The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-10-18
THE. SLIM TEACHER,
How he Managed tho school ut
Cranberry Gulch.

learniu' that's required 10 q school teach.
er, but It wants more than leasnin' to
make q man abe. to teach school in
Cranberry Gulcb You'll soon fad thst
out II you try. We've had three who
tried It on One lays there in the giave-
yard smother lost his eye the last OPEN
ed 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 oil our young folks
are roughs and don't stand nonsense" "
That Is what one OF the trustees OF the
district said to my friend Harry Flotoe.1
when be made application for the vacsni
position Of teacher. s.
"Let me try. know l am slender
but am tough and have strong will"
said Harry.
"Jest as you like There's the school
house, and I'll have the notice given. il
you want 1t done" said the trustee.
II do" sai6 Harry, "and LII open
next Monday at 8 .. m.
The notice Was given and there wss .
! great deal OF excitement 10 the gulchl
and along the Yuba nats. More than
nfty Young people Of both sexes made
an excuse 10 drop into the tavern toEget
q sight at the fellow who thought be
could keep school in that district, and
many contemptous glance fell on the
slender form and youthful face OF the
would-be teacher.
Eight o'clock on Monday morning
came, and Harry FIotoe went down TO
the school with key In one hand and q
valise Ia the other.
"Ready to slope. II he finds we're too
much for bin" said . cross.eyed, broad
shonldered fellow of 10.
The school house was unlocked and
the new teacher went to his desk. Some
Of the folks went to see what he was 20.
ing to do, though echool uas not tcalifd
! Harry opened his valise and took W.
. large belt.
Then, after buckling Il srouhd bis
waiss;ee put three Ooit's rsvolvcrs tssfe.
each six batrela, and . bowie knife
eighteen inches in the blade.
"Thunder! be means business |" innt
tered the cross-eyed chap.
| The new ,eschey now took ont square
card about fonr inches each way, walked
to the other end OF the school honse .and
tackled II up against the wall Return
ing to his desk be drew revolver from
his belt. and quick IS thought sent ball
after ball into the card, till there were
six balls 10 spot not much larger than
= silver dollar.
i BY this time the school house was full
of large boys and girls. The little ones
were afraid to come in. s..
Then the teacher walked half way
down the room with bowie knife inshts
hand, and threw 1t with so true hand
that it stuck, quivering, in the centre ol
the card.
| He left it there and quietly put two
more OF the same kind in his belt and
reloaded his yet smoking pistol. - W
j "Ring the bell; I I'm about to open
school.
| He spoke to the cross.eyed boy, tht
bully Of the crowd, and the boy raDf
the hell without word.
| .sThe scholars will take their seats;
open school with prayer" he said
sternly, iive minutes later. .s,s
i. The scholors sat down silently, aluos
breathless After the prayer the teachel
cooked revolver and walked down OF
, the floor. e
1--WE will arrange the clksses,"@ b
} said; "all who can read, write and spell
will rise.- OF them We will form the firs
Glass;"
Only SIX got up He escorted then
TO upper seats, and then he began to ex
anime the rest. A whisper was hsagl
behind him In second he wheeled
, revolver in hand. ssf
"No whispering allowed here!"'ch,
. thundered, and for an instant his revoi
yer lay on level with the cross-syet
boy . head. -
si'll not do SO any more" grasped ID
bully.
II eSee you do not 1 never give sec
| ond warning," said the teacher, AnA th
revolver fell. ss,u,
It took two hours to organizes ihs
{ classes, but when done they we're alt,Ss
D ganized. 70
al Then came recess. The teacher wen
! out too, for the room was crowded an
], bot. A hawk vas circling over head
I high In the air. The teacher drew III
, revolver, and the next second the havl
. came tumbling down among the won
. dering scholars
From that day on Harry kept schoo
/ for two years in Cranberry Gulch, hi
Q salary doubled after the first qaartel
\ and the pupils learned to love as well .
3 respect him, and the revolver went ou
OF sight within month
d They had found Q man at last VIII
. could keep school This is q fact.i-
San Francisco Bulletin.
; 70 -