The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-08-09
CHAPTER n.
Soldier, Lawyer or Sehoolteaehsr7"

W. sluus iHs anu Woihlus anu
| y fighting sometimes-until he was
little Johnny" no more, Johnny
Pershlng grew and grew until he out
grew the little village school in La
clede. The little store paid well
enough to warrant the expenditure Of
money on Johns education, and fam
lily conference resulted In the sending
of him to the normal school at Kinks
yille one Of the noted schools In that
part of Missouri Throughout the
years which he spent there-years Of
happiness, with plenty Of hard work
at his books and plenty Of outdoor rec
reation-the idea Of becoming a law
yer persisted In the lads mind. Many
time he spoke Of it to boyhood
friends, and 1t seemed that he would
surely become an attorney after pass
ing through the stage through which
so many Of our American country bred
lawyers have passed. that Of school
teacher.
Mother" said he one day on one Of
his visits home from Kirksville, 1--WE
been appointed teacher at Prairie
Mound. feel as though ought to do
something now to help dad and you.
So I'm going TO teach school and try to
earn enough so that / can study law.
| did want to be soldier, but | don't
believe there'll ever be another big
war, and don't want to be soldier
all my life unless l can see active
service"
Soldier or not. John was to see
lively bit of fighting before he had been
schoolmaster very long.
Billy" said he one day to one of his
bigger pupils, did you study your
spelling lesson?" mo, and l amt ago
in to- was the sullen reply Of the big
boy The entire class looked up with
sudden keen interest. Billy had al
lowed" before them all at recess that
day that he was tired of johnny
Pershing's bullyin'" and he was go
in to show him that teacher isn't
the whole school anyway
why not?" asked the teacher
quietly.
"Cause didn't feel like It," was
Billys impudent reply.
"Youll stay after school and study !
it, The words of judgment came with |
a snap from John Pershing's square
jaws,
Wont. neither said Billy. And in
a moment, as the teacher reached for
his collar (this was long before the
days OF moral suasion'), there was
lively mixup In the country school; but,
Of course, the teacher won. and the
thrashed and cowed Billy
stayed in.
Next day the school had visitor.
He was Billy's father, and every hair
In his red side whiskers bristled with
anger as he drove up to the school
From his mouth came stream OF
curses on Johnny Pershing He'd
show him whether he could lick his
boy or not. In his hand was big
army revolver. II looked pretty Sc
-ious for Johnny Pershing. The young
fellow did not scare. In a quiet, even
one he said TO the angry farmer:
Get Off your horse, put up your gun.
AXE off your coat and fight like
man,
With all his buster, the man was not
| coward. He accepted Johns invita-
ion, and there was the finest scrap
yer seen In that part of Missouri
iohn was then only lad OF seventeen
n eighteen, but he whipped the grown
nan 10 fraZzle.
John" said Mr.. Pershing to his son
ne day not long after this fight, "Mr.
burroughs il going TO appoint a young 4
nan from this congressional district 10
Vest Point. You've always had a
ort OF idea that you wanted to be a
older. Why don't you try for the
ppointment;
"I'll do IL. father" said John. Il am
ure ! can pass the examinations n
ir. Burroughs will give me permission
o try. Ill 20 and see him today"
So 'Towhesd" Johnny Pershing went
D call on Congressman Burroughs and
btained bis permission to enter the
for the great. wonderful