Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-12-05
FOUND AT LAST.

Mister, no doubt you have all the
learnine that's required In a school
teacher, but 1t wants more than learn
in' TO make man able to teach school
ia Cranberry Guich. You'll soon find
that out ifyou try. We've had three
who tried it. One lays there in the
graveyard; another lost an eye and left;
the last. t.One opened school and left be-
fore noon tune for the benefit of his
health. He hasn't been back since.
Now, you're slender build, and all
your larnin' viii only make it worse,
for all our young folks are roughs and
don't stand no nonsensep
This was what one of the trustees of
the district told my friend Harry Flo.
tee, when be made application for the
vacant position of teacher.
Let me try. know Tm slender,
but L am t'.ugh, and | have a strong
will,' said Harry.
Jest as you like. There's the school
house, and I'll have notice given if you
want it done, said the trustee.
Il do,' said Harry, 'and I'll open
next Monday at 9 O'clock -.
The notice was given, and there was
good deal of excitement at the Gulch
and along the Yuba flats. More than
fifty young people oi both sexes made
an excuse to drop into the tavern to
get sight at the fellow who thought
he could keep school in that district,
and many contemptuOus glance fell
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 key in one
hand and valise in the other.
Ready to slope, il he finds we are
too much for him. said a cross-eyed,
broad shouldered fellow of eighteen
years.
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 called.
Harry opened his valise and took out
a large belt. Then after buckling itI
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 businessp NUT
tered the cross eyed chap.
The new teacher now took out
square card about four inches each way.
and walked to the other end of the
school house and tackled it up against
the walt.
Returning to his desk he drew a re-
voIver from his belt and quick as
thought sent ball after ball into the
card, till there were six balls in spot
not larger 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.
Then the teacher walked half wav
down the room with the bowie knife in
his hand, and threw it with so true |
hand that it stuck quivering In the
very center ofthe card.
He left it,there and put two mocel
knives of the same kind in his belt and
quietly reloaded his yet smoking pis-
tol.
Ring the bell; I am about to epen
school,
He spoke to the cross eyed boy, the
bully OF the crowd. aud the boy rang
the bell without a word.
'The scholars will take their seats: 7
open school with prayer, he said stern !
ly, five mintes later.
The scholars sat down silent, almost
breathless.
<A'SSA lDC ltdCnGE Cooked /
revolver aud walked down on the floor
We will arrange the classes he
said; all those who can read. write and
spell will rise. OF them we will form
the first class
Only six got up. He escorted them
TO upper seats, aud then he began to
examine the rest. A whisper was
heard behind him. In a second he
wheAled, revolver in hand.
No whispering aloud here, ba
thundered, and for an instant his re.
volver lay on level with the cross.
eyed boys head.
'pll not do SO any more, gasped the
bully.
See you do not. 1 never Give a sec.
ond warning said the teacher. and the
revolver fell. '-'0
1t took two hours to organize tbe {
classes, but when done, they were we'll
organized Then came recess. The
teacher went out, too, for the room was
crowded and hot. A hawk was real. L
ing overhead high in the air. The I
teacher-drew a revolver, and the neyt 1t
second the hawk came tumbling down
among the wondering scholars. Ii