The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1917-08-16
CHAPTER n.

Soldier, lawyer or seho0lteaehsr7"
loo, studying and working-and
ID lighting sometimes-untn he was
little Johnny no more, Johnny
Pershing 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 a fam
lily conference resulted In the sending
OF him to the normal school at Kinks
vile, 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 1t to boyhood
friends, and it 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 KIrksviIle, @Pve
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.
l did want to be a soldier, but don't
believe theren ever be another big
war, and / don't want to be a soldier
all my life unless I can see active
service"
Soldier OF not, John was to see a
lively bit OF fighting before he had been
a schoolmaster very long.
Billy said he one day to one Of his
bigger pupils. did you study your
spelling Iessong' mo, and 1 amt ago
in to- was the sullen reply Of the big
boy. The entire class looked up with
sudden, keen interest Billy had sal
lowed before them all at recess that
day that be was tired Of Johnny
bullyin'" and be was ~go-
In to show him that a teacher isn't
the whole school anyway"
why notY' asked the teacher
quietly.
cause / didn't feel like IT," was
Bnly's impudent reply.
You'll stay after school and study
ty' The words OF judgment came with
! snap from John Pershing's square
avs.
Won't. neitherF' said Billy. And in
moment, as the teacher reached for |
lis collar this was long before the
lays Of moral suasion'), there was a
lively mixup in the country school; but, 1
Il course, the teacher won, and the
thoroughly thrashed and cowed Billy
tayed in.
Next day the school had a visitor.
lie was BiIly's father. and every hair
a his red side wbiskers bristled with
niger as he drove up to the school
rom his mouth came a stream Of
urses on Johnny Pershing He'd
how him whether he could lick his
oy or not. In his hand was a big
rmy revolver. It looked pretty Sc
Ious for Johnny Pershing. The young
elbow did not scare In a quiet, even
,ne he said to the angry farmer:
sect or your horse, put up your gun,
Ike of your coat and fight like
lanr
With all his buster, the man was not
coward. He accepted Johns invita-
on, and there was the finest scrap
rer seen in that part Of Missouri
ohn was then only lad Of seventeen
eighteen, but he whipped the grown
an to a FRAGILE.
John" said Mr. Pershing to his son
ie day not long after this fight, Mr..
urroughs Is going to appoint a young
an from this congressional district to
lest Point. You've always had a
,rt Of idea that you wanted to be-
'Idier. Why don't you try for the
'TII do 1t, father" said John. Il am
ire / can pass the examinations II
r. Burroughs will give me permission
try. I'll go and see him today"
So "Towhead" Johnny Pershing went '
call on Congressman Burroughs and ,
'tained his permission to enter the a
animation for the great, wonderful '