The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-01-09
of he cant-no! / amt fond of study,
anyhow, and if work gets too hard, I'll

Of 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 a
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 we're wealthy
enough to pay an excellent SALARY, so
the school was only nominally a public
one, each head OF a family contributing
to tho fund.
Mr.. Allen Winters, the young MAI
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 o heavy black mustache.
Ii 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 veryY pleasant, both
quiet and courteous. He was ut once
engaged, though he noticed the direct
ors looked at him i'll . plying manner.
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 view got a bad lot of
boys Al the Point. 1t will take a plucky
man to conquer them, and you don't
look very strong. I'm afraid it will be
How do you do?' 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
thar muscle"
You have not taught at the Point,
young man, Mr.. Savage said, shaking
his head. my boy is, 1 am sorry to
say, one of the worst; but it's our duty
to tell you that you have a hard row to
hoe.
Mr.. Winter laughed, and his bright
eyes danced merrily. I'm glad you've
warned me though you mustn't think I'm
a lamb led to the sacrifice. The truth
Isl heard Of the character of your boys
before / applied for the situation. l
know all about them, and am prepared
for peace or war, as they may choose"
mo weapons, young man." said
DSoScb liz HCI NJNSly. we CAl1 u nave
any doings Of that sort in our 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
ture has given you. You can make them
obedient in that way if you cannot in
any other, and we will uphold you-but
no weapons, sir.
II understand" laughing. "You
need not be afraid I shall use any
other agencies thar those nature has
given me-. l feel quite sure that l am
the very man for this school. At any
rate l 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 ,spprovingly. yet"
with o sigh, lone or 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 Mr.. Winters
made the final arrangements, and with
the same smile presented himself to
his assembled scholars the following day.
He's gotno more strength than a cat"
Zach whispered to Abe, contemptuous-
ly. Just look at those woman's hands,
will you? There won't be any fun lick
ing him. or driving him away. Iguess
I'll let him have his own way for a day
or two."
Boys" said Mr. Winters, tapping his
desk, before We begin work, 7 wish to
say q word or two. I have heard from
good authority, that you are the most
lawless, manageable set of boys in the
State. l am sorry you have such a rep-
utation, and still more sorry to be oblig-
ed to believe that you deserve it. Now
let me say here, at the start, that 1 am
going to exact obedience from you IN
everything, even in trifes, and the first
act of insubordination I shall punish.
l would much rather deal kindly
with you if you will allow me
to do SO, but if you prefer a different
course, depend upon i'll shall maintain
discipline no matter who suffers"
"Whew! hear the bantam crow!"
muttereI astonished Zach, his eyes
blazing with anger. Talking to us as
if we were niggers! I did mean to
leave him a day or two in peace. but /
reckon l shall have to bring him down
from his high horse this very morning"
Zach, this is better than working in
the field" whispered Abe anxiouslv.
"Let him stay till the fodder is pulled;
that's such hot, hateful work"
"Then he's got to, whip me, that's
ALL" was the uncompromising reply,
and looking at the teachers spare limbs,
Abe felt that he could not do it easily.
A spelling-class composed of the entire
school was called up. Mr.. Winters
sud quietly
"Of course you have learned little or
nothing with the class in the condition
it has been in. Til begin with simple
words-spell Elephant"
With q significant look down the
class which was perfectly understood,
Zach, who was at the head, spelled
"E-l-e-f-a-n-t."
The word passed on, each boy trans
posing o letter in o most skillful man
ner. The3Point"b boys were adopts at
this game, and the obseryant teacher
with his keen eyes fixed upon each
scholar as the word came to- him, saw
that it was a trick that had evidently
been played before. He retained his
quiet, imperturbable demeanor and
smiled, saving calmly
"You are really greater ounces than
| expected. Excuse my PLAIN words,
but before I've done with you, you will
conclude You have seen the animal him
self. Do you think you can manage to
spell 'whip'?"
"Ohl" screamed the boy next to
Zach, "he's pinchin' me, sir" pointing
to the one below him.
'Twa'nt me, teacher, it was him.
pointing to his nearest neighbor.
"'Twa'n,t me, it was linn" each boy