Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-09-18
There WAS a saund Of shunllnH foot
FOUND AT LAST.
TEACHING SCHOOL N TiiR EARLY
TnIEs OF CALIFORNIA,
Fulton Tines,

TMEs OF CALIFORNIA
"Alistcr, no doubt you have all tho
learin that's required in n school
teacher, but 1t wants more than learn
In to make q man able TO teach school
in Cranberry Gulch' You'll soon
find that out If you try. We've had
three who tried Il on, One lays there
in the graveyard ! another lost his
eyo and LEFT the last opened school
aud left before noontime for tho benc
ft of his health. He hasn't been back
since. Now, you're u slender build,
and all your lcaruin' will only make it
worse, for oil our young folks are
roughs and don't stand no nonsense 7
This was what the trustee OF the
district said to my friend Harry Flo
tee, when he made application for the
vacant position OF teacher.
Let me try, know ] am slender,
but | am tough, 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.
~ do, said Harry. Sand I'll open
next Monday at 0 A, NJ
The notice was given, and there
was a 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 Of the fellow
who thought he could keep school IN
that district, and many a contemptu'
Gus glance fell on tie 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 a key in one
hand and a valise in the other.
"Ready to slope if he finds we're
loo much for him. said a cross.cyed,
broad.shouldered fellow of eighteen.
The scbool-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 a bowie knife eighteen
inches in the blade.
"Thunder He means business,
muttered the cross-eyed chap.
The new teacher now took out a
square card about four inches each
way, walked TO the other end of the
schoolhouse and tackled it 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
dollar.
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-knite
in his hand, and threw it with so true
hand that it stuck quiveriug 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 I; I am about to open
school"
He spoke to the cross-eyed boy, the
bully of the crowd, and the boy rang
the bell without word.
1.-THE scholars will take their seats
open school with prayer he sale
sternly, five minutes later.
The scholars sat down, silent, al
most breathless
After the prayer the teacher cooked
a revolver and walked down on the
, floor.
"We will arrange the classes" be
said. "All who can read, write anC
spell, will rise. Of them we will form
!. the first class"
Only six got up. He escorted then
70 upper seats. Aud then liz begar