Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1867-05-25

cracked voice. Jim was a sad fellow, and
one would think from the number of whip
pings he had received must have led but a
'"d life Of it. 1t appeared, however, that he
had accommodated himself to bis situation.
and that he lived amid bis mul,ifarious flag
e'ations almost unhurt, like sa'amander IN
the fire. He had been literally whipped
through life, and had become hardened to it,
soul and body, as q camel's knees are to the
sand aud though he screamed and kicked
from mere habit, you might sec him two
minutes after ono of these skin .faying ope-
rations with a smile OF unclouded comfort
on bis face, Or careless mirth, eating a piece
at bread aud butter, or playing marbles, or
""mdie tie peg With the first scaramouch he
he met He had been Injured, poor fellow,
to all .the forms and varieties of beating
Now It was y sudden whack un the ear, now
dozen slaps on the palm wi h fiat ruler,
now smart rap on the knuckles, now
cuff, nuw kick. These we're mere child's
| play to those regular executions which varied
the mon"to"y Of every three or four days
when "c.a, and vest off-.tand erect, sir T.
aud the birch was laid on tin the arm that
welded it paused from fatigue. At these
times his outcries we're wont 10 be limited
only by the quantity of his breath and the
! powtr Of his lungs; and the unfortunate boy
would shrek and roar till the neighbors,
| disturbed, would shake their heads obviously
and tell each other it was 'that Mrs. Goslipg
is licking poor little Jim" Such was the
lad sent by the over-weari d mother to Mr..
Srap-n more, If the truth must be told
to get rid Of heavy trouble, than from curi-
osi,y to See what Jim would do in a school
where they "never rhipued."
On a riving at the school, jim was let
loose among the rest of the boys to play
He got into game Of marbles, but his au-
'agonis's perceived that he cheated and
| 'urned him out. lie then took to the ton.
but the "teIlows' found that he had brought
into the a;ena great, lonE-1egged thing
that cut their little handsome tops to pieces.
No Reader that has ever been a boy need be
told that this play consist, in one t = being
spun IN a circle, while the res, are spun at
Iit-somct mes splitting the marx quite in
two. Ji.no top. with lis accurate aim, split
two or three, and The boys protested against
such unequal chances. One Of them said
i, was like the horse crring every one for
himself when he danced among the chick.
ems. By and-by he WAS taken into game
of ball ; out in five minutes round stone.
instead OF a bail, was flung with such vo-
'ence at one Of the small boys as to knock
him down and intl,c: upon him severe
Confusion, jim protested it was a mistake,
Mr Strap rca>oHed with hiu. lie begged
p4rdot. aud was forgiven.
The next morning the rope OF "ihe swing
hrot" while a porson who was swinging fell,
o the immi' ert danger of his liz, |, was
toUtii ,''at It hsi been cut 'wo-thirt's through
In the afternoon the pair of sIu1cs were
scratched to pieces with nail or knife aud
when the usher went to ring the bell for bed
that necessary instrument was no longer 10
be found.
A chain of circums.sntal evidence fixed
these things on James Costing Mr. Strap
took the boy into bis private room.
"James.'
"Sir."
Did you scratch the globe p
"No. sir
"Do you give me your word of honor?"
Yes, sir
"Do you know what an oath is ?"
"Ies, sir.'
SHOULD you be willing to swear?'
YES sir"
Mr.. Strap then said-
"My son, to be candid, do not believe
you. know you to be the author Of these
deIinquencies.
James looked up Into the mild face Of his
instructor with establishment.
"lfyou will confess the truth will for
give you. Are you not guilty
YES, sir"
II thought so. Now You have imagined
yourself here, doubtless, among enemies l
wish to show you that you are not so. We
are all Jour friends. If you do wrong, you
do SO against those who love you Is that
right?'
No, sir"
"Well, th en-, am willing to believe that
you have done these things from had habits
from want of renection-from ignorance
of the character Of the instructors. Ipardon
you. Go down among your companions.-
Be better boy for the future. l shall new
er have cause to complain of you again
Shall i?'
"No, sir"
"Go, then, nv dear child Remember
'ha. the way to be happy is to be virtuous." ."
Yes, sir
"Tha, if you intend to be respected in So
ciety, you must Begin as . boy the honorable
conduct which you mean to practice as a
man. | could have punished you for the
faults you have committed had so pleased
| wish you for my friend. Here is a piece
Of plum cake for you Go out, my dear boy
Do not forge. tha, you have done wrong,
aud that you have Teen forgiven. Do you
hear me2"
YES, SIR" said jim, with mouth cram.
med full of cake.
"Go, then ; remember love you and trust
to your generosity that you will not hereaf-
| r.