The Portland daily press., 1864-01-29
MISCELLANY.
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The Hard school.

mittee OF the town oil t. III tue 'o'ale VI
New Hampshire. He introduced himself as
Mr.. Brown, and at once proceeded with ms
business. He wished to employ teacher for
one OF the schools in his town. He ran his
eve over nv frame, and saw the result was
satisfactory, for he Immediately expressed
desire TO secure my services. asked him what
sort of school it was.
.sWal.D he said, with peculiar nasal twang
and pronunciation not set down by any of
our photographers, it's a poorly tarnation
hard school naow tell ye But yeou've got
the bone and mnscie, an | reckon as haow
yeou might dew it."
He again ran his eye over my large, sinewy
frame, and rubbed his hands with evident sat
isfaction..
"Have scholars been in the habit Of gaining
control of the scboo?" / asked.
.Lord bless We, yes. Why, no master can
stand it week. Ye see, Squire, there's some
pooty alfred staut boys in that ere school. fe
see they work in swamps, an they're kind o.
rough in their ways. We hearn tell o you,
an was sent TO see ye; an was privileged
to offer We forty dollars a month, eff ye'd only
come and keep it. That's MORN twice as much
as we ever paid afore."
show large is the school?'
"Wal-thar's nigh onto sixty scholars, all
told when they come-sone 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 a snow bank by the large boys;
yet resolved TO go and try 1t. Of personal
danger had no fear, for happened to possess
large frame, and proportonate amount oil
nerve and muscle. / 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 lavish In her favors, and evil habits had
not impaired the faculties God had given me.
told Mr.. Brown would keep the school.
1t was to commence on the first day of Decem-
Der, and continue three months. But l told
him that must have my own way; that in
all things pertaining to the school i must be
master; that my will must be absolute, even
TO the casting out of half my scholars. he
said should have my own way, and pledged
his word that the committee should not inter-
fere in any way, nor under any circumstan-
ces.
AT the appointed time packed up my ward
robe and school books, and started for C..
When / reached the village l learned that my
school was in a distant part OF the town, in a
ragged region known as Rawbone Hollow. On
the following morning, Mr.. Brown took me
"over' In his sleigh found my school-bouse
upon the edge Of quite settlement, which was
located in a wide valley, with high bleak
mountains on all sides. ! was taken at once
to the place where was to board, aud in this
latter respect / was fortunate.
My hosts name was Elias Bonney. He was
a well-to do farmer, about forty-fye years of
age-a firm, intelligent man. and one Of the
selcctmen of the town. He had five children
that were to attend the school-thc eldest be-
Ing girl of nineteen, named Lydia, and the
youngest a boy of seven.
Mr.. Brown remained to dinner and then
took his leave; and as | was alone with Mr..
Bonney, began to inquire particularly about
the school,. Ny host shook his head with
dnbious expression.
You know what boys are,' he said, 'es-
pecially If they've had their way for long
time. For six winters we've had no school
that could be called school, There was quite
4 large number of stout boys, and they gener-
ally contrive TO get out the master at the end
OF week. But think they'll find it hard
work TO put you out"
Il don't know l replied; .'but l really
should Mt want them to try 1t, for I'm not apt
to be very considerable when acting on the de-
fensive against mere brute iorce."
Bonney said he should think 'twouid be
dangerous for the scholars TO make the attempt
"But," ne added, with another dubious shake
OF the head, 1.-THE boys are not only stout and
hearty, but you must remember there is
number of them. Once get 'em started and
they don't fear anything. They have 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
60 ahead ia any evil pranks?'
Bonncy 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 considerate in case of need,
but they seem determined to resist the school
MASTER
We kept up the conversation, at intervals
until bed time, and when l 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 i'm
portant facts. In the first place, each sue
ceeding teacher had gone into the school
house with the firm belief that he had to fight
his way through. This very feeling had serv-
ed to excite his comba;iveness, so that his
first position TO the scholars was an antagon-
istic one. The result had been inevitable.
At fighting, the large boys were hands -
they had prepared for it and expected it, and
consequently were easily led to an exhibition
of their pugnacious qualities.
On the next morning ! found the building,
nearly new, and looking clean and neat. lik
ed that. went in and arranged my books
on the desk. Mr.. Bonney had given me the
key to this desk, informing me at the same
time that there we're some implements there
] might need. found heavy rock maple
ferule, some two feet long by two inches wide
and three-quartcrs of an inch thick.
II was perfect club, and was moreover,
enough to excite the ire OF any decent person
who might see il brandished about in the
hands ola superior. : 1t was not alone. 1t had
a companion in the shape OF long, stout hea-
w rawhide, or 'greenhide," 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
scholars took their seats. The school was
iull, and as / gazed carefully around, / was
pleased with the appearance of most of the
scholars. There was comedy, intelligent set
for such place. But among the larger boys
were some faces j wished to study John
Putney and Stephen Oliver had been so thor
oughly described that recognized them the
moment ] put my eyes upon them. They
were two hard looking customers, especially
the former. Putney was tall and stout, with
head and shoulders not unlike those of bull.
lie wore scrowl on his face, and seemed to
lean back ia his seat like one who held sway
Der all around. When first came to him, in
my sweeping glance / caught his eye. H0
tried hard to keep up his gaze, but in very
few seconds his lids trembled andhis eyes sunk
knew / could conquer him in some way
Stephen Oliver was not SO tall asJohr Putney
although some said, stronger. But he was
better man. His face was more intelligent
and he seemed to have more pride.
As soon as all was still / made few re-
marks. Iopened my desk and drew forth the
ponderous rawhide.
"Do these belong to any one in the school,?
4 asked, holding them up.
M <...f H.