The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-09-24
THE SLIM TEACHER.
How He Managed the School at Cranb cry GuIch

~" ''O "dHSSou Nie SCHOOt al SFdnD cry 0GlCH'
From the San Francisco Chronice.l
Mister, no doubt you have all the
learnin' that's required in a school teach
er, but it wants more than learnin' to
make 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 grave
yard; another lost his eye; the last one
opened school and left before noontime
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, for all our young folks
are roughs and don't stand no nonsense, -
This was what one of the trustees of
the district said to my friend Harry Flo
toe, when he made application for the
vacant position of teacher.
Let me try. l know l am slender,
but am tough and l have a strong
viii, > said Harry.
"Jest as youike. There's the school
house, and I'll have notice given if you
want it done, " said the trustee.
81 do, ;" said Harry, "and I'll open
next Monday at 8 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 ex-
cuse to drop into the tavern to get a
sight at the fellow who thought he could
keep school in that district, and many a
centemptuous 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 a key in one hand
and valiso in the other.
" Ready to slope if he finds we're too
much for him, sald cross-eyed, broad
shouldered fellow of IS.
| The school house was unlocked and
the new teacher went to his desk. Some
of the young folks went 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 il
around his waist, he put three Colts
navy revolvers there, each six barrels,
and bowie-knife eighteen inches in the
| blade.
"Thunder! he means business ! .
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 school
| house and tackled it up against the wall.
Returning to his desk he drew q revol-
yer 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 a silver dollar.
| l. I, I.
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 so true hand
that it struck, quivering, in the center Of
| the card.
He left it there and quietly put two
more of the same kind in his belt anC
reloaded his yet smoking pistol.
Ring the bell; [ am about to oper
school,"
He spoke to the cross-eyed boy, the
bully of the crowd, and the boy rang the
bell without word.
"The scholars will take their seats:
open school with a prayer" he sale
sternly five minutes later.
The scholars sat down silently, almost
breathless. After the prayer the teach
er cooked a revolver and walked down
on the floor.
"We will arrange the classes" b,
said, call who can read, write and spell
will RISE OF them we will form the frs
class"
Only six got up. He escorted them t.
upper seats, and then he began to ex
anime the rest. A whisper was hearC
behind him. In a second he wheeled
revolver in hand
"No whispering allowed here " h,
Numbered, and for an instant his revol
yer lay on a level with the cross-eyeC
boys head.
"I'll not do SO any MORE" gasped thu
bully.
"See you do not. Inever give a sec
ond warning" said the teacher, and tn,
revolver fell.
1t took two hours to organize tn,
classes, but when done they were wei
organized.
Then came recess. The teacher wen
out too, for the room was crowded anC
hot. A hawk was circling overhead higl
ID the air. The teacher drew his revol
yer, and the next second the hawk cam,
tumbling down among the wondering
scholars.
From that day on Harry kept schoo
for two years in Cranberry Gulch, hi
salary doubled after the first quarter
and his pupils learned to love as well a
to respect him, and the revolvers wer,
out Of sight within month.
They had found q man at last whC
could keep school. This is fact.