The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1883-08-07
The slim Teacher.

Mister, no doubt you have all the
learnin' that's required in school
teacher, but it wants more than learn
in 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. One lays
there in the graveyard; another lost
his eye, the last one opened school
and left before noontime for the bene-
fit Of his health. He hasn't been
back since. Now, you're slender
build, and all your lcarnin' will only
make it worse, for all our young
folks are roughs and don't stand no
NONSENSE. +pfm,..t '.9i 'iH-H
This is what one of the trustees Of
the district said to my friend Harry
Flotoe, when he made application for
the vacant position of teacher. .a. q
Let me try. l 'knowI am slender,
but am tough and | have a strong
will, said Harry. esa..
Jest as you like. There's the school
house, and I'll have notice given. if
you want it done, said the trustees.
/ do, said Harry, and I'll open next
Monday at Ga. m. ~ =.
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 excuse to drop into the tav-
ern to get a sight at the fellow who
thought he could keep school in that
district and many a contemptuOus
glance fell ON the slender form and
youthful face of the would-be teach
er. al, ~,
Eight o'clock on Monday morning
came, and Harry Flotoc went down
to the school-house with key in one
hand and valise in the other. Jt'
Ready to slope if he finds we're too
much for him, said cross-eyed, broad
shouldered fellow of l8.. n due Il
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. sli,ee
Harry opened his valise and took
out large belt. Then, after buck
ling it around his waist, he put three
Colts navy revolvers therein with six
barrels, and bowie-knife eighteen
inches in the blade. 1T.. @l1.
Thunder! he means business! NUT
tered the cross-eyed chap. 90 Hl,g
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 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 a sill
YER dollar. nh iir 81
By this time the school-house was
half full oflargs 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 1t stuck quiver-
ing in the center of the card. .o.
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 1 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. .w
The scholars will take their seats !;
l open school with a prayer, he said,
sternly, five minutes later. ..
The scolars sat down silently, al
most brcathless. After the prayer
the teacher cooked a revolver and
walked down the floor. - ~ =
We will arrange the classes, he
said, all who can read, write and spell
will rise. Ofthem we will form the
first class. 5iwV
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 second he
wheeled, revolver in hand ~
No whispering allowed here he
thundered, and for an instant his re.
volver lay on the level with the cross
eyed boys head. .t,.l
I'll not do so any more, gasped tht
bully. 10
See you do not. l never give Q
second warning, said the teacherand
the revolver fell.
1t took two hours to organize the
classes, but when done they were well
organized. oa.tiid Aa ~
Then came recess. The teacher
went out toe, for the room was crowd
ed and hot. A hawk was circling
overhead high in the air. The teach
Ell drew his revolver, and the next
second the hawk came tumbline
down among the wondering scholars
From that day on Harry kept schooj
for two years in Cranberry Gulch, his
salary doubled after the first quarter
and his pupils learned to love as wei
as respect him,and the revolvers were
out of sight within month.
They had found a man at last who
| .~,,ll l.an,~ eohnnI Tbto tc a fart