Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-09-03
A Lesson in
Deviltry
BY j. NEWELL COTTON
(OOpyrIght, lSOs. By Daily Story Pub. CO.,

able. Every teacher had been forced
out BY a few large boys led by Lemuel
Green, thssviilSge blacksmith's son.
was q member Of the school committee
and IN the Interest Of the school and
community was anxious to secure a
teacher who could control the school
Teachers of al kinds fought shy OF the
school. While 1 was still perplexed over
the situation friend of Newbury came
up and in discussing the situation said:
I'VE have got just the man for you
down our way, young DR.. Smith. II
anybody can teach that school Smith
can. You had better come down and see
him"
1 acted on his suggestion and took a
trip to Newbury and had look at
young Smith. He was keen looking
young man just finishing his first med
ical lectures and little short of cash.
He was of medium height, compactly
built. had a keen commanding eye, a
firm chin and resolute mouth. /
thought to myself II you can back up
your looks you are my man.
He told me he had made plans to go
to Cleveland, o., to take his second
course Of medical lectures, bat If we
were willing to pay him SIS per month,
with regu.ar board, and II the people
would back him up in whatever policy
he undertook to pursue, he would come.
I liked the way he talked and stated my
approval to the other members of the
committee. The result was we engaged
him. The rest of this story l give In
the doctors own words as he told 1t to
me.
"I had heard of the tough school at
Hancock long before was engaged and
knew had got tough proposition on
nv hands. But this fact only strength
ened nv determination. l had hired out
To teach that school and intended to
do Il I had not been long In Hancock
before I heard the rumor noised about
that I would not last long. Lemuel
Green. Sr., offered to bet $40 l would
not last two days. sized up the situa-
ton. but said nothing.
cat last the momentous morning ar
rived. The scholars appeared in twos
and threes and was accorded the usual
minute inspection given a new teacher.
promntly at nine o'clock l called the
school to order and faced mixed COL
lection of As faces. On the back seat OF
the boys side were six boys, nearly all
of them as large as myself and nearly
as old saw at glance that here was
where the trouble lay, the key to the
sitstion. prepared some slips of pa
nor and distributed them among the
older pupils for them to write thereon
their names, ages and the studies they
evnected to take. Then passed among
the smaller ones for the same purpose.
"While was thus engaged l noticed
that one of the large boys sat with his
head resting on his hands, closely re-
gardipg me with open contempt, and
having. no attention to his slip. fin
ished with the others, then came to him.
Noting he had not touched the slip, l
said. somewhat sharply: What's your
name, young man.
LEM GrsSa. was the brief reply,
delivered With a crawling, insulting
leer.
"'Well. Lemuel,' l said, ignoring the
insulting tone, do you intend to study
anything?
eyes, he assented, in contemptu-
ous. sneering tone. "I'm going to study
deviltry.
Ever had any lessons?' calmly re-
piled, my anger rising.
"A few on my own hook he replied
with grin.
"'Well,' l said, you will understand 1t
better after few lessons propose to
give you
81 saw then and there my fight had
come. l had got to conquer this young
giant or my days were numbered in
Hancock. I turned on my heel and
walked back to my desk doing some
hard thinking. Then turned and faced
the school. One glance at their faces
told me was the only one on nay side.
In a firm, even voice, I said: I will
now open the school by giving. Lemuel
Green his first Lesson In deYiltry!' Lem
uel. come forward. An expectant grin
was on every face and .subdued whis-
per ran around the room.
with a grin Of confidence and see
how-I-wilI-do-him swagger, he saun-
tered out to my desk.
Hold ou4gour hand, sir!' COM
manded. HSpromptly complied. l
reached out my hand as if to take his,
the while watching him closely. he
dkd what 1 expected. When l reached
out my hand to clasp his he drew on
and struck me. Being an expert boxer
Ii was on my guard and deity
3parried his blow and planted a
sumner on the point OF his cnlH
with my left. He vert down ike
a log. One of the other boys started
to his feet to come forward. Sit down.
siri' l roared. He did not obey Qulck
as thought I drew back my hand SUN
holding the ruler and hurled 1t at MIN.
Il struck him fairly and down he went
behind his seat In a heap. Then l
stepped to the door, lockedrit, put the
key in my pocket, drew revolver from
my pocket, laid it on my desk ana SAID:
I propose to run this school and the
hrst scholar that leaves his seat while
am giving Lemnel Green his first les
son in deviltry, will shoot Their
scared faces showed they believed me.
'By this time Lem was on his feet,
and with impotent rage he came at me