Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-08-09
KIM'S LAST WHIPPING.

painted school house that stood in q
Sand bank all summer, and In snow
bank ali wiHter, waiting for a strong
north wind to blow it over.
''Say, what will you sell that school
house for?" asked a. traveller of little
boy who stood on one foot on rickety
door step.
''For a bunch of Matches" answered
the boy, as quick as thought.
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 o handsome
lad, ten years old. do not mean that
he vas 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 Mum
ber Three. She liked Kim-everybo.
dy liked him, but that was no reason
why he should be allowed ITO tie girls
together by the hair-they wore long
braids In those days-or fire paper balls,
or eat choke berries, or stick pins in
the benches to make the A B scholars
cry 'OhP when they were not saying
their letters. Misc Pentecost never
winked at their nightmares, and as
whippings were fashionable at that
time, she whipped Kim regularly
three times week. 1t was considered
the most direst way of reaching the
conscience. ,rtf, ls.,-st, 7r-s s
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 discouraged.
Must Kim always go on doing mis-
chief, and neglecting his lessons boy
who could learn 80 we'll If he chose?
She knew bis 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.
What can say or dc to make an
impression on that child?' thought
Miss Pentecost. one day, as she tied the
strings of her gingham log cabin un-
der her chin, and stepped out of the
scheGl house.
Just then she caught these words,
spoken by Kim, with great energy,
and flourish of fists: -
Tell you it's true, Bob Whiting, forI
my mother said SO; and il mother
says it's so, it's 30 ifit air,,t sol
Miss Pentecost laughed to herself,
and passed on through the sand bank
into the dusty road. When she had
gone as far as the big Uiilow sheA pause
ed little and laughed again. a.At
Il like to hear boy taiks that way
about his ucther, even if it lis non-
sense. Kim is an effeefionate little
fellow, and | shouldn't wonder II he isl
a pretty good SOD. Any way, have
an idea, ard 1 mean to try if, and see
how it wilfwork.'
Next day was the time for one OF
Kim's regular whippings. He had
been more trying than usual, and Miss
Pentecost sent Job Whiting for re-
markably fine birch stick, which could
express her feelings better than the old
one, which stood ia, the corner. She
spent some time in trimming the new
twig, though she was careful to leave a
few little knots on il, which would
give emphasis to the blows.
Il do not think / ever saw a better
birch stick, said she, looking at it ad
miriugiy. -F
Now. Kimball, you may take of
your jacket ~ q z
He was so used TO taking it off that
he always kept half the buttons unfast-
ened to save time.
Miss Pentecost gave him an unusu-
ally hard whipping, and after it he had
cried until he could hardly see out OF
b eyes. He thought that was enough,
and it was what the bsys called the |
square thi g,I but at night, as he
was running .at of the school house, |
whistling, Miss Pentecost followed !
him up to her desk.
well, Kimball, whipped you hard
t -day-very hard
Kim thought there was no doubt OF
'Yes'm, responded he, meekfy.
Look at this stick. Did not take /
pains to get good one?'
sYes'm,' said Kim; but he did not
gaze at the stick as if he loved 1t.
Do you know, Kimball, it's very
had to whip you? 1t lanes my arm,
and il hurts my feelings. Really,
cannot afford 10 do it day after day for
nothing
Kim looked up In surprise. This
was a new view OF the matter.
You uaderstand me Kimball? II
afford TO do it for nothing any
more. Not another boy in school have
i whipped so often as you, and this
time must be paid for it. Don't you
think that Is fair?'
sYes'm,' said Kim, in intense aulaze.
ment, Lis eyes as black and as shining
ls watermelon seeds.
iWeii, Ki,nbaIl, think it is worth
II least twenty-five cents, and I don't
want you to come to school tomorrow
without bringing me the money. Tell I
your mother about il, and tell her ii
,ou do not bring 1t ] shall have tol |
end You home for 1t. Good night
and remember what / say. ID
sYes'm9 E - 80 liz