The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-02-09


friends who are here tonight, canderdates for
this school"
"Less hear from 'em!" exclaimed old Billy Mil
ner, as he emptied his mouth of tobacco Juice on
the hot stove, the angry kissing of which nearly
drowned the speakers tones. al see" he con-
tinued, now rising to his feet, "that my friend,
Josh Bates, is here, an he is er canderdAte I'd
like ter hear him toot his horn few blasts"
In response to this invitation Mr.. Bates, long,
gaunt, awkward looking specimen of humanity,
arose from his seat in the back part of the room,
and after preliminary cough or two, said:
"Gentlemen, it's true Pm not married but
reckon Pm old enough to know better than to go
to maxim fool o. myself, courtin' girl durin'
school hours I'd ist like to say that if you 'lect
me your teacher, contract to tend to my bust
ness of learnin your children all kin an let the
big girls alone"
He sat down amid some applause and cries of
"Bully for Bates" Giles the Teller we're after" etc
"That sounds like business" said the chairman
of the meeting "But now we'd like ter hear from
some of the rest of 'em. Come, gentlemen he
added, "git right up and speak your pieces, and
then we'll put this thing to vote"
Three other candidates were present, and in turn
they each got up and frankly avowed that the big
girls had no charms for them, during school hours
at any rate, and that If elected, they would bind
themselves to keep order and teach the children
something else "'sdes fun and devilment"
When the last of the candidates had spoken.
Uncle Billy Miner arose and said:
al move that Josh Bates be 'lected unanimously
ter teach the Sugar Crick school this comm win
ter"
"Hold on, Uncle Billy, amt you gttin' little
too rambunctious?" asked old Andy Chittick, as he
to his feet. "Pears ter me ii amt givin these
other young fellers q fair show / move that we
perceed by ballot, Mr. Cheerman to 'lect a teacher
want ter see this thing done up right, or not at
all"
"Mr. Cheerman," yelled Uncle Billy Miner,
"my notions afore the house. That old fool on
the other side of the stove is atryn ter run this
meetin, an rl be hanged If he kin do it while
am round. A man that's too derned mean to give
fences with a neighbor can't pull with me, and
that settles it. AS l said BET"
But he did not finish the sentence. Old Archie
had walked around the stove, and with we'll
directed blow, delivered just behind the ear, had
knocked Uncle Billy half across the room.
Confusion now ensued. In less than q minute
the whole crowd was at it, fighting like pirates
boarding q merchantmen. The chairman wisely
stood at his post and pounded and yelled for order
but he did not attempt to exercise his official func-
tions to cessation of hostlities The meet
ing 1t is almost needless to say adjourned without
electing teacher.
From the local columns of the Middle Fork
Gazette we take the following:
otis cold day when Sugar Greek township
doesn't furnish the columns of the Gazette with an
item worth printing Here is the latest from that
section:
"Last Saturday night school meeting was held
at the Sugar Greek school house. which is situated
on one corner of old Billy Miners farm During
the meeting, which was unusually lively through
md A.aa