West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-03-06
THE TRAMP'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY
A NARRATIVE OF HOW HE TAUGHT
SCHOOL AND HELD HIS
CHAMPIONSHIP.


doing little winter travelling in
Tucker county two or three years
ago." when one day | came alone
to country schoolhouse just as a
man was lacking a sign on the door.
The sign read. No More School
This Winter and the man explain.
ed that the school. master had aui,
his job and couldn't handle the big
boys. There were three or four OF
them among the pupils who had
made it too hot for him.
" why don't you get another
teacher in his place l asked.
COVE would if we could find
one he replied.
"I might take the job for a
month or so until those big boys
are taught manners
"He looked me over and laughed
at the idea, but he looked me over
the secoud time and seemed to con.
slider. Finally he said
"'You don't look as trampish as
most of them, and if you had de-
cent suit of clothes on you might
pass muster. Is the world round
or fiat p
1T will be round if | take this
job, said l.
"'Who discovered America ?"
"'An old chum of mine named
Columbus
"'How many great oceans are
there p
" -Four up TO date.
What is a strait p
"'A narrow body of water con-
meeting two larger bodies
" Say mister said he as he laid
a hand on my shoulder, you are
something different from a tramp, at
least on the inside. Let me tell
you something. This school has
been busted up for three winters
by gang of big bad boys. We
don't want highfalutin teacher, but
we do want one who can keep the
school open. Are you good on the
rough and tumble p
"You might try me on
"1ll do it = said he as he grab
bed me.
''He was lusty farmer, with
springs under him, but when he had
wriggled out of the snowdrift he
held out his hand and said:
"'You are prize package, and
this school wants you. Come along
home with me.
"1 agreed TO hold down my job
for a month, and the directors
agreed to pay me SIS if / humbled
those bad boys and turned the tide.
They made up a decentish suit of
clothes for me, patted me on the
back for three or four days, and on
the next Monday morning l opened
the school. There were about 90
scholars in the district, and among
them were FIVE farmers sons from
IS to 20 years old. They were the
chaps with the big head. There
was nothing vicious about them,
but out of pure deviltry they had SET
out to get the best of all school
masters. They hadn't heard how ]
was picked up for the place, but
they were on hand prepared to make
it warm for me. There was no out
break for three days, and in that
time l had all my classes graded
and in running order. Then l saw
the FIVE big boys gather at the noon
recess for conference and realized
that trouble was at hand. When
school was called, had the class in
history up and asked the leader OF
the gang to name the great lakes.
81 don't feel like it, he impu-
IDENTIFY replied.
" Then take your seat
" Il don't have 90.
q" AT that the other four rose up
and the scrap was on. They made
rush for me, intending to carry
me outdoors and chuck me into a
snowdrift but they soon found tina,
there was a wheel loose in their
plans. / stopped there and cuffed
them up to a peak as fast as they
came, and three Of them were drag
ged outdoors and buried in the
snow. The whole thing didn't last
FIVE minutes. There was a holy
calm the rest Of TIE afternoon with
a great deal Of wondering where
came from, but as school was dis.
missed the strapPing young fellow
who acted as leader came to me
and said
" You got the best Of US in that
row but that WIS because ! hadn't