THE SLIM TEACHER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1043, 8 April 1882, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE SLIM TEACHER.

lIOW HK MANAGED THBSCHOOL AT OHANBEHRY GULOII, "Mister, no doubt you have all the learnin' that's required in a school teacher, but it wants moro than learnin' to make a man able to teach a school in Cranberry Gulch, You'll soon find that out if you try, Wo've had three who tried it on* One lays there in the graveyard; another lost his eye; the last one opened school and left before noontime, for. the benefit of his health, He hasn't been back since. Now you're a slender build, and all your learnin' will only mako it worse, for all our young folks are roughs, and don't stand no nonsense." This was what one of the trustees of the district said to my friend Harry Mote, when lie applied for the vacant post of teacher. " Let me try. I know lam slender, but I am tough and have strong will," said Harry, "Jest as you like. There's the schoolhouse, and I'll lave the notice given if yon want it done," said the trustee. "I do," said Harry, "and I'll open next Monday at 9 a.m." ■■ The notice was given, and there was a good deal of oxcitcment in the gulch and along tho Yuba flots. More than fifty young people of both sexes made an excuse to drop into the tavern to get a sight at the follow who thought ho could keep school in that district, and many a contemptuous glance fell on the slender foril and youthful face of the would-be teacher. ' Eight o'clock on Monday morning came, and Harry Floto wont down the schoolhouse with a key in. one hand, and a valise in the ]

other. ' "Ready to slope, if he.finds we're too much for him," said a cross-eyed, broadshouldered fellow of 18. The school was unlocked, and tho new teacher went to his desk. Some of the folks went to see what ho was going to do, though school was not called, , Harry opened his. valise and took out a large belt, Then, after buckling it around his waist, he put three Colt's navy revolvers there, each six barrels, and a bowie knife eighteen inches in the blade; " Thunder I lie means business I" muttered the cross-eyed chap, The new teacher now took out a square card about four, inches each way, walked to the other end of the sclioolhouse, aud tacked it up against tho wall, Returning to his desk lie drew a revolver from his belt, and, quick as thought, sent ball after ball into tlio 'card, till there were six balls in a spot not much larger than a dollar. By this, time tho schoolhouse was half full of large boys and girls.. The little ones were afraid to come in, Then the teacher walked half way down the room with a bowie knife in his haud, and

threw it with ao true a hand that it stuck,\ quivering, in tho centre 1 of the card. Ha left it there, aiid quietly put two more of the'samfl'kind'in'his belt and re-loaded hia yet smoking pistol y ~ r ,,, ' " Ring ' the bell j Tani about to open sohool," •• - . ... -

He spoke to the cross-eyed boy, the bully ;of.the crowd, and the boy rang the bell. : , " The echolnra will-take their seats;; I open sohooLwith a prayer," he said, sternly, five,minutes later,, yi •The; scholars, sat down eilently,, almost breathless. After the prayer,the teacher! cooked a revolver and walked down on the f100r,.-'. : . .

• "We will arrange the-classes," he said.. "All who can read, write, and spell will rise; of them we will form the first class." .

Only six got up. He escorted them to the upper seats, and then began to examine,the rest; A whispor was heard behind him.; In a'second he wheeled, revolver in hand—. "No whispering allowed here,".he thundered, and for an instant his revolver lay on a level with the cross-eyed boy's head. . "I'll not' do so; any more," gasped -the bully. - "See j'ou do not. : I never give a.second warning," said the teacher, and the revolver fell. - i, ,

It took two hours to organise the classes, but when done they were all organised.

.Then cam'o reoess. The teacher went out, too, for the room was crowded and hot.A hawk was'circling overhead, high in the air. Tho teacher drciv his revolver, and the next second the hawk came tumbling down among the wondering scholars. From that day on Harry lept the school for two years in Cranberry Gulch; his salary doubled after the first quarter, and his pupils learned to love as : well as; respect hiuvand the revolvers were out of sight within a month. They had found a man at last who could keep school. This is a fact.