Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-11-07
II Open School with
PRAYER"

=
Prayer"
sinister, no doubt that you have
all the learnin' that's required in
a school tencher, bus it wants
more than learnin' 10 make a man
able to teach school in Cranberry
Gulch. You'll soon iind that out,
if you try. We've bad three who
tried it on. One lays there In the
graveyard, another lost his eyes
aud left, and the other one opened
school and left before dinner time
for his health. He hasn't been
back since. Now you're a slen-
der build, and all your learning
will only make it worse, for all
your young folks are roughs and
won't stand no nonsense !!
This is what the trustees OF the
district said TO my friend, Harry
Flotee, when he msde application
for the vacant position Of teacher.
"Let me Try. / know l 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 no.
tice given, if you wants it done,
said the trustee.
81 do" said Harry, "and I'll o.
pen next Monday at nine a. m" I"
The notice was given, and there
was great deal of excitement in
the GuIch and along the Yuba
fats. More than 30 young peo
pie of both sexes made an excuse
to drop into the tavern to get a
sight at the fellow who thought
be could teach school in that dis
trict, and many a contemptuous
glance fell on the slender form
and youthful form Of the would
be teacher.
Eight o'clock on Monday morn
ing came, and Harry Flotee went
down to the school house, with q
key in one hand and valise In
the other.
"Ready to slope, if be finds VI
too much for him." said a cross
eyed, broad.shouldered fellow Of
Is. The school house was up
locked, and the new teacher wen
in to see what be was going to do
though school was not yet called
Harry opened his valise, and
took out a large belt. Then, al
ter buckliog it around his waist
he put three Colts navy revol.
vers there, each of six barrels
and a bowie knife eighteen inches
in the blade.
Thunder! lie means business!'
muttered the cross eyed chap.
The new teacher now took out
a square card, about three inche,
each way, walked to the Other
end of the school. house and tack
ed it up against the wall. Re-
turning TO his desk, ne drew re
volver from his belt, and quick al
thought, sent ball after ball intc
that card, till there were six balls
in a spot not larger than q sil.
yer dollar.
By this time the school hous'
was halt full of large boys ant
girls. The little ones were afreic
to come in.
Then the teacher walked hall
way down tbe room with thu
bowie knife in his hand, au'
threw it with SO true hand tba
it stuck quiveiing in the yer.
centre OF the card.
5 He left 1t there and put tw
$ more knives of the same kind i
|. his belt, and quietly reloaded hl
e yet smoking pistol.
J. "Rlng the bell /; | am about
! ! open school"
e He spoke to the eross-eyed boz
4 the bully OF the crowd, and th
d boy rang the bell without q wore
e "The scholars will take seats |;
y y open school with prayer, be sal
ID sternly, five minutes later.
IT The scholars sat down silen
P almost breathleSs.
r. After the prayer the teach'
/, cooked the revolver and wake
es down the floor.
f. 1--WE will arrange the cEasses
= be said. "All Who can rea
u write and spell will arise. 6
Is them we will form the first class
? Oaly six got up. He escorts