The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-09-11
sss7,743,les n
Found ut Last.
TEACHING SCHOOL IN THE EARLY TINES of
CALIFORNIA.
From the San francisco Chronicle.]

..Mister. no doubt you have all the learn
in, that's. required in school-teacher, but
f. wants more than learnin' to make man
abe to teach school In Cranberry Gulch.
Youth soon lind that out II 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 ana ieit
before noontime for the benefit OF his beaitn.
He hasn't been back since. Now you're .
slender build, and all your learning VIII
only make it worse, for all your young folks
are rougbs, and don't stand no nonsense"
This was what the trustees OF the dis
trict said to my friend Harry Flotee when
be made application for the vacant position
Of teacher.
"Let me try. I know I am slender, but
I am tough, and have strong will" said
Harry.
"Just as you like! There's the school
house. and Pill have notice given if you
want it done," said the trustee.
81 dol" said Harry. .sAnd III open
next Monday at A. NJ"
The notice was given, and there was q
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 sight at the
ltltOH WIN SOdiA hSSp cShOok III
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 FIotee went down to the school,
house with key ia one hand aud valse
in the other.
"Ready to slope il he finds we're too
much for him." said cross-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 called.
Harry opened his valise and took out a
large belt. Then, after buckling it around
his waist. he put three Colts navy revolvers
there, each of six barrels, and boWle-knife
eighteen inches in the blade.
"Thunder! He means business" NUT
tered 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 1t up against the wall. Returning
to his desk he drew a revolver from his
belt, and quick as thought sent ball after
ball into the card, till there were six balls
in spot not much larger than silver dol.
lar.
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 very centre OF the
card.
He left it there, and put two more knives
OF the same kind in his belt, and quietly re-
loaded his yet smoking pistol.
"Riug the bell; l am about to open
school,"
He spoke to the cross-eyed boy, the bully
of the crowd, and the boy rung the bell
without word.
"The scholars will take their seats;
open school with prayer" he said sternly,
five minutes later.
The scholars sat down, silent, almost
breathless.
After the prayer the teacher cooked re-
volver and walked down on the floor.
1--WE will arrange the cassess," he said:
"All vino can read, write, and spell VIII
rise. Or them we will form the first
class"
Only six cot up. He escorted them to
inc the rest. a whisper was heard behind
him. In a second he wheeled, revolver in
hand.
"No whispering allowed here !" he
Numbered and for an instant his revolver
lay on level with the cross-eyed boys
head.
"I'n not do so any MORE" gasped the
bully. r
.See YOU do not. Inever give second
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 crowded and hot. A
hawk 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
doubled after the first quarter, and his pu-
pills learned to love as we'll as to respect
him. aud the revolvers went out OF sight
within month.
They had found a man at last who could
keep school. This is q fact.