Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-04-28
From the Youths Companion.
UNCLE SMILEY'S BOYS.
BY rours.u .,cor,

whats the matter, Bob? ?" asked th
kind OLD gentleman, as my brother cam
IN, looking both angry and ashamed.
Got whipped at school, and don't lik
it, growled Bob, rubbing his right hani
the palm of which was still red, and tinc
ling. ''N' '-"s
I'm sorry, but guess you deserved it
said Uncle, soberly.
"Dont care if did; it's mean shame
ought not to be allowed" answered Boil
Indignantly. 81 =.
81 don't like it either, and when kep
school never tried it but once"
'Tell about that, uncle; l like to hea
little. ~
wen, was a young man, and took
country school to Legin with. 1t was win
ter time, and good many big bows came
You know I'm mild man, naturally.
was very mild then, and the bows thouoh
they could do as they liked with the ney
master.
II bore their tricks and disrespect a
long as could, hoping to conuuer by kind
ness, but they didn't understand that sor
OF discipline, and soon found that the or
der of the whole school would be destrovei
II did not assert my authority and sub
due these fellows"
'" 80 L made up my mind to punish the
worst boy of the set, as an example to tb,
rest. didn't like the task, and put it of
ss long as | could; but this boy soon gave
me chance which could not pass bv. anf
L whipped him.
HE was almost as large rs myself. and
resisted stoutly. so we hada regular t,issle
for when once began, L was bent on fin.
!shing the job. 1 did finish it, and the boy
went home entirely subdued. i-
''The others appeared to be deeply ina.
pressed, and treated me with more respect
after conquering the biggest and worst boy
in the school.
'It seemed to have good effect, but was
not satisfied with myself I felt ashamed
when recalled that scene, and saw myselt
fighting with the boy It wasn't dipnified
and, worse still, it wasn't kind. Some
thing must be wanting in me if couldn't
sway the lad by gentler means, but had TO
set an example of brute force and unloyely
anger.
"Well, / turned the matter over in nv
mind, and resolved to try some other way
II was called upon to punish any more OF
my .PuE Pupils; lsm. ,,.,. ,,.,. -,
and l hoped there never wouldbe any need
OF another scene. But one day two of the
boys, middle-sized, behaved very badly, so
badly that 1 could not let it pass, and de-
cided to try my new punishment.
$50 L bade all the scholars put down
their books md listen to me. The two un-
ruly lads were called up, and looking at
them as kindly and sorrowfully as felt, L
said:
"Boys, I've tried to be patient with YOU.
tried to remind you of the rules. and help
you to keep them; but you 1on't be good.
and can't let you disturb the whole school
so l must punish you. l can't bear to whip
you; 1T hurts me more than it does you. and
I've thought it might help you to remem.
Der better if you feruled me, instead of nay
feruling you
"There was dead silence as I paused.
then stir of excitement all through the
room. The girls looked halfscared. half
indignant, for they all loved me and did
their best to be good. Most of the bows
looked sober-all very much surprised, and
q few rather amused.
'Bill, the other culprit, laughed as if he
thought it would be q good joke to whip
the master. Charley, the younger, a boy
who was naughty from thoughtlessness.
more than from love of evil, looked much
,and seemed covered with shame
at the idea.
Handing the rule to Bill, said, prayely
AS held out my hand,-
give me half-a-dozen strokes. and If il
pains you to do it to me as it does me n 40
It to you, I think you will try not to FORGET
the rule again
"Blll was poor. neglected lad who had
never had home care and love. and so was
bad because he Thought no one cared What
be did. He took he rule strnck tbrss
blows, then paused suddenly. and glanced
round the room, as sob was heard. Sew
9ral girls were CRYING, and all the bovs
looked ashamed of him. =
go on, 1 said, and he hurriedly added
shree much lighter strokes, then dropped
he rule as If It burnt him. and tbrr,st 10Th
hands into his pockets, irving to look nm
: salsd -, - - :.
Nov, Charley, said kindly. and sor.
'owfully. - ~ = =
The poor little fellow looked from NV
Redeemed palm to nv face several times bnt
couldn't do it, and throwing the rnla awsv
rom him, me caught my hand in both his.
aging, with the tears running down his
,heeks-
..Oh, sir! 1 can't hit youl Don't as, me
% deserve a whipping. and ia rather
nave two than strike you once. =" n =