The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-05-02
Mr.. Buffers Defender.

A tramp who had made himself bed
of hay in the Happy Hollow school
house was responsible for the fire that
burned the house to the ground on the
Saturday night before the school was
to have opened on Monday 1t was sup
posed that a spark from the pipe of the
tramp had ignited the hay. and in a
short time the house was in ashes.
| There was no money with which to
build new school house, and it was
at first thought that the district would
not have any school that winter Avery
Sharp lived within a short distance of
the school house site. He had just COM
pleted a barn larger than he would
need that winter. and he offered the
use of a part Of the barn for a school
room for the fall and winter terms of
/ the school. The offer was accepted by
the school board. and on the Monday
after the fire a number of the men in
the district went to Avery's house to get
the barn ready for school. A room
about twenty feet square was parti-
toned off, rude seats and desks were
made Of unplained pine boards, a very
large stove, bought in the town six
miles distant was set up in the middle
of the room, three windows were set in
occupancy by the school.
This hastily imrrovised school room
was quite as comfortable and much
cleaner than the old school house had
been The novelty of going to school
In a barn pleased the children. and we
were all in a good humor when the
school took up" rs we called it. tbs
next Wednesday,
IF ST Barton and jerry Dunn, and
the other big boys would only behave
themselves when they start in we can
have a lovely school this winter" said
Lucy Drewe to Mamie Ross at recess
time on the first day of the school in
the harm.
"1es. if they only behave them
selves. 1t provokes me to see the way
those rowdies act"
Don't it. though replied Lucy. Il
wish that we would some time get
teacher who would and could sail in and
give that 81 Barton the best thrashing
a boy ever got in his life. He is the
leader and if he could be made to be-
have himself the teacher could probably
get along NTH the other boys.
But" said Mamie, in lower tone,
as she glanced toward the school house,
you can see for yourself that Mr.. But
Ter cannot make 81 Barton behave him.
self if ST takes a notion.
The teacher whipped off his coat and
pushed back his sleeves. He knew that
he was no match physically for the
bully before him, but ne was not to be
intinlidated on that account. His voice
was perfectly steady, as he said:
Il give you warning, 81 Barton, that
Won will be sorry for thisi'
..Aw. please don't lick me, teacher.
said ST. affecting a whine that made
some of the boys laugh
.'Silencei" commanded the teacher IN
a voice that caused even ST to wonder
a little.
things have got kind o. dull in this
school and 1 propose to liven them up,
said ST. ''Then 1 have come to the con-
olusion that you amt just the person
want for teacher of the school. | want
somebody that there'd be some glory
IN me licxin' once in awhile, and there
won't be any glory in licking such a
sissy as YOU. La, / could do you up
viii one hand tied behind me. Whoa,
there Emmy"
The mule had pulled back again ana
81 gave the animal a cuff on the head
with his palm. >.
81 knew that there would be no in
reference on the part of Abner Sharp.
for Avery and his wife had gone TO