The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-04-29
.ir0s From the Youths Conpa
UNCLE SHILEY'S BOYS.
BY LouIsAM .AIcorr

| - UNCLE SNlLE1'S BUYS
By LOUIsANf. ALCoTT. -f -
'tWhat's the matter, Bob2" asked the
kind old gentleman, as my brother came
in, looking both angry and ashamed.
SCOT whipped at school and / don't like
it, growled Bob, rubbing his right hand,
the palm of which was still red, and ting
ling
'.I'm sorry, but guess you deserved it, >
said Uncle, soberly. ~f
"Dont care if l did; it's mean shame;
ought not to be allowed" answered Bob,
Indignantly. ---fs
81 don't like it either, and when kept
school never tried it but once"
''Tell about that, uncle; / like to hear
your stories, said Bob, Frightening up
little. -a 80 :.
''Well, was young man, and took
country school to Iegin with. 1t was win
ter time, and good many big boys came
You know I'm a mild man, naturally. /
was very mild then, and the boys thought
they could do as they liked with the new
master. s- go
'I bore their tricks and disrespect as
long as could, hoping to conquer by kind
ness, but they didn't understand that sort
Of discipline, and soor found that the or
der of the whole school would be DESTROYED
if did not assert my authority and sub
due these fellows"
$50 made up my mind to punish the
worst boy of the set, as an example to the
rest. didn't like the task, and put it off
& long as copld; but this boy soen gave
me chance which could not pass By, and
whipped him.
''He was almost as large as myself, and
resisted stOutly, so we had a regular tussle;
for when / once began, was bent ON I'm
ishing the job. 1 did finish it, and the boy
went home entirely subdued.
The others appeared to be deeply ina
pressed, and treated me with more respect
after conquering the biggest and worst boy
in the school tl- -.> --"
at seemed to havsa good effect, but 1 was
not satisfied with myself. 1 felt ashamed
when recalled that scene, and saw mvself
fighting with the boy. It wasn't dignifed
and, worse still, it wasn't kind. Some
thing must be wanting in me if co4ldnt
sway the lad by gentler means, but had to
set an example of brute force and unloyelv
anger. --- -- --. s..z-
"Well, turned the matter over in nv
mind, and resolved to try some other way
if was called upon to punish anymore of
my pupils. ....--. ..i -..-, 4 -
''For some time they behaved very well. |
and hoped there never weuldbe any need |
OF another scene. But one day two of the |
boys, middle-sized, behaved very badly, so
badly that could not let it pass, and de- |
elded to try my new punishment
$50 bade all the scholars put down |
their books and listen to me. The two nm
ruly lads were called up, and looking at |
them as kindly and sorrowfGlly as I felt, I 1
said: .-.-.---s-------@,-
"Boys, I've tried to be patient with Won.
tried to remind you of the rules, and help /
you to keep them; but you too,lt be GOOD. i
and can't let you disturb the whole school |
so must punish you. can't bear to whip
you; it hurts me more than it does Won. and /
I've thought it might help you to remem-
Der better if you feruled me, instead of nav
feruling you ..--+ -.
There was dead silence as I paused.
then a stir of excitement all throuch the /
room. The girls looked half-seared. half
indignant, for they all loved me and did
their best to be good. Most of the bows
looked sober-al very much surprised, and
a few rather amused. ..-.. ~---.-
'.Blll, the other culprit, laughed as if he
thought it would be good Joke to whip
the master. Charley, the younger, boy
who was naughty from thoughtlessness,
more than from love Of evil, looked much
and seemed covered with shame
at the idea.
Handing therule to Bill, said, eravely
as held out my hand, =. 20
"Give me half-a-doZen strokes, and if it
pains yo9 to do it to me as it does me to do
It to you, think you will try not to forget
the rule again l'-s.s
"Blll was poor, neglected lad, who had
never had home care and love, and so was
bad because he thought no one cared what
he d1d. he took the rule, struck three
blows, thsn paused suddenly, and glanced
round the room, as sob was heard Sew
eraI girls were crying, and all the boys
looked ashamed of him.
''Go on, said, and he hurriedly added
three much lighter strokes, then dropped
the rule as If it burnt him, and thrust both
hands into his pockets, trying to look un-
Now, Charley, said kindly, and sor-
rowfully. - - ~ -, =
The poor little fellow looked from nv
Redeemed palm to nay face several times, but
couldn't do it, and throwing the rule away
rom hlm, me caught my hand in both his,
saying, with the tears running down his
.-o-L-- ~
ooh, sir can't hit you'll Don t ask me
to L deserve whipping, and I'd rather
have two than strike you once.
Good for Charley, he was a regular
trump r cried Bob. much excited.
Uncle smiled at his forgetfulness of his
own tlngllng palm, and went on:
'Well, that touched us all. of course. 1t
was Just what I wanted; and it did more
good than dozen whippiDgs" -Gt
just took both the lads by the hand and
said: -.
" My dear boys, think this is punish
ment enough, 50 let US forgive, and try to
do better, for the future. Only remember
one thing-I don't want to be nothing bur
a master to you; want to be friend to
help you, and make not only good scholars
but good and happy boys. Come, shake
hands, and promise me you will try
Il got two hearty squeezes, two muttered
'thanky sirs' and the boys went back to
their seats perfectly subdued and very pen-
tent Charley never gave me any more
trouble, and Bill tried his very best. 1
knew how much he had to fight against, so
did my best to make things easy for him,
and interested the scholars in him by tell
ing them how rich they were compared to
him, and how much they could do for the
poor fellow. 49,
"They all had kind hearts, and all lent a
hand, to Bills great surprise and gratitude,
and by spling he was different boy"