The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-11-25
Selected stor y.
TnE SLIM TEACHER.

"Mistor, no doubt you have all the
learnia that's required in a school
teacher, but it wants more than leatnin'
to maka a 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. Ono lays thero in the
graveyard; another lost bis eye; the
last one opened school and left before
noontime, for the beueiit Of bis health.
He hasn't been back since. Now
you're slender built, and all yoar
learnin' will only make il worse. flr AL
our young folks are rough aDd dou't
stand no nonsense"
This was what one Of thc trustees
of the district said 10 nv friend Harry
Fiotoe, when be applied for the vaeant
psst of teacher.
"Let me try. ! know | am slender,
but am tough aud have a strong vii" I"
said Harry.
"Just as you like. There's tho
school house, and III have the notice
given if you want 1t done" said the
trustee.
II do" said Harry, "and III open
next Menday at 9 a. III"
The notice was given and there was
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 tho 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 Flotoe went down to
the school house with key in one
hand and valise in the other.
"Ready 10 slope, if he find we're too
much for him." said cross-eyed,
broad-shoaldered fellow Of Is.
The school house was unlocked, and
the new teacher went 10 his desk.
some OF the folka went to see what he
was going to do, though school was
not called.
Harry opened his valisc and took
out large belt. Then, after buckling
il around his waiat, he put three Colts
navy reyolvers there. each six barrels.
and bowie-knife eighteen inches in
the blade.
Thunder he means business !"
mnttered the cross-eyed chap.
The new teacher nov took out n
square card about four inches each
way, walked to the other end of the
school house, and tackled il up agains.
the wall Returning TO his desk he
drew revolver from his belt, and,
quick as thought, sent ball afrer hsli
into the card, till there were six balls
in spot not much larger than a dol
lar.
BY this time the school house was
half full Of large boys aud girls. The
little ones were afraid 70 come in.
Then the teacher walked half way
down the room with Bowie knife in
his hand and threw il with NO true
hand that il stuck, quivering, in the
centre of the card.
lie left il there, and quietly pee two
more of the same kind IN his belt and
reloaded his yet smoking pistol.
"Ring the bell; | am about TO open
school,"
He spoke to tho cross-eyed boy, the
bully OF the crowd, and the boy rang
the bell.
''Thc scholars will take their seats;
oren school with prayer" he said
sternly, i've minutes later.
The scholars ga. down silently, al
most breathless. After the prayer the
teacher cooked revolver and walked
down on the floor.
Eve will arrange the classes" he
said. Gall who can read, write. and
spell will rise. OF them we viii form
the Asst class
Only six got up. he escorted them
to upper seats, and then he began 70
examine the rest. A whisper was
heard behind him. In second he
wheeled, revolver in hand
"No whispering allowed herep hG
thundered; and for an instant bis re-
volver lay on level with the cross
eyed boys head.
"I'll not do 80 any more gasped
the bully.
"See you do not. ] never give q
second warning" said the teacher, anC
the revolver fell,
It took two hours to orginize th'
classes, but when done they were al
organized.
| Then came recess. The teache
went out, too, for the room was crowd
cd and hot. A hawk was circlinl
overhead, high in the III. The teache
drew bis revolver, and the next instan
the hawk came tumbling down amoni
the wondering scholars.
| From that day on Harry kept schoo
for two years in Cranberry Gulch; hi
salary doubled after the frat quarter
and his pupils learned to love Ms vel
as respect him, and the revolvers wer
out of sight within month.
They had found man at last VIII
could keep school. This IS fact
S.F. Bulletin.
Rey. E. p. Tenney, the genial AM
witty president Of Colorado College
was at one time the beloved pastor 9
the Congregational church in sea
coast town in Massachusetts,. To elk