Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-09-07
The Slim Teacher.
HOW HE MANAGED THE SCHOOL 80 CRAM
BERRY GULCH.

L oOLSH
sinister, no doubt you have all the learn
| in that's required in school teacher, but
| il 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 ID on. On
lays there in the graveyard; another lost
his eye and left, the last one opened
school and left before noontime for the
benefit CT his health. He hasn't been
back since. Now your 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 10 my friend Harry Flotoe,
when he made application for the vacant
position Of teacher.
"Let me try know / am slender, bu.
/ am tough and have strong will, saic
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 at o a. M
The notice was given, and there was
good deal of excitement in the gulch anG
along the Yuba flats. More than fifty
cuse to drop into the tavern to get sigh,
at the fellow who thought he could keer
school in that district, and many q con-
temptuous 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 key in one hand and yaliso
in the other.
"Ready to slope if he finds we're too
much for him. said cross-eyed broad
shouldered fellow of eighteen.
The school-house was unlocked and the
new teacher went to the desk. Some of
the young folks went to see what he was
going to d., though school was not called.
Harry opened his valise and took out
'arge belt. Then, after buckling il around
his waist, he put three Colts navy revolv-
ers there, each six barrels, and a bowie
knife eighteen inches in the blade.
Thunder he means business !" mutter-
ed the crOss-eyed chap.
The new teacher now took out 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
ball into the card, till there were six balls
in spot not much larger than silver
dollar.
BY this time the school-house was half
full of large boys and girls. The little
,nes were afraid to come in.
Then the teacher walked half way down
he room with bowie-knife in his hand,
Ind threw it with so true 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 re-
oaded his yet smoking pistol.
King the bell; am about to open
chool"
He spoke to the cross-eyed boy, the bull
OF the crowd, and the boy rang the bell
without word.
The scholars will take their seats; I
pen school with prayer he said sternly,
we minutes later
The scholars sat down silently, almost
reathless. After the prayer the teacher
ocked revolver and walked down ON the
DOR.
I'VE will arrange the classes" he said;
all who can read, write and spell will rise.
" them we will form the first class,
Only six got up. He escorted them to
PIPER seats, and then he began to exam
ne the rest A whisper was heard be-
ind him. In a second he wheeled, re-
Oliver in hand
mo whispering allowed here y he thun-
cred, and for an instant his revolver Law
a level with the cross-eyed boys head.
I'll not do so any MORE gasped the
ully.
See you do not. never give second
arning, said the teacher, and the re-
Diver fell.
1t took two hours to organize the classes.
1t when done they were well organized.
Then came recess. The teacher went out
70, for the room was crowded and hot. A
iwk was circling overhead high in air.
he teacher drew his revolver, and the next
cond the hawk came tumbling down
noug the wondering scholars
From that day on Harry kept school for
70 years in Cranberry Gulch, his salary
,ubled after the first quarter, and his pu-
Is learned to love as well as TO respect
m, and the revolvers were out of sight
thin month.
They had found man at last who could
,ep school. This is fact.-San francisco
lr0uicle