Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-12-25
EQUAL TO THE EMERGENCY.
How Harry Flotee Got the School at
Cranberry Gulch.
san Francisco Chronicle.

teacher. but it wants more than learnin'
10 make man able to teach school in
Cranberry Gulch. You'll soon find
that out if you try. We've had three
who tried it on. One lays there in the
graveyard; another lost his eye and
left; the last one opened school and
left before noontime for the benefit of
his health. He hasn't been back since.
Now you're slender build, and all
your learnin' will only make 1T worse,
for all our young folks are roughs and
and don't stand no nonsense
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 am tough, and | have a strong
will" said Harry.
"Just as you like. There's the school
house, and I'll have notice gwen II you
want it DONE" said the trustee.
81 do" said Harry; and I'll open
next Monday at 9 A. NJ"
The notice was given, and there was
q good deal of excitement in the guicn
and along the Yuba Flats. More than
fifty young people, of both sexes,
made an excuse to drop into the tavern
to get u sight at the fellow who thought
he could keep school in that district
and many contemptuous glance tell
on the slender form and youthful face
of the would be teacher.
Eight O'Clock on Monday morning
came and Harry Flotee went down to
the school house with a key in one
hand and valise in the other.
Ready to slope if he finds were too
much for him." said a crosse eyed,
broad houldered youth of eighteen.
The school house vas unlocked, and
the new teacher went to the desk.
Some Of the younger folks went to see
what he WAS going to do, though scnool
was not called.
Harry opened his valise and took out
q large belt. Then, after buckling 1t
around his waist, he put three Colts
navy revolvers there, each Of six bar
rels and bowie knife eighteen inches,
in the blade.
"Thunder He means business"
muttered the cross-eycd chap.
The new teacher now took out n card
about four inches each way, walked to
the other end Of the school house and
tackled it up against the wall. Return
ing to his desk, he drew Il revolver from
his belt and quick as thought sent bali
after ball into the card, ill there were
six balls in II spot not much larger than
4 silver dollar.
BY this time the school house was
hail full of large boys and girls. The
little ones were afraid to come in.
Then the teacher walked hall way
down the room, with bowie knife IN his
hand and threw it with SO true n hand
that it stuck quivering in the very cen
ire of the card.
He left it there and put two more
knives Of the same kind in his belt and
quietly reloaded his yet smoking pistol.
Ring the bell; | ann about to open
school,
He spoke to the cross-eyed boy, the
bully Of the school, ard the boy rang
the bell without n word.
The scholars will take their seats; |
open school with prayer, he SAID stern
}y, FIVE minutes later.
The scholars sat down silent, almost
breathle>s.
After the prayer the teacher cooked
a revolver and walked down on the
floor.
Owe will arrange the classes" he
said: call who can read, write and spell
will arise. OF them we Will form the
first class.
Only six got up. He escorted them
to upper seats, and then he began to
examine the rest. A whisper was
heard behind him. In n second ne
wheeled, revolver in hand.
"No whispering allowed here." he
Numbered, and for an instant his re-
volver lay on level with the crosS-eyed
boys head.
an not do so any more" gasped
the bully.
"See you do not l never give Il sec
ond Warming SAID the teacher, and the
revolver fell.
1t took two hours to organize the
classes, but when done they were we'll
organized Then came recess. The
teacher went out too, for the room was
hot and crowded. A hawk was circhng
overhead high III the air. The teacher
drew u revolver, and the next second
the hawk came tumhlrng down among
the wondering scholars.
From that day ON Harry kept school
for Cranberry GulCh, his salary was
doubled after the first quarter. and his
pupils learned to love as well rs respect
him, ana the reyolvors went out OF
sight within month.
frhpy N al fn,Ip1 4 man nj last who