Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-03-05
said he, "a and they're all on the muscle,

"What is about the weight of my
Oldest ?" asked Houghton, good-hu-
moredly. "You see, if I have to exer-
else somethingmore than moral suasion,
1 want to get posted on the physique
of my men,"
Well, Sam Seymour is about the
strongest.
And what is about the size of the
redoubtable Ike p
"Wen, I guess he tops you by half
head"
80 / expect we'll get along well
enough together" said Houghton !;
"and suppose 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, I'M
der whose friendly branches the team
sters were accustomed to make their
noontime halt.
sI'Il 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 prepossessing one. He was not
of very combative nature, though he
liked little danger for the excitement,
but a game at fisticuffs with dirty,
mutinous boy, had neither glory nor
honor for a nam 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, good-looking young
man by the driver was measured and
canvassed before that worthy had passed
the mail to the doctor, who, with his
medical vocation, also found time to
run the postoffice.
The doctors wife was at her window,
and, after long survey of the school
master, FASTENED to communicate her
opinions to M. Blunt. Meanwhile
Houghton washed off the red dust of
the road and took his seat at the supper
table. The driver had introduced him
to about dozen of the leading citizens
during the few minutes that interviewed
between their arrival and their evening
meal.
"How do you like our town, Mr..
Houghton ?" asked the landlord, gra-
ciously, as he helped his new guest to a
cut of steak.
"Well, it seems pretty place"
"When you get acquainted you'll find
yourself pleasantly situated; but you'll
have hard time with the boys"
$50 they all tell me. Anyhow, I am
not unprepared, said Houghton, cheer
fully.
After supper the landlord remarked
confdentially 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"
When Houghton arose next morning
and opened his window to the fresh
breeze, odorous with the perfume of the
clambering honeysuckles, he felt that,
after all, residence in remote village,
even with 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 box
ing gloves, little sadly, too, for they
were linked with many pleasing associa-
tions of his under graduate 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, howev-
er, and before noon we shall probably
have had one battle out.
The schoolhouse, a raw, unfinished
looking frame building, stood hard by
the river, about half mile from the
town. When Houghton opened the
rickety wooden gate that led into the
school lot, he found group of some
twenty boys already assembled. Among
them were Ike Seymour and Sam Walk
or. The latter's sister, pretty girl of
sixteen, was leaning against the fence
with half dozen of her friends, for the
Russian Bar 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 look at The others, and a
half grin on his face, he obeyed.
"Now, boys, muster in, " said Hough-
ton, cheerfully, to the boys.
They all passed in-Seymour and
Walker last. The latter took a good
look at the schoolmaster as he went by.
When they were seated, Houghton stood
at his desk and laid heavy ruler on
the books which were before him.
"Now, boys" he said, 81 hope we
shall get along pleasantly together. You
treat me fairly and you shall have no
reason to complain, promise you.
Silence and obedience are what 1 re-
quire, and strict attention to the mat
{ar Of ,,r ~
Giving them portion of the grammar
to prepare for recitation, he walked
quietly up and down the room, occa-
sionally standing at the windows, but
appearing to keep no surveillance on
the boys. Suddenly the crack of a
match was heard, followed b. a general
litter.
Houghton turned quietly from the
window, and saw the blue smoke from
cigarito arising from where Seymour
sat.
"What is your name, boy?" he ask.
ed, in a stern tone.
" My name is Seymour" replied the
mutineer, insolently.
"And are you smoking?"
IS puess sO -