The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1873-01-01
LAMBERTv1ILE, N J., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY l. 1873.

this is the first glimpse of Russian Bar" he
added, as turn in the road brought them in
view of that picturesque village.
The stage bowled along the smooth road
and past the great white oak, under whose
friendly branches the teamsters were accus-
toned to make their noontime halt.
"Ill set you down at the hotel,' said the
driver.
"There's Perkins, the proprietor that fat
man smoking on the stoop."
Houghton confessed to himself that the
prospect before him was anything but a pre-
possessing one.
He was not of very combative nature,
though he liked little danger for the excite
ment but game of fisticuffs with dirty,
mutinous boy had neither glory nor honor for
a man that had been one of the hardest hitters
in his college.
The folks were all at their doors when the
stage clattered up the single street, and the
slender, goodlooking young man by the driver
was measured and canvassed before that worthy
had passed the mail to the doctor, who, with
his medical avocations also found time to run
the post office.
The doctors wife was at her window, and
after long survey of the schoolmaster, hasten
ed to communicate her opinion to Mrs. Blunt.
Meanwhile Houghton washed off the red
dust of the road, and took his seat at the sup
per table.
The driver had introduced him to about a
dozen of the leading citizens during the few
minutes that interviewed between their arrival
and the evening meal.
GLOW do you like our town. Mr.. Hough-
ton?" asked the landlord, as he helped his
new guest to cut of steak.
"Well, it seems pretty place."
"When you get acquainted you'll find your
self pleasantly situated but you'll have a
hard time with the boys"
$50 they all tell me. Anyhow, am not
unprepared."
After supper the landlord remarked conf
dentially to the doctor "that the young man
had grit in him, and he thought he'd be able
to make the rifle with the boys"
THE FIRST DAY.
When Houghton arose next morning, and
opened the window to the fresh breeze, odor-
GUS with the perfume of the climbing honey
suckles, he felt that after ALL a residence in a
remote village, even with parcel of rough
boys to take care of, was preferable to the
dusty, unfamiliar streets OF San Francisco
He smiled as he unpacked his foils and
boxing gloves, a little sadly, too, for they were
linked with many pleasing associations of his
undergraduate days.
"Well," he soliloquized, as he Strengthened
his arm and looked at the finely developed
muscles, 81 ought to be able to hold my own
in a stand-up fight with these troublesome
pupils of mine. This is my day of trial. how
ever, and before noon we shall probably have
had our battle out"
The school house, raw unfinished looking
frame building, stood hard by the river at
about half mile from the town.
When Houghton opened the rickety wooden
gate that led into the school lot, he found a
group of some twenty boys already assembled.
Among them were Ike Seymour and Sam
Walker.
The latter's sister, pretty girl of sixteen,
was leaning against the fence with half dozen
of her friends, for the Russian Bar school
house was arranged for the accommodation OF
both sexes.
Houghton handed the key to the nearest
boy, and asked him to open the door. With
look at the others, and half grin on his
face, he obeyed.
"Now, boys, muster in,'' said Houghton,
cheerfully, to the boys.
They all passed in, Seymour and Walker
last. The latter took good look at the school
master as he went by. When they were seat
ed, Houghton stood at his desk and laid q
heavy ruler on the books before him.
'tNow, boys he said, ~ hope we shall
get along pleasantly together You treat me
fairly and you shall have no reason to com.
plain, | promise you. Silence and obedience
is what | require, and strict attention to the
matter of our instruction.
Giving them portion of the grammar tC
prepare for recitation, he walked quietly NJ
and down the room, occasionally standing al
the windows, but appearing to keep no sur
vigilance ON the boys. Suddenly, the crack o.
match was heard, followed by q genera
litter.
Houghton turned quietly from the window
and saw the blue smoke from a cigarette arts
ing from where Seymour sat.
, What is your name, boy?" he asked il
stern tone.
, "My name is Seymour" replied the mutt
neer, insolently.
"And are you smoking?"
: 81 guess So"
, Leave the ROOM"
; 81 guess not
There was a dead silence in the school-roon
now, and Houghton felt that the hour Of tria
was at hand
"Seymour," he said, very quietly.
"What?"
"Come here.'
Seymour, putting his hands in his pockets
| sauntered from his desk, stood within a yar'
of the schoolmaster, and looked sneeringly il
his face.
? "Leave the room,' said Houghton, in Low
voice.
"No.''
The little arm Strengthened like flash O