Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-01-03

|
hard time with the boys
80 they all tell me Anyhow | am not
unprepared," said Houghton cheerfully.
After the supper the landlord remarked
scon6dentially to the Doctor" that the
young nan had grit in him. and he thought
he'd be able to 'make the rifle" With the
boys.
THE FIRST DAY.
When Hough,on arose nsxt morning and
opened bis widow to the fresh breeze, odor-
Gus with the perfume of the climbing honey
suckIes be 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 bis foils and box
ing-gloves, a little sadly, too, for they we're
linked with many pleasing associations # bis
under. graduate days
well" he soliloquized, as he straight
ened his arm and looked at the finely devel.
oped muscles, Il ought to be able to bold
my own in stand up fight with these troub-
lesome pupils of mine This is my day of
trial, however, and before noon we shall
probably have had our battle ont"
The school house, raw. unfinished look
ing frame building, stood hard by the river
at about hslf mile froa, the town. When
Houghton opened the rickety wooden gate
that led into the school.lot, he fond group
of some twenty boys already assembled
! Among them were Ike Seymour and Sam
Walker The latter's sister, a pretty girl
of l6. was leaning against the fence with
half a dozen of her friends, for the Russian
Bar school house was arranged for the ac-
commodation of both sexes.
Houghtou handed the key to the nearest
boy, and asked him to open the door. With
a look at the others, and half grin OF 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
schoolmaster as be went by. When they
were seated, Houghton stood at his desk aud
laid heavy ruler on the books before him.
Nov boys" he said, Il hope we shall
get along pleasantly together. You treat
me fairly and you shall have no reason to
complain, promise you. Silence and ODE.
dience is what I require, and strict atten.
ton to the matter Of our instruction"
Giving them portion Of the grammar to
prepare for recitation, he walked quietly up
and down the room, occasionally standing
at the windows, but appearing to keep no
surveillance on the boys. Suddenly the
crack of match was heard, followed by q
general litter.
Houghton turned quietly from tho win
dow, and saw the blue smoke from ciga-
B rette arising from where Seymour sat.
"What is your name, boy 2" be asked 10
stern tone.
my name is Seymour" replied the mu.
tipeer, ipsolently.
"Aud are you smoking =
Il guess SO"
''Leave the room
81 guess not
There was dead silence in tie school
room now, and Houghton felt that the hour
of trial was at hand.
"Seymour," be said again very quietly.
"What?"
Come here"
| Seymour, putting bis hands ia his peck
ets sauntered from bis desk, stood with
in yard of the school master, aud looked
sneeringiy in
leave the rcom,' sid Hougbtop. again,
in his face
| A lower voice.
mo"
The 1.-THE arm Strengthened Ike flash of
| lightning, and the rebel measured his length
| ou the floor, whilst ihe blood gushed from
his Fqstrils In a moment b. sprang to bis
| fees and rushed furiously a: the sehnolmas-
teg, silt went down again like reed before
| tbs veil aimed blow The second Tina be
fell sloughton stopped down and lifting
him up as ii he had been a child fairly flung
him outside the door. Seymour, confused
and amazed, staggered down to tie brook
to wash bis face ahd reflect on the wouder-
full force of that slight arm. Aud Hougb
ton, turning to the school, without word
Of comment on the scene, commenced the
Rotations. Walker was mum Seymour S
fate had appalled, him, and in fact the entire
mutinous spirit of the scholars of Russian
Bar was in a fair way of being totally sub
dued
When the trustees beard Of the affair, they
unanimously commended the sehoolmas1er's
pluck.
II tell you what, boys said Perkins to a
crowd who were earnestly engaged at game
of old sledge in his bar. room, that Hough-
toa knows thing or TIVE about managing
boys. He'll fix 'em off, or my names not
Perkins
1 NEW PURSUIT
Houghton was Hospitality treated by the
folks Of Russian Bar. They felt him to be
a man Of refinement, brought down in the
world, but showing no offensive superiority
in his intercourse with them. The Doctors
wife pronounced him to ba the best Now
Yorker she had ever met, and the gossips
insinuated that Mrs Blunt, the widow, was
setting her cap for him.
Gypsy Lane, the daughter Of a leading
man in Russian Bar and made wealthy by
a saw-mll, which all day long groaned and
screamed some distance down the river, did
not express her opinion as to Houghton's
merits, but in the summer evenings. when
the school. master, rod in hand, wandered
along the stream, and threw his line across
the mill dam, Gyp-y vas seldom far away.
Lane, bluff, hearty old fellow, frequently
r I Al