The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-11-09

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 ii you try.
We've had three who tried it once,
One lays there in the graveyard ;
another lost his eye 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 slender build, and all your
learnin' will only make it worse, fol
our young folks are roughs and don'l
stand no nonsense"
This is what one of the trustees ol
the district said to my friend Harry
Flotoe, when lie made an applica'
ton for the vacant position o.
teacher.
''Let me try. know | am slender
but | am tough and have strong
will" said Harry.
Just as you like. There's the
school house, and I'll have the no.
tice given if you want it done" said
the trustee.
Il do" said Harry, "and I'll open
next Monday at s a. m.
4 The notice was given and there
was o great deal OF excitement IN
the gulch and along the Yuba flats.
More than fifty young people of botll
sexes made an excuse to drop into
the tavern 10 get a sight at the fel'
low who thought he could keeI
school in that district, and many a
contemptuous glance fell on the slen
der form and youthful face OF the
would-be teacher.
Eight o'clock on Monday morn
ing came, and Harry Flotoe went
down to the school house with a key
in one hand and valise in the 9th
Ell.
Ready to slope, if he finds we're
too much for him." said the cross
eyed, broad-shouldersd boy OF eigh-
teen.
The school house was unlocked
and the new teacher went to his
desk. Some of the folks went to see
what he was going to do, though the
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 revolvers
there, each six barrels, and bowie
knife eighteen inches in the blade.
Thunder he means business J!
muttered the cross-eyed chap.
The new teacher now took out Q
square card about four inches each
way, walked to the other end of the
room 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 full of large boys and girls,
The little ones were afraid to come
in.
Then the teacher walked half way
down the room with a bowie knife
in his hand, and threw it with Sc
true hand that it struck, quiverlng
in the center of the card.
Heleft it there and quietly pu
two more Of the same kind in hi
belt and reloaded his yet smokin!
pistol.
Ring the bell am about tC
open school"
He spoke to the cross-eyed boy
the bully of the crowd, and the bo,
rang the bell without a word.
1.-The scholars will take their seats
| open school with a prayer" h
said, sternly, five minutes later.
The scholars sat down silently, al
most breathless. After the praye
the teacher cooked a revolver ant
walked down the floor.
ave will arrange the classes" h,
said, "all who can read, write and
spell will rise. OF them we will form
the first class"
Only six got up. He escorte,
them to upper seats, and then be
gan to examine the rest. A whispe
was heard behind him. In asecon'
| he wheeled, revolver IN hand.
"No whispering allowed here J" h
thundered, and for an instant his re
volver lay on q level with the cross
eyed boys head.
Il will not do so any more" gasp
ed the bully.
"See that you do not. ! never Civ
a second warning" said the teacher
and the revolver fell.
1t took two hours to organize tn,
classes, but when done they were al
organized.
Then came recess. The teacher
went out, too, for the room wa:
crowded and hot. A hawk was cir
cling over head, high in the air
The teacher drew his revolver. and
the next second the hawk came tum
bling down among the wonderful
scholars.
From that day on Harry kept
school for two years in Cranberry
Gulch, his salary doubled after the
first quarter, add his pupils learned
to love as well as respect him, and
the revolvers were out of sight with
in month.
They had found a man at last who
could keep school. This is fact
San Francisco Bulletin.
Substitutes Ger Kissing.