Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1907-05-16
Written for the Register.
NOTES BY OBSERVER.


seeker, an old Shepherdstown boy
now living in Colorado, who in re-
hitting his subscription said "Fell
Observer to keep it up-he strikes a
tender chord with his articles of the
long ago.
When Observer read this he re-
marked that he could write couple
of columns about "Bub" Keesecker
and his associates some thirty-fve or
forty years ago. There were many
exciting incidents in school life at the
little red school house on the corner
of Princess and New streets. Mr..
George Byers was the venerable
teacher, and though the boys called
him Beezy" when he was not near
enough to hear them, they really had
great fondness and respect for him.
On one occasion Mr.. Byers found it
necessary to administer good thrash
ing to Bub Keeseckei and Will Sny.
der, using for that purpose sort OF
cato -nine.tails that he always Kept
on his desk-a hickory handle to
which were attached four or FIVE thin
leather straps. Of couisa, the boys
"hadn't done nJthin'," and they didn't
propose to let "Beezy" Byers whip
them-great, big fellows eight or
nine years old. After bordering over
the matter, they concluded to assas.
sinate Mr.. Byers. They hated to
kill him, but nothing would induce
them to forego their revenge. They
confded their plot to some of the
other fellows, who were awestruck at
the desperate deed determined upon
by Dub and "Tibe. The secret
was revealed to fond parents Of the
would.be assassins, who were not as
much alarmed as they should have
been, and parental advice was to the
effect that it would be wise not to in.
flict death-it was perhaps tribe ex-
treme. But, mol Die he must !
He had thrashed them and now he
must pay the penalty. That very
night was set for the assassination.
"Bub" had a slingshot that would
send Missile with deadly effect, and
"Tibe" had a sword. In addition,
they had pile of stones of conven-
lent size for throwing.
They would waylay him at Bowen's
alley. As darkness came on, they
began to feel triAe softer in heart,
but neither would reveal his feelings
to the other. When it drew near the
time for the dark deed, "Keesy"
wanted "Tibe" to strike the first blow
stab him with the sword-while
"Tibe" was equally earnest in advo-
eating that "KeesY" should begin by
hitting the victim in the head with a
stone, and thus render him insensible.
AS they argued it grew darker and
spookier in the alley and the courage
began to ooze from the youthful des-
peradoes, until they finally made
simultaneous break for home on "Frog
Island" and in very few moments
they had said their prayers and were
snugly tucked in bed by loving moth
ers, no stain of blood upon their inno-
cent souls. Mr.. Byers never knew
how close he was to humiliation, and
lived to ripe old age, dying at last
peacefully in his bed, sincerely mourn
ed by his old pupils and forgiven of
his transgressions.
What memories cluster around that
old red sehool.house Observer re-
calls the pride with which he read
that first intricate sentence in the
primer: "Can-Ann.see-the.cat2 Ann
can-see-the-cat." And through all
these years there still remains the
morning prayer of good Mr.. Byers.
There was one sentence he never
omitted: Grant, Heavenly Father,
that we may be kept this day without
SIM" Who shall say that that prayer
was in vain2 1t may have stayed
come foot on the brink of a dreadful
danger. While Mr.. Byers was ear.
rest and feryent in prayer, he US
ually prayed with one eye open. 1t
was necessary to do this if order was
to be preserved. On one occasion he
saw boy misbehaving, and without
falterlng in his petition or missing a
word he walked to the luckless youth,
seized him firmly by the ear ana
marched him to the teachers desk,
calmly praying all the while.
Mr.. Byers had the faculty of max
ing the punishment fit the crime. 1t
was against the rules to throw snow
balls during school hours. One VIM
tef's day Observer and another boy