Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-01-03
Gcleltc0 AlisteIlanD.
The schoolmaster of Russian Bar.
"When is he expected p
s.Tbcy said he was coming in the stage

lHcy ediu ue WAS cohiihS III tuo osa5c
to night"
" He taught in Frisco, didn't he ?"
" Yes; he was in the department.
The Doctors wife was authority on all
matters in Russian Bar, and on this last
sensation -she freely enlightened her
neighbor, Mrs. Blunt, plump widow,
whose miner husband had died few
months before. There was not much
to gossip in that quiet village. The ar
rival and departure Of the stage brought
the people to their doors three times IL
week, and if stranger was noticed, on
voys were Immediately dispatched 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, an unruly spirit who had knock
ed down and pummclcd the last preccp-
tor, who undertook to teach him school
discipline. The trustees were powerless
in these matters, and declared that if a
schoolinaster was not able to "get away
with the boys in square stand-up fight,
he might as well pick up his traps and
leave Russian Bar.
On the evening of the expected arriv-
al, Seymour and Walker, the leading
spirits of the mutinous chool-boys, met
at pool, from which both were endeav-
oring to coax few specklcd trout for
supper,
!" Have you heard what the new chap
is like, Sani?" said Ike, as he impaled a
wriggling worm on his hook.
No, have you p
" Father told Jake, the barkccpcr
that he was very young"
"And small p
Yes"
Guess he won't stay long in town,
Ike"
~ guess not, Sam School amt good
for us such fine weather as this"
The worthless sat and fshed in silence
for some time, and then Ike produced a
bunch of cigaretts and passed them to
his friend At last. finding that the fish
would not bite, they shogldcrcd their
poles and struggled up towards the viii
lage, pausing for a moment to stone a
Chinaman's rooster, which had straycd
too far from the protecting wash-house.
Philip Houghton was schoolmaster
from necessity, and not taste. Like
many who have been educated as gentle
men in one sense Of the word, that is,
without the acquaintance Of any special
pursuit that might be turned to good ac-
count in the struggle for bread, he found
himself adrift in California, with nothing
to fall back on. Seeing an advertise
mcnt in city paper for competent
teacher to take charge Of the school at
Russian Bar. he answered it, and was
accepted at venture. Putting his few
movables together pair of old foils
and set Of well-worn boxing gloves
Cor Houghton was an accomplished boxer
and fcncer-he bought his ticket for
Russian Bar.
He found the stage-driyer a commu-
NEGATIVE, pleasant fellow, who, at his re-
quest, described the characteristics of his
future home. Indeed, his description of
the class Of boys whom Houghton was to
take charge ofwas not very encouraging.
" You'll find them hard lot said he,
"and they're all on the muscle, too"
What is about the weight of my
oldest?" asked Houghton, good-humor-
cdly. "You sec, if have, got to ex-
ercise something more than moral sua-
sion, I want to get posted on the ply
sique Of my men"
Well. Gam Seymour is about the
strongest.
j" And what is about the size of the
redoubtable Ike p
Well, guess he tops you by half a
head"
" Oh, | expect wen get along well