The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-02-27

it..
81 never thought you'd be the n to
give in" he said.
"Did I say I'd give in ?" Abe answer
ed, sharply. II said I'd u away, and
I reckon it will come to that at last"
I'D as soon go to sea as anythln g
else, returned Zach. II don't believe a
sailor has to work harder than 1 dc.
Let's go, Abe"
Now Abe could not even sail over the
lake without being sea-sick, and that
plan did not meet his approval. Be-
sides, he was a prudent boy, and though
he grumbled and threatened had really
no idea of running away, leaving his
comfortable home and throwing himself
upon the world.
I'VE haven't a cent of money now"
he said, land we'd better put off run
ming away for a while. The folksIl get
tired of being so strict after a while, [
guess. Besides, a school-teacher HAY
come, and hadn't we better let HIM stay
a spell?"
"If he can whip me, yes" Zach said.
"If he cant-no! [ Amt fond of study,
anyhow, and if work gets too hard, I'll
run away"
A few weeks after that there was q
meeting of school directors at Hickory
Point. A young man with high recon-
mendations, a college graduate, applied
for the vacant position. The farmers
of that neighbOrhood were wealthy
enough to pay an excellent SALARY, SO
the school was only nominally a public
one, each head of a family contributing
to the fund.
Mr.. Allen Winters, the young man
who wished to become teacher at Hick-
DRY Point, was q thin, w~iry-looking
young fellow, with very small hands,
bright black eyes, and a mouth entirely
concealed by a heavy black mustache.
If you could have looked beneath it,
you would have seen that the lips were
thin, and compressed and closed as if
with an iron clamp.
His address was very pleasant, both
quiet and courteous. He was at once
engaged, though he noticed the direct
ors looked at him in q plying tanner.
We are willing and glad to give you
the place, Mr.. Winters" said Deacon
Jones, "but the question is, how long
will you be willing to keep it? I'll be
frank and tell you we'v got a bad lot of
boys at the Point. It will take a plueky
man to conquer them, and you don't
look very strong. Tn afraid it will be
How do you doY and Goodbye! with
you before two weeks have passed"
Mr.. Winters smile was an odd one,
but he said, in a quiet voice, Perhaps
my looks deceive you. But I supposed
brains were needed In a school more
than muscle"
'fYou have not taught at the Point,
young man" Mr.. Savage said, shaking
his head. my boy is, I am sorry to
say, one of the worst; but It's our duty
to tell you that you have a hard row to
hoe.'p
Mr.. Winter laughed, and his bright
eyes danced merrily. 'Tm glad you've
warned me, though you mustn't think I'm
a lamb led to the sacrifice. The truth
is heard of the character Of your boys
before | applied for the situation. j
know all about them, and am prepared
for peace or war, as they may choose
mo weapons, young man." said
Deacon Jones ~nervously. I'VE can't have
any doings of hat sort in u school. If
you conquer the boys-and you don't
look as if you could, You must do it
with the switch, or such agencies as ma
tnre has given yon. You can make them
obedient in that way if You cannot in
any other, and We will uphold you-but
no weapons, sir"
ST understand" laughing. "You
need not be afraid I shall use any
other agencies than those nature hos
given me. / feel quite sure that / am
the very man for this school. At any
rate ! seem to be your forlorn hope, and
If you cannot keep me, you will not be
likely to have any one else.
II like your pluck, young man."
said Deacon Jones ,approvingly. Yet"
with q sigh, lone OF two of the teachers
had pluck as we'll as yourself. / wish
you better luck, my young friend-bet-
ter luck"
With his peculiar smile MIR. Winters
made the final arrangements, and with
the same smile presented himself tc
his assembled scholars the following day.
He's got no more strength than a cat
Zach whispered to Abe, oontemptuous-
ly. "Just look at those woman's hands,
will you? There won't be any fun lick
ing him, or driving him away. I guess
Eli let him have his own way for a day
or two"
Boys said Mr.. Winters, tapping his
desk, before we begin work, I wish to
| say O word or two. / have heard from
good authority, that you are the most
l~awless, unmanageable setof boys in the
State. I am sorry yoGh such q rep
u~tation, and still more sorry to be oblig-
ed to believe that you deserve it. Now
let me say here, at the start, that / am
going to exact obedience from you IN
everything, even in tribes, and the first