The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1874-03-20
am not unprepared," " said Houghton

une young HldI uuu SAlb III llllli, anu
he thought he'd be able to make the
rifle with the boys"
When Houghton arose the next
morning and opened his window to
getthe fresh breeze, odorous with the
perfume of the clambering honey
suckles, he felt that after all resi-
dence in a remote village, even with
a parcel of rough boys to take care
of, was preferable to the dusty, un-
familiar 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 soliloquised, as he
Strengthened his arm and looked at
the fnely-developed muscles. 81 will
stand my own in a stand-up with
these Troublesome pupils of mine
This is my day of trial, however, and
beofre noon we shall probably have
had one battle out.
The schoolhouse, raw, unfnised
looking frame building, stood hard
by the river, about half mile from
the town. When Houghton opened
the rickety wooden gate that led into
into the school lot, he found a
group of some twenty boys already
assembled there. Among them was
Sam Seymore and Ike Walker. The
latter's sister, a pretty girl of sixteen,
was leaning against the fence with
half dozen of her friends, for the
Russian schoolhouse was arranged
for the accommodation of both sexes.
Houghton handed the key to the
nearest boy and asked him to open
the door. With a look'at the others
and a grin on his face, he obeyed.
"Now, boys, muster in" said
Houghton, cheerfully to the boys.
They all passed in-Seymore and
Walker last. The latter took q good
look at the schoolmaster as he passed
by. When they were seated, Hough-
ton stood at his desk and laid
heavy rule on the pile of books which
were before him.
|sNow boys" he said, 81 hope we
shall get along pleasantly together
You treat me fairly and you shall
have no reason to complain, I prom
Use you. Silence and obedience are
what l require, and strict atten-
ton to the matters of our instruc-
ton"
Giving them portion of the gram
more for recitation, he walked quietly
up and down the room, occasionally
at the windows, but appear
ing to keep no surveillance on the
boys Suddenly the crack of a match
was heard, followed by the general
litter,
Houghton turned quickly from the
and saw the blue smok Ike Of
| cigar arising from the seat where
oeymore sat. -l
"What is your name, boy?" he
lsked, in a stern tone.
my name is Seymour. replied
he boy, insolently.
''And you are smoking?"
II guess So"
"Leave the room!'
81 guess not"
There was a dead silence in the
jchool room now, and Houghton felt
hat the hour of trial had come.
Seymour" he said again, very
luietly." 80
"What?"
"Come here.
Seymour, putting his hands in his
pockets, sauntered from his desk,
tood within half a yard of the
chool-master, and looked sneering-
y into his face.
"Leave the room," said Houghton
gain, in lower voice.
"No." !
Ihe little arm Strengthened like a
lash of lightning and the rebel meas
lred his length on the floor, while
he blood gushed from his nostrils.
n a moment he sprang to his feet
md rushed furiously at the school
Master, and went down again like a
eed before the well aimed blow. The
econd time he fell, Houghton
topped down, and, lifting him like
IS if he had been a mere child, fair
y flung him out of the door. Sey-
nour, confused and amazed, stagger-
d down to the brook to wash his
ace and reflect on the force of that
light arm. And Houghton, turning
o the school without a word of com
nent on the scene, commenced the
ecitation. Walker was mum. Sey-
nour's face had appalled, him, and,
n fact, the entire mutinous spirit of
he scholars of Russian Bar was in a
air way of being totally subdued.
When the trustees heard of the af-
air, they unanimously commended
he schoolmaster's pluck.
"I'll tell you what, boys" said
Perkins to crowd who were earnest
y engaged at q game of old sledge in |
lis bar-room, "that Houghton knows
thing or to about managing boys.
He'll fix them off, or my names not
Perkins" >"
Houghton was Hospitality treated |
" the folks at Russian Bar. They |
cit him to be a man of refinement,
nut showing no. offensive superiority |
a his intercourse with them. The
octor's wife pronounced him the |
est New Yorker she had ever met,
nd the gossips insinuated that the |
yidow Blunt was setting her cap for
i'm.
Gypsey Lane, the daughter of a
sading man in Russian Bar, and |
lade wealthy by saw mill, which
Il day long groaned and screamed
anne distance down the river, did |
ot express her opinions as to Hough-
on's merits, but in the summer even
lgs when the school master, rod |
4 hand, wandered along the stream
nd threw his line across the mill
am. Gvpsey WAS seldom far AWAY. /