Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-02-09
Kim's Last Whipping.

There was once a wretched little Imprinted
school-house, that stood in a sand bank all
summer, and in snow bank all winter,
waiting for strong wind TO blow it over.
" Say, what will you sell that school
house for 2" asked traveller Of little boy,
who stood on one foot on the rickety door
step
" For bunch of Matches" answered the
little boy, quick as thought.
The man laughed, and rode on. The boy
was kimball Price, the rogue OF the town of
Skoodac, district number three, and the try
patience of all his teachers. He was a hand
some lad, ten years old | don't mean that
he was always ten but that was his age
when Miss Pentecost whipped him, and
that is where our story begins.
Now Miss Pentecost taught the school
that summer at district number three She
liked kim everybody liked him--but that
was no reason why he should be allowed TO
tie the girls by the hair-they wore long
braids in those days--or fire paper balls, or
eat choke-cherries, or stick pins in the
benches, to make the A Il c scholars cry
&" o r. when they were not saying their let
ters. Miss Pentecost never winked at
naughtiness and as whippings were fash
ionabe at that period, she whipped Kim
regularly three times a week. 1t was CON
sidered the most direct way of reaching the
conscience.
But Kim never could remember whip
ping more than day and half, or at the
longest, three days and Miss Pentecost be-
gan TO grow discouraged. Must Kim always
go on doing mischief, and negecting his
lessons--a boy who could learn so well if he
chose
She knew his mother-a poor widow, with
large family of children-and she was
sure Mrs. Price could not afford to send Kim
to school merely to play.
"What can | say or do to make an i'm
preston on that child ?" thought Miss PEN
tecost, one day, as she tied the strings of her
bingham logcabin under her chin and
stepped out of the school-house.
Just then she caught these words, spoken
by Kim with 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, il it amt so -
Miss Pentecost laughed all to herself, and
passed on 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 boy talk about his mother,
even if it is nonsense Kim is an affection
ate little fellow, and | shouldn't wonder if
he is pretty good son. Anyway, I've got
an idea, and mean to try it, and see how it
will work"
Next day was the time for one Of Kim's
regular whippings. lie had been more try
ing than usual, and Miss Pentecost sent Bob
Whiting out for a remarkably strong birch
stick which could express her feeling better
Il .al,
She spent much time in trimming the new
twig, though she was careful to leave few
little knots on it, which would give empha-
sis to the blows.
don't think | ever saw a better birch
stick" said she, looking at it admiringly
"Now, Kimball, you may take off your
jacket"
lie was so used to taking it off, that he
always kept half the buttons unfastened, to
save time.
Miss Pentecost gave him an unusual 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 ga square thing" but at
night, as he.was running out of the school
house, whistlng, Miss Pentecost called him
up TO her desk.
Well, Kimball, I've whipped you hard
to-day-very hard"
Kim thought there was no doubt about
that.
Yes'm," responded he, meekly.
Look at this stick Didn't take pains
to get good one ?"
Yesm," said kim; but he did not gaze
at the stick as If he loved it.
" Do you know, Kimball it's very hard
work TO whip you ? 1t lanes my arm, and
it hurts my feelings. Really, can't afford
to do it, day after day, for nothing"
Kim looked up in surprise This was a
new view of the matter.
@ You understand me, Kimball | can't
afford to do it for nothing any more. There
is 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 amaze
ment, his eyes as black and shining as water
melon seeds
Well, Kimball, | think it's worth twenty
five cents and don't want you to come TO
school tomorrow without bringing me the
money. Tell your mother about it, and tell
her II you don't bring it, shall have to send
you home for it. Goodnight, Kimball, and
remember what | say"
Yes'm."
"What did she do to you this time 2"
asked Joe Fuller, who had been waiting out
side.
90, go long, now she didn't do any.
thing TO me-" replied Kim, sheepishly.
Come, let's run down to the pond, and
catch bloodsuckers."
Next morning, about school-time, Kim
stole along into the shed kitchen, and hung
about the cheose-tub, where his mother was
cutting curd.
"Why don't you start for school? You'll
be late, my SON"
1.-THE mistress whipped me yesterday"
muttered Kim, helping himself to lump of
curd.
Did she Well, I've no doubt you de-
served it. There, run along, and see if you
can't be better boy to-day"
But, mother -"
"Well, what ?"
"Why, you see, the mistress"
well, speak 1t out, sonny I'm in a
hurry"
"Why, you see mother, the mistress wants
twenty-five cents for whipping me p
twenty-five cents p
She says it famed her arm" said Kim
hanging his head. She says she can't do it
for nothing, and If | don't bring it, she'll
have to send me home"
WIS iioc ioohtu uONn AT the curly nalreu
culprit with twinkle Of fun in her eyes
she had black eyes, very much like Kinls.
Well, sonny 60 get my purse out of the
end cupboard. If am poor, it shant be
said don't do all can for my children's
education
Kim brought the purse-a red worsted one.
with steel rings
Yes here is silver quarter, with the
pillars on II. We are out of gingerbread,
and was going to spend it for molasses but
never mind. | don't blame Miss Pentecost.
| know it was hard work to whip you, and
she deserves the money"
THANK you, Kimball," said Miss Pente-
cost, in a low voice, when she received the
bright new quarter Didn't your mother
think deserved it,"
"Yes'm," replied the boy, his chin sinking
into the hollow place in his neck.
81 thought she would. WE'LL now, my
dear, | shall carry this quarter home, and
keep it and the next time whip you, YOU
must bring me another. Do you under.
stand 2"
Kim scowled down at his little bare toes.
and tried TO stick them into crack in the
floor. Why this was getting serious
Would the woman keep on crying Quarters"
forever 1t was perfectly ruinous. His
mother had had all she could do to support
the family before but what uould become
| of them now