The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-08-25
UNCLE SXILEY'S BOYS.

UNCLE SXILEY'S BOYS.
"WHAT's the matter, Bob?" asked the
kind old gentleman, as ny brother came
in, looking b,th angry and ashamed
"Got whipped at school, and l don't
like it" growled Bob, rubbing his right
hand, the palm of which was still red and
tincling.
"Tm sorry, but l guess you deserved il, 3"
said uncle, sOberly.
Don't care if 1 did it'samcsn shame /;
ought not to be allowed" answered Bob,
Indignantly.
81 don't like it, either, and when kept
school | never tried it but once"
"Tell about that. uncle; | like TO hear
v""- stories" said Bob, Frightening up q
little.
~ ell, | was a young man, and | 0
q country school to begin with. It was
winter time, and a good many big boys
came. You know Pm a mild man, natu-
rally. was very mid, then, and the
boys thought they could do as they liked
with the new master.
II bore their tricks and dis-espect as
long as | could, hoping to conquer by
kindness, but they don't understand that
| sort Of d c%ipline, and l Oos found that
the order OF the whole schOol would be
destroyed, if | { did not assert my authority
and subduc these fellows.
so | made up my mind to punish the
worst boy of the set, as az example to the
rest. I didn't like the task, and put it of
rs long as ] could; but this boy Don gave
me a chsnce which | could not pass by,
and I whipped him.
"He was almos. g. large as myself, and
resisted stoutly, so we had a regular tbs
50 ar WhcH I onna hsnon I WA hent
on 1llsDlng tic job. did s.isl. -, o-l
the boy went home entirely subdued.
"The others appeared to be deeply i'm
pressed, and treated me with more respect
after cnnarering the biggest and worst
boy in school.
1T St, med to have q good effect, but |
was not satisfied with myself. [ felt
ashamed when | recalled that scene, and
saw myself fighting with the boy. Il
wasn't Gignifed, and, worse still, 1t wasn't
kind. Something must be wanting in me
if l couldn't sway the lad by g%entler
means, but had to set Al example OF brute
force and unlovely anger.
"Well, l turned the matter over in my
mind, and resolved 70 try some other way
if | was called upon TO punish any more
of my pupils.
| "For some time they behaved very
well, and hoped there never would be
any need OF another scene But one day
two Of the middling sized boys behaved
| very badly, so badly thst could not lei il
pass, and decided TO Try my new punish
ment.
$50 | babe all the scholars put down
their books and listen TO me. The two
unruly lads were called up, and looking
at them as kindly and sofrOwiully as L
felt, l said:
"tBoys, I've tried to be patient with you,
tried to remind you of the rules, and help
you To keep them; but you aoOnt be good,
and l can't let you disturb he whole
school, SO | must punish you. cant bear
TO whip you il hurts me more than 1t
does YOU. and I've thought it might help
you TO remember better If you feruled
me, instead of nay feruiing YOU
There was = dead silence IS | paused,
then a stir of excitement all thro1eh the
room. The girls looked half scared, half
indignant, for they sll loved me and did
their best II be good. Most of the boys
looked sOber--all very much surprised,
and a few rather amused
BILL, the other culprlt, laughed, as IL
he thought il would be Q good joke To
AS
whip the master. Charley, the younger,
a boy who was naughty from thougntiess
ness. more than from love of evil, locked
much distressed, and seemed covered with
shame al the idea.
"Hsnding the rule to Bill, issid, grave
ly, as L held out my hand 80.
"'Give me half-a-dOzen strokes, n II IL
pains you 10 do it To me as II does me To
90 il IL you, i think you will try not to
forget the rules again
"Biil was "A poor, neglected lad, who
had never had home care N love, and
so was bad because he thought no one
cared what he did, He tOok the rule,
S ruck three blow, and then paused sud
denly and glanced round the room, IS a
sob was heard. Several girls were cry
ing, and all The boys looked ashamed of
him.
600 on | said, and he hurriedly add
ed three much lighter strokes, then drop
ped the rule rs if it burnt HIM, and thrust
both hands into his pockets, trying To
look unconcerned.
"'Nov, CnaFlcy,' | sid, still kindly
and sOrrOwiuly.
THE poor nt,le fellow locked from my
redeemed palm ~ my face seyeral tinles'
but couldn't do it, ana throwing TIE rae
away from him, he caught my hend IN
both of his, saying, with the tears run
ming down his checks:
o"Oht sir, | can't hit youi Don't ask
me to- [ deserve a whipping, ana Id
rather have two than strike you once"
Good for Charley, be was a regular
trump cried Bob, m1cG excited.
Uncle sniied at ms torgetiuiness of his
own tingling pain, ana went n
"Well, that touched us all, of course
1t was just What L wanted; Aid il Gid
more good than a dozen whippings
81 just took both the lads by the hand
and said
"'My dear boys, | think this is punish
ment enough, SD let US forgive, and try Il
do better for the future. Only remember
one thing,-I don't want 10 be nothing
but a master to you; l wan To be a Jg7eno
tn help you, aud make not only g"oo
scholars. but good aud naDpy boys. Come,
shake hands, and prouaise me you VII
try. 49,,
II got two hearty sque, yes, Two nut
tered thsnky, sra aud the boys Wen
back 10 their seats perfectly snbdued az
very penitent. Charley never gave M