Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-02-25
KIM'S LAST WHIPPING.

KIEE's LAST WHIPPING.
There was once wrctched little
unpainted school house that stood il
a sand bank all summer, and in {
snow-bank all winter, waiting for q
strong north wind to blow it over.
"Say, what will you sell that school
house for?' asked a traveller of a lit
tie boy, who stood on one foot on &
rickety doorstep:
"For a bunch of Matches" an
swered the little boy as quick as
thought
The man laughed and rode away
The boy was Kimball Price, the
rogue Of the town of Skookac district
number three, and the trypatlence OF
all his teachers. He was hand
some lad, ten years old. l do not
mean that he was always ten; but
that was his age when Miss Pente
cost whipped him, and that is where
our story begins.
Now, Miss Pentecost taught the
school that summer at district mum.
Der three. She liked Kim-every.
body liked him; but that was no rea.
son why he should be allowed to tie
girls together by the hair-they wore
long braids in those days-or fire
paper-balls, or eat choke-cherries, OIL
/ stick pins in the benches to make the
a B c scholars cry 90" when they
were not saying their letters. Miss
Pentecost never winked at their
Nightmares; and as whippines were
fashionable at that period, she whip
ped Kim regularly three times aweek.
1t was considered the most direct
way OF reaching the conscience
But Kim never could remember a
whipping more than a day and half
Or at the longest three days, and Miss
Pentecost began to grow discourag-
ed. Must Kim always go on doing
mischief, and neglecting his lessons
"A boy who could learn so well if
he chose?
| She knew his mother-a poor wild
ow, with a large family of children
and she was sure Mrs. Price could
not afford to send Kim to school
merely to play,
"EVhat can | say or do to make an
impression on that child?" thought
Miss Pentecost, one day, as she tied
the strings OF her gingham clog cab
IN" under her chin, and stepped out
Of the school house.
Just then she caught the words,
spoken by Kim in great energy, and
flourish of fists.
"Tell you it's true, Bob Whiting,
for mother said so; and if mother
says It's so, it's so, if it amt SOP
Miss Pentecost laughed all to her
self, and passed through the sand
bank into the dusty road. When
she had gone as far as the big willow
she paused little and laughed again.
81 like to hear a boy talk so about
his mother, even if it is nonsense
Kim is an atfectionate little fellow,
and | shouldn't wonder If he is a
pretty good son. Anyway, I've got
an idea, and I mean to try it, and see
how it will work.
Next day was the time for one of
Kim's regular whlppings. He had
been more trying than usual, and
Miss Pentecost sent Bob Whiting
out for q remarkable strong birch
stick, which could express her feel
ings better than the old one, which
stood in the corner. She spent some
time in trimming the new twig,
though she was careful to leave a
few little knots on it, which would
give emphasis to the blows.
II don't think / ever saw better
birch stick" said she looking at it
admiringly.
"Now, Kimball, you may take off
your jacket
He was so used to taking it off
that he always kept half the buttons
unfastened to save time.
Miss Pentecost gave him an I'M
usually hard whipping, and after it he
cried till he could hardly see out of
his eyes. He thought that was
enough, and it was what the boys call
a "square one" but at night, as he
was running out of the school house,
whistling, Miss Pcntecost called him
up to her desk.
"Well, Kimball, I've whipped you
hard today--very hard"
Kim thought there was no doubt
about that.
"Yes'm," responded he, meekly.
'Iook at this stick. Didn't | take
pains to get good one?"
"Yes'm," said Kim, but he did not
gaze at the stick as if he loved it.
"Do you know, Klmball, it's very
hard work to whip you? 1t lanes
my arm, and it hurts my feelings
Really, | can afford to do it for
nothing"
Kim looked up in surprise. This
was new view of the matter.
"You understand me Kimball? |
can't afford to do it for nothing any
more. There's not another boy in
school I've whipped so often as you;
and this time | must be paid for it.
Don't you think that's fair?"
"Yes'm,' said Kim, in intense
amazemeut, his eyes as black aud