining to the school | must be
master-that my will must be absolute, even
to the casting out of half the scholars. He
said L should have my own way; and he
pledged his word the committee should not in
tertere in any way, nor under any circum-
stances.
AT the appointed time packed up my ward
robe and school books and started for c.
When reached the village / learned that my
school was in a distant part of the town, in
rugged region known as "Raw Bone Hollow"
On the following morning Mr.. Bowen took me
lover" Ill his sleigh. found my school house
upon the edge of quite settlement, which
was located in wide valley, with high, bleak
mountains upon all sides. l was taken at
once to the place where l was to board, and in
this latter respect l was fortunate.
My hosts name was Elias Bonney He was
well-to-do farmer, about forty-fve years of
age, hrm, intelligent man, and one of the Sc.
iectmen Of the town. He had five children to
attend the school, the Oldest being a girl of
named Lydia, and the youngest a
boy of seven.
Mr.. Bowen remained to dinner, and then
took his leave. began to inquire particularly
about the school. My host shook his head with
a dubious expression.
"YOu know what boys aro," he ooid,
pecially if they've 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 number of stout boys, and
they generally contrive to get the master out
at the end of week. But l think they II find
it hard work to put you out"
81 don't know" l replied. "But l really
shouldn't want them to try it, for | am not
apt to be very considerable when acting on the
defensive against mere brute force"
Bonney said he should think 'twould be
dangerous for the scholars to make an attempt.
"But," he added, with another dubious shake
AtNeeNA1
hearty, but you must remember there's num-
Der of them. Once get 'em started, and they
don't fear anything. They've had some pretty
stout masters to deal with.
"But how many are there in the school,"
asked, who are really bad-who are ready to
go ahead in any evil pranks 2"
Bonney pondered few moments, and then
replied:
"Why, there's only two of them that are
really ugly; and even they amt bad neighbors
They're kind and ready in cases of need, but
they seem determined to resist the school-mas-
ter"
We kept up the conversation, at intervals,
until bedtime and when | had retired for the
night had about made up my mind as to the
nature of the work had to do. | had learned
enough to assure me Of several important facts,
In the first place, each succeeding teacher had
gone into the school-house with the firm belief
that he had got to fight his way through. This
very feeling had served to excite his combat
iveness so that his first position to the scholars
was an antagonistic one. The result had been
inevitable AT fighting, the large scholars
were handy; they had prepared for it, and ex-
pected it, and consequently were easily led to
an exhibition of their pugnacious qualities.
On the next morning, went to the school
house little earlier than the usual hour for
commencing | found the building nearly
new, and looking clean and neat. | went in,
and arranged my books on the desk. Mr..
.3onney ha7lgiven me the key to this desk, at
4, he same t.pe informing me that there were
some implements there might need found
a heavy ock-maple ferule, some two feet long
by two inches wide, and three-guarters of an
inch thick.
1t was perfect club, and was, moreover,
enough to excite the ire of any decent person
-, 4 IL.
of superior. 1t was was not alone. 1t had a
companion in the shape of long, stout, heavy
raA-hide. or "green-hide," as they are some
times called. let them remain in the desk.
At nine o'clock ! rang the hand-bell with
which my host had supplied me, and the schol-
ars took their seats. The school was full, and
as | gazed carefully around, l was pleased
with the appearance of most of the scholars.
They were comely, intelligent set for such
place. But among the larger boys were some
faces which ! wished to study.
John Putney and Stephen Oliver had been
so thoroughly described to me that l recog-
nized them the moment ] put my eyes upon
them. They were two hard-looking custom
ers especially the former. Putney was tall
and stout. He wore a scowl upon his face,
and seemed to lean back in his seat like one
who held sway over all around When / first
came TO him in my sweeping glance caught
his eye. He tried hard to keep up his gaze,
but in very few seconds his lids trembled
and his eyes sunk. l knew / could conquer
him in some way.
Stephen Oliver was not so tall as Putney
though, some said stronger. But he was a
better man. Ills face was more intelligent,
and he seemed to have some pride.
AS soon as all was still made few re-
marks. Iopened my desk and drew forth the
ponderous ferule and raw-hde
a. hnI 10