Smyrna times., 1881-10-05
The Slim Teacher.
ROW HE MANAGED THE SCHOOL AT GRAN
BERRY GULCH.

Mister, no doubt you have all the
learnin' that's required in a school teacher.
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 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
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 Flotoe,
when he made application for the vacant
position Of teacher.
Let me try. L know 1 am slender.
but am tough and have a strong will.
said Harry.
Jest as you like. There's the school
house and I'll have notice given if you
want it done," said the trustee.
Il do" said Harry, "and I'll open next
Monday 8 A. M
The notice was given, and there was a
good deal of excitement in the gulch and
along the Yuba flats More than fiftv
young people of both sexes made an ex-
cuse to drop into the tavern to get sight
at the fellow who thought he could keep
school i'll that district, and many a con-
temptuOus glance fell on the slender form
and yOuthfulness of the would-be teacher.
Eight o'clock on Monday morning came
and Harry FlOtOe went down to ;hc
school-hOuse with key in one hand and
a valise in the other.
Ready to slope if he finds we're too
much for him." said cross-eyed. broad
| shouldered fellow of IS.
The schoolhouse 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 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 six-shooting
navy revOlvers, and bowie knife einb-
| teen inches in the blade.
Thunder he means business ~ mut-
tered the crOss-eyed chap as he placed his
hand on the single shooter that was rest
ing in his hip pocket.
The new teacher now. took out a SQUARE
card about four inches each wav. walked
to the other end of the schoolhouse 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 schoolhOuse was halt
full Of large boys and girls, The little
ones were afraid to come in.
Then the teacher walked halfway down
the room with bowie-knife in his hand
and threw it with so true hand that il
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 re.
loaded his yet smoking pistol,
Ring the bell; I 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:
open school with prayer" he said sternly
five minutes later.
The scholars sat down silently, almost
breathless. After the prayer, the teacher
cooked a revolver and walked down OF
the floor.
We will arrange the classes" he said
"all 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 examin,
the rest. A whisper was heard behinC
him. In second he wheeled revolve
in hand
, No whispering allowed herer' h,
, thundered, and for an instant his revolve
lay on level with the cross-eyed boy
head.
: "Pll not do so any MORE" gasped tn
bully.
See you do not. never give a secont
; warming" said the teacher, and the revol
, yer fell.
1t took tive hours to organize the clas
r ses, but when done they were well organ
lied.
Then came recess. The teacher wen
: out too, for the room was crowded AM
/ hot. A hawk was circling overhead hig
! in the air. The teacher drew his revolver
| and the next second the hawk came tumt
ling down among the wondering scholars
From that day on Harry kept schoo
S for two years in Cranberry Gulch, hi
salary doubled after the first quarter, an,
I his pupils learned to love as we'll as to re
0 spect him, and the revolvers were out @
sight within o month.
i They had found man at last VIII
I could keep school. This is fact.--iSa
y Francisco bulletin.
, +. H. Drake, Esq, Detroit, has reeovere
. I from terrible skin hgmor, which covered hi
head, face and hands, by using Cuticura ResOl
4" vent informally and Cutieura Soap externally
/ This is good news.
Every one is acquainted with the oil,
nursery story about the hen that hatche,