Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-01-17

10 ko HohiNk WIN hAm thtb htEhN
Though not quito the acknowledged |
leader OF the school. Jake was the
stoutest aud strongest OF them all; and |
Mark decided that II he could mako a
stanch friend of him the future would |
be safe. Sitting out on one 81 the |
ledges ia the moonlight angling, he !
found an opportunity TO become very
social with him. Jake at the first Of
the evening, IL fell out, took fancy 20
a pearl-handlcd jack-knife Mark cut
the bait with; and after awhile Mark
made him present OF Il, asking him
to keep IL TO remember him by. This
proved a great stroke OF diplomacy.
The next day Jake said the teacher
was better little "fellern than he had
supposed, and no believed they ought
TO give him a show before they pitched
into him. The others did not quite
agree with hiuil But they hesitated TO
do any thing that he would not take
part In, and revolutionary proceedings
we're. ihoreIoSe suspended for awhile.
"We'li tackle him speilin'-school
night said Jim Nixon, the most pug
nacious one among those dissatisfied.
"Thatll be the time. Every body will
be around then 70 sec VS. do Il"
Having received a hint from Jake,
Mark exercised all the tact he could
muster in obtaining a postponement OF
the customary spelling-school, and, to
the surprise OF Uncle Seth and the
neighborhood, a month passed without
there being any riot ia the school
house The slim teacher was cutter
fellow than any body had supposed, it
began to be said; and when Uncle Seth
and Sister Cynthia let it be known that
the little fellow was poor as Jobs tur-
key and a-tryin' 20 scrapn something
together TO get an education with,
some OF the rough old fishermenl who
had warm hearts Under their pea
Jackets, said: Those ere boys had bet
ter luff it little and not carry quite SO
much topsaiE
Maik found each day difficult to
manage, though, Notwithstanding the
apparent tranquility, and he knew
that the dreaded spelling-school must
take place sooner or later. The best
he could do was to keep Jake on his
side and put u OF as long As pcssible'
The anxiety he sufered from day to
day was more than he had even
imagined before; but he was beginning
TO have confidence IN bimsclf, ahd ne
meant now to continue the school to
the close, happen what might
The struggle terminated at the end
OF the seventh week, one snowy Friday
night Every body, it seemed TO
Mark, had turned and crowded into
the schcol-h0usc. The spelling-sc
was at last about to take place Lam
terms were bnng from the ceiling TO
light up the odd assembly. the stove
was got into a red-hot condition to
drive out the cold, sides for the
spelling-match were chosen, and the
undertaking began under Marks di-
rection. But il was evident to him be-
fore he had proceeded very far that
tho attention OF the majority OF those
present was not fixed on the words in
the Spelling book. Outdoors some
body was heaping up snow against the
window nearest him and an uneasy
feeling appeared to prevail within.
When a half hour had passed and he
had become so nervous that 1t was
difficult for him to pronounce the
words he was giving out the climax
arrived. First there was loud cat
call outdoors; next two of the lights
were extinguished, then suddenly the
window at his left was pushed in and
instantly Jim Nixon with three or four
others leaped over the seats and rushed
toward him.
"Out with himl Bury him head
firstln he heard them shout and then
great confusion followed
just how IL all occurred nobody ever
knew; but by the time Mark recovered
his wits he found himself squeezed in
TO a corner behind Jake Clinch, who
was striking out from the shoulder and
saying fercely: "Now, then, Jim
Nixon. gin you fair warnin' I'd stanu
up for him. and willv' In another
moment two big fishermen seized jim
and threw him headlong out the win
dow into tho snow. That put an end
10 the strife at once. The lanterns
were relighted, the overturned benches
arranged and things in general restored
TO order.
81 jest want to ask" said Jake, red
as beet and gasping for breath,
show many there be in this ERE
school who want this teacher We Va
gut 10 stay, and how many there be
who don'tp The first wall stand up Il
they've gut any spunk in them"
, Marks friends having prevailed, the
popular sentiment was in his favor
and every one stood up Immediately
, Then, at somebody's suggestion, tbs
crowd gave three hearty cheers fol
, the teacher, which threatened TO bring
; down the building, and afterward dis
! persed, all laughing and talking to
D gether
Three moro weeks completed th'
, term; but they passed so pleasantly
{ that Mark was not really so full Of iol
a when the school was finished as h,
4 had believed he would be. He hai
{ grown 10 like Uncle Seth. Sister Gym
thia, and the little community one wa.
> and another.
d At last however, "the horses OF tn
G sun brought round the long-expecte'
@ day." as the Latin poet says, an
4 Mark stood on the wharf early in IN
o morning, bidding every body good
bye. A crowd Of the fishermen witt
o their wives and the scholars were o
/ hand TO see him of He had shake
d hands and was stepping aboard tn
e steamboat when Uncle Seth, rathe
/ flushed and Hurried, hobbled up an
d caught him by the arm.
b Here's little sunthin' Sis knit
e young man." he said, In "A whisper
o. s.and the folks hereaDOuts have had