Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-12-25
EQUAL TO THE EMERGENCY.

San Francisco Chronicle.

Mister, no doubt you have all the
learnin' that's required in a school
| teacher, but it wants more than learnin'
to make a man able to teach school in
Cranberry Gulch. You'll soon find
that out if 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 and
! left before noontime for the benefit of
his health. He hasn't been back since.
Now you're a slender build, and all
your learnin' will only make it worse,
for all our young folks are roughs and
and don't stand no nonsense" F..t d
This was what one of the trustees of
the district said to my friend Harry
Flotee. when he made application for
the vacant position of teacher.
Let me try. / know Lam slender,
but | am tough, and l have a strong
will" said Harry.
Just as you like. There's the school
house, and iii have notice given if you
want it done," said the trustee. ill.,. ...
Il do" said Harry; and I'll open
next Monday at 9 A. NJ"
The notice was given, and there was
| S3oOo oChl VI III lllc SulCIl
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 fellow who thought
he could keep school in that district
and many a cOntemptuOus glance fell
on the slender form and youthful face
of the would be teacher.
Eight o'clock on Mondeay morning
came and Harry Flotee went down to
the school house with key in one
hand a ID a valise in the other. aas
Ready to slope if he finds we're too
much for him." said cross-eyed,
broad-shouldered youth of eighteen.
The school house was unlocked, and
the new teacher went to the desk.
Some of the younger folks went to see
what he WAS going to do, though school
was not called.
Harry opened his valise and took out
large belt Then, after buckling it
around his waist, he put three Colts
navy revolvers there, each of six bar
rels and a bowie knife eighteen inches,
in the blade.
Thunder! He means businessp'
muttered the cross eyed chap.
The new teacher now took out card
about four inches each way, walked to
the other end of the school house and
tackled it up against the wall. Return
ing 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 q spot not much larger than
a silver dollar. 80
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 bowie knife in his
hand and threw it with so true q hand
that it stuck quivering in the very CEN
tire 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
u " Ring the bell; | am about to open
school," .o... - ......,. .,.....
He spoke to the cross-eyed boy, the
bully Of the school, and the boy rang
the bell without a word.
"The scholars will take their seats;
open school with prayer" he said stern
| ly, five minutes later. ... ...
| The scholars sat down silent, almost
breathless.
| After the prayer the teacher cooked
revolver and walked down On the
| floor. 3, j..
ave will arrange the classes" he
said: call who can read, write and spell
will arise. OF them We will form the
first class" ...:..... ri ......
Only six got up. He escorted them
= l>o TO
examine the rest. A whisper was
heard behind him. In a second ne
wheeled, revolver in hand. .5zd .#
f" No whispering allowed here" he
thundered, and for an instant his re-
volver lay on a level With the crOss-eyed
boys head. "'
"Tll not do so any more" gasped
the bully. -f 49,. .. I'D .gs...
"See you do not. I never give Sec
ond warning" 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
hot and crowded. A hawk was circling
overhead high in the air. The teacher
drew revolver, and the next second
the hawk came tumbling down among
the wondering scholars.
From that day on Harry kept school
for Cranberry Gulch, his salary was
doubled after the first quarter, and his
pupils learned TO love as well as respect
him, and the revolvers went out Of
sight within a month.
They had found man at last who
could keep school. This is fact.
A Wildcat Loose in Theater.
There was a fight advertised to come