The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-12-13
Selett Sturp,
'[From "Hearth and Home."l
HOOSIER SCHOOL MASTER,
BY EDWARD EGGLEsToN.
CHAPTER I.


A PRIVATE LESSON FROM A BULL-DoG
Want to be Il school master, dc
YOU? You? Well, what would you
do in Flat Crick deestrick, I'd like tC
know? Why, the boys have driv of
the last two, and licked the one a!ore
them like -blazes You might teach
summer school, when nothin' but
children come. But Plow it takes Il
right smart man to be school-masteI
in Flat Crick in the winter. They'd
pitch you out of doors, sonny, neck
and heels, afoIe Christmas.'
The young man, who had walked
ten miles to get the school in this dis
trict, and who had been mentally re-
viewing his learning at every step he
took, trembling lest the committee
should find that lie did not know
enough, was not n little taken aback
at this greetingirom 'old Jack Means,
who was the first trustee that he light
ed on. TIE impression made by
these ominous remarks was empha-
sized by the glances which he received
from Jack Means two sons. The
older one eyed him from the top of
his brawny shoulders with that amia-
Bile look which big dog turns on a
little one before shaking him. Ralph
Hartsook had-never thought of being
measured by the standard OF muscle.
This notion Of beating education into
young savages in spite Of themselves,
dashed his ardor
He had walked right to where Jack
Means was at work shaving shingles
in his own front yard. While Mr..
Means was making the speech which
we have set down above, and punctu-
ating it with expectorations, a large
brindie bull dog had been shifting at
Ralph's heels, and girl in new lin
sey woolsey dress, standing by the
door. had nearly giggied her head oif
at the delightful prospect of seeing
new school teacher eaten up by the
ferocious brute.
Between the disheartening words of
TIE old man, the immense muscles of
the young man who was to be bis re
bellious pupil, the jaws OF the ugly
/ bulldog, and the heartless giggle of
the girl, Ralph had delightful sense
Of having prccipitated into a den of
wild beasts. Faint with wearineSs
and discouragement, and shivering
with fear, he sat down on Il wheeIbar-
| row.
You, Bullr said the old man to
the dog, which was showing more and
more disposition to make a meal OF
the incipient padagogue, you, Bull !
git aout, you pup! The dog walk0d
.sullenly off, but not until he had given
! Ralph Il look OF promise of what he
( meant II do when he got a good
chance. Ralph wished himself back
in the village OF Lewisburg, whence
/ he came.
You sce,' continued Mr.. Means,
| splitting in meiitative sort of way,
you see, we ant none OF your salt
sort in these diggiu5s 1t takes It man
to boss this deestrick. Howsumdever
eff you think yon kin trust your hide
! in Fiat Crick school house, ha'n't
. got no'hjection. But eff you git lick
ed don't come on US Flat Crlck
. don't pay 10 Insurance, you bet But
as | pay the most taxes, t'Others jist
+ let me run the thing You can begin
right off ION Monday. They amt been
no other applications. You see it
takes some grit to apply for this school.
The last master had Il black eye for
mouth But, as said, you can jist
roll up and wade in. low, you've
got pluck, may be, and that goes for
heap sight MORN sinnoo with bays.
Walk in, and stay over Sunday with
me You'll hcv to board round;
and l guess you better begin here
Ralph did Iiot go in, but sat put on
the wheelbarrow, watching the old
man shave shingles, while the boys
split the blocks and chopped wood
Bull smeled Of the newcomer again
in an ugly way, and got good kick
from the older son for his pains. Bat
out of one OF his red eyes the dog
warned the young school-.naster that
he should yet suffer for all kicks re
ceived on his account.
Ii Bull once takes holt, heaven and
yarth can't make him let CO." said
Bud to Ralph by way of comfort.
1t was well tor Ralph that he be
gan to board round by stopping at
MIR. Means. Ralph felt that Flat
Creek was what he needed. lie had
lived bookish lie. But here was his
lesson in the art of managing people.
For he who can manage the untamed
and strapping youths of winter
school in Hoopole County had gone
far toward learning one of the hardest
of lessons. And twenty-five years
ago, in Ralph's time, things werc
worse than they are now.
The oldest son of Mr.. Means was
called Bud Means. What his real
name was Ralph could not find out,
for in many of these families the nick
name of Bud given to the oldest boy,
and that of Sis which is the birth
right of the oldest girl, completely
bury the proper Christian names-I
Ralph was general. He saw his
first strategic point, which was to
capture Bud Means.