The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1873-02-19
SCHOOL MASTER OF RUS
SIAN BAR.

ment."
The doctors wife was an authority
on all matters in Russian Bar, and on
this last sensation-the coming of
schoolmaster-sh freely enlightened
her neighbor, Mrs. Blunt, plump
widow, whose miner husband had died
few months before. There was not
much to gossip sbout in that quiet
village. The arrival and departure
of the stage brought the people TO
their doors three times a week, and if
a stranger was noticed, ENJOYS were
Immediately despatched to the hotel
to learn his name and business and the
probable length of his stay. But now
Russian Bar was to have new school
master, and the folks wondered much
if he would have any trouble with
Sam Seymour,the butchers boy; or Ike
Walker, and unruly spirit, who had
knocked down and pummelled the
last preceptor who undertook to teach
him school discipline. The trustees
were powerlcss in these matters, and
declared that if schoolmaster was
not able to "get away" with the boys
in the square, stand up fight, he might
as we'll pack his traps and leave Rus
sian Bar.
On the evening Of the expected ar
rival, Seymour and Walker, the lead
ing spirits of the mutinous school boys,
met at pool, from which they were
both trying to coax few speckled trout
for supper.
"Have you heard what the new
chap is like, Sam?" said Ike, as he
impaled wrigglc worm Oh his hook.
NO; have you?"
Father told Jake, the barkeeper,
that he was very young"
"And small?'
Eyes"
Guess he wont stay long in town,
Ike"
"I guess not, Sam. School amt
good for us, such fine weather as this. y
The worthless sat and fished in ST.
lence for some time and then Ike pro-
duced y bunch of cigarettes and pass.
ed them to his friend. At last find.
ing that the fish would not bite, they
shouldered their poles and struggled
up towards the village, pausing for a
moment to stone Chinaman's rooster
which had strayed too far from the
protecting wash house.
Philip Houghton was n schoolmas-
ter from necessity, and not taste. Like
many who have been educated as gen
tlcmen in one sense Of the word, that
is without the acquaintance with any
special pursuit that might be turned
to good account of the struggle fol
bread, he found himself adrift in Cali
fornia, with nothing to fall back on
Seeing an advertisement in paper
for competent teacher to take charge
of the school at Russian Bar, he an
swered it and was accepted at ven
ture. Putting his few movables to
; gether a pair of old foils and set 0
well-worn boxing gloves, Houghtol
was an accomplished boxer and fence
he bought his ticket for Russian
Bar.
He found the stage driver commu
Y NEGATIVE, pleasant fellow, who, at hi
request, described the characteristic
of his future home. Indeed, his des
cription of the class Of boys whom
{ Houghton was to take charge Of wa
not very encouraging. "You'll fin
them a hard lot," said he, "and they'r
all on the muscle, too"
"What is about tho weight of m
oldest p asked Houghton, good hu
moredly. "You see, if l have got t
d exercise something more than mora
suasion, | want to get posted on tn
physique of my men,"
"Well, Sam Seymour is about tn
! strongest"
. "And what is about the size of ii
e redoubtable Ike ?"
h "Well, l guess he tops you by ha
; a head"
80, expect we'll get along We
enough together said Houghton
: "and | suppose this is the first glimp'
> of Russian Bar" he added, as a tur
in the road brought them in view
. that picturesque village.
, The stage bowled along the smeot
. road and past the great white oak VI
= der whose friendly branches the team
sters were accustomed to make the
noon time halt.
"I'll set you down at the hotel
said the driver.
"There's Perkins, the proprieto
that fat man smoking on the stoop
as Houghton confessed to himself tn
the prospect before him was anythiI
but prepossCssing one. He was n
of very combative nature, though
liked little danger for the excit
ment; but game of fstcuff with
~ dirty, mutinous boy had neither glo
" Inn. &. Al..A LII l.