Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-10-27
THE SLIM TEACHER.
How He Managed the School at Gran
berry Gulch.

How He Managed the School at Gran
berry Gulch.
San Francisco Bulletin.
"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; 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 learnln'
will only make 1t worse, for all ouI
young folks are rough and don't stand
no nonsense"
This was what one of the trustees OF
the district said to my friend Harry
FlotOe, when he made application for
the vacant position of teacher.
.Let me try. I know l am slender
but I am tough and have a strong
WILL" said Harry.
"Just as you like. There's the school
house, and I'll have the notice given If
you want it done," said the trustee.
al do," said Harry, "and I'll open
next Monday at 6 a. M"
The notice was given and there was
a great 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 the tavern to
get a 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 with key in one hand and
valise in the other.
"Ready to slope, if he finds we're too
much for him." said a cross-eyed, broad
shouldered fellow of 18.
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 school was not
called"
Harry opened his valise and took out
large belt. Then, after buckling it
around his waist, he put three Colts
revolvers there, each six barrels, and a
bowie knife eighteen inches in the
blade.
Thunder he means businessy'
muttered the crOss-eyed chap.
The new teacher now took out a
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 revolver from his belt, and quick
as thought sent ball after bali 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 big 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 a
hand that it stuck, quivering, in the
center of the card.
He left it there and quietly put 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 the cross-eyed boy, the
bully of the crowd, and the boy rang
the bell without a word.
"The scholars will take their seats
1 open school with a prayer" he said,
sternely, five minutes later.
The scholars sat down silently, al
most breathless. After prayer the
teacher cooked a revolver and walked
down on the floor.
1--WE will arrange the classes" he
said; call who can read, write and
spell will rise. OF them we will form
the first class"
Only six got up. He escorted them
to upper seats, and then he began to
examine the rest. A whisper was
heard behind him. In a second he
wheeled, revolver in hand.
mo whispering allowed here?" he
thundered, and for an instant his
revolver lay on a level with the cross
eyed boys head.
"Pn not do so any more" gasped thu
bully.
"See you do not. l never give {
second warning" said the teacher, ant
the revolver fell.
1t took two hours to organize tn,
classes, but when done they were al
organized.
Then came recess. The teache
went out, too, for the room wa
crowded and hot. A hawk was cir
cling over head, high in the air. Th
teacher drew his revolver, and the mex
second the hawk came tumbling dow
among the wondering scholars.
| From that day on Harry kept schoc
for two years in Cranburry Gulch, hi
salary doubled after the first quarter
and his pupils learning to love as we
as respect him, and the revolvers wer
out of sight within month.
They had found a man at last wh
could keep school. This is fact.