The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-05-18

IRWIN ~ yiu ECPOAs - sh0s eCaSAACAS ~
wanted out .yere on the range. an
comes out yere to sorto battle with ig
norancc. wy she's n-goin to find igno'
rance" -s&-, r -i
''You bet!' assented his comrades
When they returned to the wagon
Long Ike began:
1.-The small children out yerc hahn
Il mean the-wnl. that is. we're
the children. We're goin' to schoo
to you ourselves We don't know
nuthin'.''
..You bet we don'tr' agreed the
others.
Sand" said Stub Tally afterward
''blamed if l didn't feel sorry for hel
when she faced the idea NV teachin' Vi
great lummoxes!"
Me. tool" said Sand.
Presently it was all settled. and slen.
der little Alice Hamlin was appointed
by the self-elected school board to teach
themselves in district that they them.
selves had created.
"But, have never graduated in the
higher branches" the girl had pro.
tested. half timidly. lido know enough
to teach you any thing"
Eyes, you do" cried Long Ike.
':Any thing you know will be learnin'
to us. We don't know nuthin'!'
And his comrades agreed with him.
Alice Hamlin. installed as teacher OF
the cowboys. became a member of the
little household of Old Man Nixon.
who assisted the cook and ''pottered'
about the ranch. while his wife made
and mended for the cowboys to the
number of fifteen or twenty.
On pleasant days Alice accompanied
BY "Mam" Nixon. kindly old soul.
would repair to the lone tree. which. on
a slight elevation. commanded view OF
the centre line" There while "Mam"
sewed and marveled at the wisdom OF
the girl and the dense ignorance of the
cowboys. Alice swayed the scepter of
learning. 1t was not long till all the
cowboys on the ranch were more or
less constant attendants ut Alice
school. and the profound ignorance
displayed by the men who. before. had
not been considered lacking in intel
lect, was simply appalling. The school
board, in special session. decided that,
in view of the difficulty in instilling
learning into such phenomenal block
heads. the salary of the little teacher
be doubled.
BY the time the school had run few
months change had come over the
board of directors They were no
longer communicative. There seemed
something continually on the mind OF
each. and they regarded each other
with suspicion.
"Wal." remarked Long Ike. COM
muning with himself. ''reckon 1 know
what's the matter with the boys, an
hanged if 1 blame 'em! Prairie air.
good cookin' an light work has done
wonders for her, an if thar's any pref
tier girl 'twixt this an anywhere, I'd
like mighty well to see her. Ike, If
you was on'y-wal, you hain't an that
settles it. Ike. yer an old fool; that's
what you air.
"Wal." he resumed. after a pause.
'.rll jest take this matter by the tail.
SO to speak. an pull hit into shape.
Ike. You ole fool. you're old enough to
wish the best man luck. an not kick
because You CANT git the prize!"
Later. at Long likes call. the board
of directors met on business connected
with the school mistress. but not with
the school.
Boys" Ike began. abruptly. "thar's
a Teller that don't like the way the
schools runnin'. Wants.
who's the cuss?" cried the others.
wrathfully.
"Haint content to go to school one
term" went on Ike. "but wants to be
taken fer a life scholar. His name is
Stub, Ben, Sand and company
In their establishment the others for
got to ask who the company was,
and he did not tell them.
1.-The question is" Ike went on.
(which one loves her the best. an
ME" answered each one of the au-
dience.
oval. wyn't You brace up like men.
an each ask her for himself and abide
by the decision. stead NV scowlin' ut
each other like passed. NV badgers?"
Can't said Stub. sheepishly.
Same yere!' followed Ben.
Me toO!' added Sam.
'.Ask for us, Ike" pleaded Stub.
As the little procession. consisting of
the school board. was on its way to old
man Nixon's house. Il cowboy of q
neighboring ranch. on his way home
from town. reincd up his cayuse long
enough to hand Ike Il letter.
''For yer school marm." he said.
''Soon's yer letters read" began
Long Ike. when with his sheepish CON-
rades he stood before the little teacher
er. 1.-THE board has got sumpin' to say
to you"
Apologizing for keeping them wait
ing. she read the missive. and blush,
perhaps of happiness. tinted her
cheek.
miss Alice" Long Ike began. ''the
board wants to say that we reckon you
know that we've got yer happiness at
heart in every thing We do. an"
you have! Indeed You have!''
Alice cried.
Eyes. wal, hits jest this way. Thar s
Teller that wants you to take him as
q life scholar, an
How did you know it?" cried the
girl.