The Placer herald., 1873-03-29

SCHOJLMASlEK OF RUSSIAN iiAR.

eyes, guess he WAS in the department.
The doctors wife was an authority on al
matters i'll Russian Bar, and on this las
sensation--lhe coming of schoolmaster-
she freely enlightened her neighbor, Mrs
had died ii few months be ore There wa,
not much to gossip about in that quiet vii
lage. The arrival and departure Of the stag,
brought the people to their doors three times
a week, and ii IA stranger was noticed, en-.
voys were Immediately dispatched to the ho-
tel TO learn his rame and business, and the
probable length of his stay. But now Rus
sian Bar was TO have new schoomaster
md tae folks wondered much if he would
have any trouble with Sam Seymour, the
butchers boy, or Ike Walker, an unrul,
spirit, who knocked down and pumneled
the last preceplor, who undertook to teach
him school disc line. The trustees were
powerless in these matters, and declared that
If schoolmaster was not able to 'get away
with the boys in a square, stand-up fight
he might as well pick up his traps and leave
| Russian Bar.
On the very evening of the expected ar
rival, Seymour and Walker, the leading spir-
lis of the mutinous school boys met at IA pool
from which both we endeavoring to coax IA
few specked trout for supper.
"Have you heard what the new chap is
like, Sam? p said Ike, as he implled wrig-
Cling worm on his hook.
"No; have yon 2
"Jake, the barkeeper, told father that he
was very young"
"And small p
eyes"
81 guess he won't stay long in town,
| Ike"
81 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 II bunch
of cigarettes and passed them to his friend.
At last they shouldered their poles and strag-
sled up towards the village.
THE sCHooLMAsTER.
Philip IIouehton was a schoolmastcr from
necessity, and not from taste Like many
who have been educated as gentlemen in onr
sense OF he word, that is, without ncquaint-
ance with any particular pursuit ihat might
he turned to good account II the struggle tor
bread, he found himself adrtt n CaIitcrni,
with nothing to fall back on. Seeing IN ad-
verisement in city paper for II competent
teacher to take charge of the school at Rus
sian Bar, he answered it, and was accepted
At a venture. Puting his few movables to-
gclhcr IA pair Of old foils and "A set IF we'll
worn boxing gloves, for lioughion WAS an
accomplished boxer aud fcucer-he louehl
his ticket for Russsan Bar.
lie found the stage-driver a communica-
tive and pleasant fellow, who al his request
described the characteristics Of his future
home. Indeed, his description of the class
Of boys whom IIoushion was to take charge
of was not very encouraging. you'll find
them hard lot, said he, and they're all on
The muscle, too.
"NNhat is about the weight of my odes?'
asked 1loushton. good d-humoredly. "Yon
see if ! have got to exercise something more
than moral suason, want TO get posted on
lhe physique of my men.
"Weil, Sam Seymour is about the strong
est"
"And what is about the size of the re-
loubtable lke?'
"N ell, guess he tops you by half a
head"
"Oh expect we shall get along well
enough together" said Houshton; "and !
suppose til is the first glimpse of Russian
Bar" he added ,as turn in the road broush
'hem in view Of that picturesque village.
The stage bowled along the smooth road
past the great white oak under whose friend
" branches the teamsters were ACCUSTOMED
make their noontime halt
"I'Il set you down at the hotel, said the
driver.
"There's Perkins, the proprietor; that biz
fat man smoking OH the stoop."
Houghton confessed to himself that the
prospect before him was anything but a
prosperous one He was not of very com
nat We nature, though he liked IA little danger
for the excitement;3u game of fisticuif with
dirty, mulinous boy, had neither glory nor
honor tor man who hod been one OF the
hardest hitlers in his college.
The folks were all at their doors when the
stage clattered up the single street, and the
slender, good-ooking man by the driver, war
measured and canvassed lefore that worthy
had passed the mail to the doctor who, with
his medical advocations also found time to
run the post office.
The doctors wife was at her window, and
after IL LONG survey Of the schoolmaster, hast
ened to communicate her opinions to Mrs
Blunt. Meanwhile, Houghlon washed of
the red dust of the road and took bis seal
At the supper table. The driver had intro
dnced him to about a dozen of the leading
citizens during the few minutes which inter
vened between their arrival and the evening
meal.
GLOW do you like our town. Mr.. Hougl'-
on ?" asked the landlord graciously. as he
helped his new guest to cut OF steak.
"Well, it seems ii pretty place.
"When you get acquainted you'll find
yourself pleasantly situated; but you'll have
4 hard time with the boys.
$50 they all tell. Anyhow ! am not un-