Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-01-25
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
: The Champion Heavyweight ;
BY Sarah Sydney.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THE schoolma'am was puzzled. and
Al. 0u--lo al raached such dimen.

THE schoolma'am was puzzled. and
the puzzle had reached such dimen'
sions that 1t involved encouragement
and almost despair. She had 30 re-
Gently stepped out Of the sheltered
home and school life in which her I'M
eventful IT years had been passed and
had plunged into what seemed to her
such a vast sea of responsibility that
the thought appalled, her. 1t was her
first school and In district OF rather
unenviable reputation; not so much on
account Of the number OF diSobedient
pupils as because the parents threw
the responsibility for the moral con-
duct of their children entirely upon the
teacher, valuing her mental accom-
plishments much less than her ability
to keep order" Being too poor to hire
a man teacher, they had determined at
the end OF the last term to advertise for
a woman and abide by the decision OF
old Bill Jenkins, who prided himself on
his ability to distinguish character from
what he called "handwrite." The trus-
tees had met, and after reading and
considering some hundred applications
had picked out one that showed, as Bill
said, firmness Of character.
at takes a good grip o the pen to
make that kind O. letters" he said, ian
a Teller that grips his pen hard means
business"
Through some delay in making con-
nections the teacher did not arrive un-
til the morning of the day school be-
gan, and as she alighted from the light
wagon that had been sent to the juno
ton to meet her a gasp of establishment
vent up from the assembled school chill
dren, who had been prepared to see
large, strapping woman. What they
did see was a slender little maid about
five feet tall, with large brown eyes
and short curly hair. That was three
weeks ago, and Bill jenkins had notyet
recovered from the shock. Nothing but
q firm belief in his own powers OF char
acter and a blind faith that somehow
things would come right saved him
from absolute despair. He was good
hearted old fellow, and had realty u
good deal of feeling for the young
teacher and a desire to be OF service to
her. At noon of the first DAY he had
suddenly appeared at the schoolhouse
with a stout hickory whipstock, which
he presented to her with the remark:
There's a likely lookin' CAD fer yeh'
miss, and maybe it'll help yeh outen
tight corner some time"
The schoolteacher realized that she
had got into very tight corner indeed;
! and remembering the hint, her gaze
wandered to the hickory stick with
feeling that there lay the solution OF
the puzzle II only she had courage to
use It. And truly she had need OF all
the courage she could muster. About
two months before, an English family
had settled in that part Of the ttrag-
qling village called "the devils elbow"
The youngest member Of the family,
a boy about Is years old, had won some
distinction as a prize fighter. He had
never had any schooling to speak Of
and his family had arranged that he
should attend school during the winter
term. Filled with sense of Importance
and despising the control Of q gal with
q fist no bigger'n a chany cup" he had
been disturbing spirit from the first
day. Andy's conduct now called Tor
decisive action, and hence the perplex-
ity that wrinkled the schoolma'am's
brow and brought out little lines of de-
termination about the mouth which
were born of desperation. She knew
she must do something; already 1t was
being whispered about the district that
the new teacher was mo good, couldn't
keep no sort of order at al" and would
get her notice at the end of the quar-
ter. Nc one but herself knew how she
needed the poor salary attached 10 this
very undesirable situation. Suddenly
she turned and, with heightened color
and flashing eyes, called as quietly as
she could:
Andrew, come here"
With a grin of amusement at the
tone and attitude of the teacher, Andy
came lounging up to the raised plat
form that served to enhance the dignity
Of the teacher.
Andrew, your conduct has been such
that have made up my mind to punish
you. Hold out your hand"
"Haw, haw, hawl Whip me, thu
champion heavyweight of Clark coun
ty? Guess rot. could take yeh by thu
collar with one hand an shake yeh ou
O. yer boots"
81 know that as well as you do, An
drew, but I'm not afraid of you. In thu
= first place, bad as you have been,
think you have manliness enough Il
keep you from touching a woman; II
the second place, II you lay finger OF
me shall have you punished to the full
extent of the law. Either hold out you
hand at once or go home and never com
back again"
Andy sized up the situation quickly
and, being very anxious to learn some
thing and very doubtful Of the teach
ers ability TO hurt him, smilingly pu
his hand out. Down came the hickor
stick, and Andy WINGED and visibl,,
weakened. Catching his eye, the school
teacher motioned to the other hand anc
mesmerized by will so much stronge
than his own, he put it out with spas
modic jerk.
, The frightened children huddled te
. gether In groups. and soon nothin
3 was heard but the long rhythmic swis
= of the whipstock as 1t rose and fell, an
the grating Of Andy's teeth as he rea
p lied that II would take all his self-coI
troll to keep him from crying like
baby. 1t was triumph of mind owe
matter; but when outraged justice We
satisfied and the fire OF the teacher
wrath had burned itself out, she fell
: the floor a white, lifeless heap.
: Keep back" shouted Andy to tn
crying children as they closed in abo'
: her, "I'll lick every mothers son O. We
. into a cooked at if yeh don't set dow
an keep quiet. An see ere, ifyeh don