Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-02-13
A Novel " Examination"


had afforded me food for many hear
ty laugh, and though I have told the
story, think it will bear repeating.
At the time alluded to l was chair
man OF the Suporintending School
Committee of the town, and from hav-
ing been several years an incumbent oi
the office, applicants for position as
teachers were generally directed to Inc
for examination. One afternoon, while
busy at my desk, heard wagon rat
tie into my yard, and shortly afterwards
came vi gorous thump on the door.
There was q bell-knob handy, but the
applicant either did not see it, or did
not know its use l went myself to an
swer the summons, and found upon my
piazza specimen of the genus homo
that Yankee Hill might have copied
with advantage for stage purposes. He
was, in fact, a living presentment of
the Yankee we often read about, yet
seldom see. He stood full six feet in
his boots; was lank and slabsided; with
sun-burnt face, and an unkempt shock
of carrotty hair. His garb was entirely
home-spun, and set " like shirt upon
a bean pole"
Mornin', Squire" he said, with a
sharp nasal twang.
1t was nearer evening than morning,
but returned the salutation without
correcting him.
"Yeour re the kermittee man?"
| I nodded assent.
"Wal, 1 kind thought as haow't
I'd come an git yeow to gin me a sar-
tiferkit, seein' as they want me tew hev
one afore begin tew keep skewl in
this ere taown."
| It was in the autumn, and as the
weather was cool I asked the appli-
cant to walk in, telling him that he
might first wipe his feet on the door
mat. He gave his thick cow-hides a
tremendous wipe, and then followed
me to my study. He did not wait to be
invited to seat, but deposited himself
upon my lounge, dumped his hat upon
| the floor, and then drew an old calf
skin pocketbook from his bosom.
"Ef yeou're in hurry, Squire, I
don't know s there'll be any p'tick lar
need O. yeour zaminin' me, for I've got
a sartifket from the skewl-kermittee an
selectmen of aour town. kept skewl
thar last winter, an yeou'd better be-
lieve I made the wool fly. Jes' let me
tell ye 'baout it.
He went on with the most earnest
self-assurance, as q veritable hero might
have told of some grandly meritorious
exploit: ..,.. ..... ..-
Yer see they've got the all-iiredest
ugly set O. boys over thar in Perdishun
Holler ye ever hearn tell on. Why
they'd licked en- kerwollop'd the skewl-
master; an lugged him aout into the
snow, every winter for six year or moro.
BY gimter-cum- -smasher! it made me
mad. Sas 1, 'jes' let me keep that ere
skewl one winter The kermittee hearn
| tell of me, an know'd what I'd said,
and they sent for me to wunst They
gin me 'zaminashun, an gin mt sar-
tiferkit, too, an sot me keepin' the
skewl. Jerewselum, Squire! it was a
great thing! A few O. the big boys
tried, one or twice't to kick up row;
but, great good-sticks an hoe handles
didn't I wollup 'em! l don't blieve
yeou ever seed sich skewl as made
of it. The folks said as haow't ere
hadn't been sich skewl for Older an
behavin' for forty year.
The " skewl-master" took breath, and
was evidently expecting some express
sion of appreciation from ME; but as
gave none, he went on
&c IT seems t some of the folks daown
in the Crooked River Deestrick hey
hearn tell haow I got on over in Per.
dishun, an they want me tew take hold
O. some of their hard cases." .8..y.r
remembered, and called to mind al
this point, that the school agent of oul
Crooked River District had spoken to
me of q teacher who had proved psyi,
cal success in q neighboring town, and
as fair quality of bone and muscle
was required in his district, he had
thought of sending for this hero Ger
tainly, as regarded the mans frame, ]
could not doubt his capacity in the sub
DUNG and thrashing lineq 3sa 9lF
cas- I was sayin', Squire, Their ain'
no p'tick' lar need O. yeour 'zaminin' me
cause here's the sartifket 'at.I was
tellin' yer 'baout.'' lselA 9 .saes, tao.
he handed me soiled and crumpleC
paper, which I,found to be bona fd,
certificate. from two Of the superintend
ing school committee of the town O
A.. But it was an exceptional doc
ument. It recommended Elnatha,
-" Il will call him 'Dolger) -. as6 pc
culiarly adapted to keep the schoo
known as---'-, etc. ."ic:' tat yea I
"of course, yeou'll gin us a reckon
mendashun, Squire p sAafAt@
s2" Itbelieye must, as in duty bound
examine you somewhat first, replied
having curiosity to see how much tn,
fellow really kpews;sssf.IlG seI6 OH
laas, Wal. oy course 81 iyop q ken. But
rally, Squire, dono butt may be jes
| a leetle rusty. ,Ha'nt brushed up lately
you ii see, Been t work ali M summer, q s o,
1.-THE farm. But I rather. reckon yeon'l !