St. Landry democrat., 1878-12-07
Found :aG. Last.
HOW HARRY ELufEE GOT THE SCHOOL
AT CRANBERRY GULCH.

"A tkAN NSERltf III LNAis
Mister, no doubt you have all the
lcarnin' that's required in a scho"
teacher, but it wants more han learnln'
to make IL man able to teach school IN
Cranberry GuIch. You'll soon find
that out if yuu try. We've had three
who tried it ON. One laws there III the
graveyard; another lost his eye and
left the last one opened school and left
before noon time for the benefit OF his
health. He hasn't been back since.
Now, you're IL slender build, and all
your learnin' will only make it worse,
for all our young folks are rouShs ana
don't stand no nonSense!" :"
This was what one OF the trustees OF
! the district said to my friend Harry FL o.
tee, when he made application for the
vacant position of teacher.
Let me try. know | am slender.
but am tough, and have astrong will, y
said Harry.
"Jrst as you like. There's the school
house, and III have notice given il you
want it dont," said the trustee.
Il do,' said Harry; land I'll open
next Monday at 8 A. NJ"
The notice was given, and there was
Il 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
IA sight ut the fellow who thought he
could keep school in that district, and
many contemptuous glance fell on he
slender form and youthful face OF the
wnuld-be teacher.
Eight O'clock on Monday morning
came, and Harry Flotee went down +"
the scl,ool-house with key in one
4 ,,,+ ~, <,t1
Ready to slope if he find we're too
much for him." said a cross-eyed, broad
shouldered fellow of eighteen.
The sctonl-house was unlocked and
the new teacher went to the desk. Sone
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. 1t
around his waist, he put three Colts
navy revovers there, each of six bar
rels, and bowie-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-honse and
tackled it up against the wall. Return
ing to his desk, he drew his revolver
from his belt and quick as Thought sent
ball after hall into the card till there
| were six balls in II spot not much larger
than ii 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 way
down the room with the Bowie knife in
his hand, and threw it with 40 true Il
| 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 reloaded his yet smoking pistol.
Ring the bell; l am about to open
| school,
He spoke to the cross eyed hoy, the
| bully Of the crowd, and the boy rang HE
bell without Il word.
"The scllnars 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 a
revolver and walked down the ttOOr.
"We will arrange the classes" he said;
call who can read, write aud spell Will
rise, OF them we will form the hrst
class"
Only six got up. He escorted them to
upper seats, and then he began to ex-
anime the rest. A whisper, was. heard
behind him. In second he wheeled,
revolver in hand.
"No whispering allowed here!" he
Ethundered, and for an instant his re-
volver lay on a level with the cross-eyed
boys head.
''l'r not do so any more," gasped the
bully.
"Spe you do not; never give a sec
ond warming" said the teacher, and the
revolver fell.
1t took two hours to organize the
classes, hut when done they were we'll
Iorgauized. Then c;,me recess. The
| teacller west out too; for the room was
crowded and hot. A hawk was circllng
| overhead high in the air. The teacher
drew q revolver, aud the next second
THE hawk came tunlbling down among
the wondering scholars.
T.. From that day on Harry kept his
school in Cranberry Gulct, his salary
| doubled after the first quarter. and his
| pupils learned to love as well as to res.
ppct him, and the revolvers went out OF
sight within Il month.
They had found y man at last who
could keep school. This is Il fact.