The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-11-07
FCgN AZ LASE.
How Harry Fiotee got tia school a Z
Cranberry SsnIcla.

u
How Harry Fiotee got thc school al
T. Cranberry GHIcfa.
t Mister, no doubt yon have all the
+ learnin' that's required in q school
l teacher, but it wants more than learn
5 in to make man teach school in Gran
r berry Gulch. You'll soon find that
out if you try. We've had three who
have tried it on. One lies there in the
, graveyard another lost his eye and
} left; the last one opened school and
left before noon for the benefit of his
health. He hasn't been back since.
Now you're a slender build, and all
your learning will only make it worse,
for all our young people are roughs
and DON'T stand no nopsensew
This was what one OF the trustees
of the district said to my friend Harry
Flotee, when he made application for
the vacant position OF teacher.
Let me try. know am slender.
but l am tough, and nave strong
will said Harry.
'Just as you like. There's the
school house. and III have notice Civ
en- if You want it done,' said the trus-
tee.
Il do,' said Harry, tand I'll open
next Monday, at 8 O'Clock q. M
The notice was given, and there WAS
a good deal OF excitement in the
gulch and along the Yuba flats. More
than fifty young people of both sexes
made an excuse to drop into the tavern
to get asight at the fellow who thought
he could keep school in that district,
and many contemptuous glance fell
upon the slender form and youthful
face of the would-be school teacher.
Eight o'clock on Monday morning
came, and Harry FIotee went down to
the school house with key in one
hand and valise in the other.
Ready to slope if he finds we're too
much for him. said cross-eyed,
broad-shouldered ruffian of eighteen.
The school house was unlocked and
the new teacher went 10 the desk.
Some of the young folks went in to
see what he was going TO do, though
school was not called.
Harry opened his valise and took
out large belt. Then, after buckling
it around his waist, he put three Colts
navy revolvers there, each of six bar
rels, aud bowie knife eighteen inches
in the blade.
'Thunder! He means business
muttered the cross-eyed chap.
The new teacher now took out a
square card four inches each way,
walked to the other end of the house
and tackled it up against the wall. Re-
turning to his desk, he drew revolver
from his belt and quick as thought
sent ball after ball into the card till
there were six balls i'll spot not lar
ger than a silver dollar.
BY this time the school house was
half full of large boys and girls. The
little ones were afraid to come in.
Then the teacher walked half way
down the room with the bowie knife
in his hand, and threw it with so true
hand that it stuck quivering in The
center of the card.
He left it there and put two more
knives of the same kind into his belt,
and quietly reloaded his yet smoking
pistol.
tRing the bell; am about to open
SCHOOL,
He spoke to the cross-eyed boy, the
bully of the crowd, and the boy rang
the bell without s. word.
'Thc scholars will take their seats
l open school with prayer ho said,
steruly, five minutes later.
The scholars sat dowr silent, almost
breathiess.
After the prayer The teacher cooked
the revolver and walked down on the
floor.
I'VE will arrange the classes he
said, 'all who can read and write will
rise. OF them we win form the first
classes
Only six got up. He escorted them
up to the seats, and then he began TO
examine the rest. a whisper was
heard behind him. Iu a second he
wheeled, revolver in hand.
mo whispering allowed here,' he
thundered, and for an Instant his re-
volver lay on q level with the cross
eyed boys head.
'I'l not dc SO any more gasped the
bully.
See that you do not. 1 never give
a second warming said the teacher,
and the revolver fell.
1t took two hours to organize the
classes, but when done, they were
well organized. Then came IA recess.
The teacher went out, too, for the
room was crowded and hot. A haw
was circling overhead high in the air.
The teacher drew a revolver and the
next second the hawk came tumbling
down among the wondering scholars.
From that day on Harry kept school
for two years in Cranberry Gulch, his
salary was doubled after the first
quarter, and his pupils learned to loye
ss well as respect him, and the reyolv-
ers went out Of sight within month.
They had found q man at last who
could keep school. This is fact.
|
FESK B7OCNADENes a KsaVEE.
During the past week or two q
school of pike have located under the
Sacramento and Yoio Bridge, and
they can be seen near the surface os
the water. They average about foot