Weekly Trinity journal. [volume] (Weaverville, Calif.) 1857-1972, 1878-09-21
TEACHING IN EARLY TIMES.

"Mister, no doubt you have all the
larnin' that's required in school teach
or, but it wants more than larnin' to
make man able to teach school in Gran
berry Gulch. You'll soon find that out
If you try. We've had three who tried
it on. One lays there in tho 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 you're learnin' will only
make it worse for all our young folks are
roughs and don't stand no nonsense ~
That was what the trustee of the dis
trict said to my friend Harry Flotee,
when he made application for the vacant
position of teacher.
Let me try. l know am slender,
but l am tough, and l have strong
WILL"
"Just as you like There's the school
house, and III have notice given if you
want i. DONE" said the trustee.
II do !" said Harry, "And I'll open
next Monday at nine A. NJ"
The notice was given, and there was n
good deal of excitement in the gulch, and
all along Yuba fats. More than fifty
young people, of both sexes, made an ex-
cuse to drop into the tavern to get sight
of the fellow who thought no could keep
school in that district, and many con-
temptuous glance fell on that slender
form and youthful face of the would be
teacher.
Eight o'clock Monday morning came,
and Harry Flotee went down tSthe school
house with key in one hand and va
lise in the other.
"Ready to slops'if he finds we're too
much for him." said cress eyed broad.
shouldered fellow Of eighteen. The
school house was unlocked, and the new
teacher went to the desk. Some of the
young folks went in to see what he was
going to do, though school was not call.
ed.
Harry opened his valise and took out
large belt. Then after buckling it a
round his waist, he put three Colt's navy
revolvers there, each Of six cham bers, and
bowie knife eighteen inches in the
blade.
Thunder He means business"
muttered the cross eyed chap.
The new teacher now took out square
card about four inches each way, walked
to the other end of the school house and
tackled it up against this wall. Returning
to his desk, drew n revolver from his belt
and quick as thought sent ball after ball
into the card till there were six balls in n
spot not much larger than silver dol
lar.
By this time the school house was halt
full of large boys and girls. The little
ones were afraid te come in.
Then TIE teacher walked half way down
the room with bowe-knife IN his hand,
and threw it with so true hand that it
stuck qdivoring in the very center of Il g
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; l am about to open
sch ool."
He spoke to the cross-eyed boy, the
bully Of the crowd and the boy rang the
bell without a word.
1.-THE scholars will take their seats.
open school with prayer" he said stern
ly, five minutes later.
After prayer the teacher cooked n re-
volver and walked down en- the floor.
I'VE will arrange the classes" he said .
"All who can read, write and spoil, will
rise. Ofthem we will form the 6rst class"
Only six got up. He escorted them to
upper seats And then he began to exam :
inc the rest. A whisper was heard behind
him. In a second he wheeled, revolver
in hand.
"No whispering allowed here!" he thun-
dered, and for an instant his revolver lay
on a level with the cross-eyed boys head.
"I'll not do SO any more" ga sped the
bully.
"Sse you do not. / never give a sec
ord warning - said the teacher, and the
revolver fell.
1t took two hours TO organize the class
es, but when done they were well organ
lied, 1hen came recess. The teacher
went out, too, for the room was crowded
and hot. A hawk was circling overhead
high IN the air. Tho teacher drew re-
volyer and the next second the hawk came
tumbling down among the wondering
scholars.
From that day on Harry kept school
for two years in Gran berry Gulch, his
salary doubled after the first quarter, and
his pupils learned TO love as well as to
respect him, and the revolvors went out
of sight within a month.
They had found q man at last who
could keep school. This is fact.
A CAMBRIDGE lady put herself in the
hands of q Boston dentist to have her
teeth reorganized. He found them in a