Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-08-09
asked Joe Fuller, who had been wait

-
'Oh, go long now; she didn't do any
,hing to me- replied Kim, sheepishly.
r (ome, let's run down TO the pond and
tch bloodsuckers.'
cs Next morning, about s, hool time,
Kim stole slong into thesh kitchen,
and hung about the cheese tub, where
his mother was cutting curd.
why don't you start for schooi?
You will be late, my son.
The mistress whipped me yester-
day. muttered Kim, helping himself
to a lump Of cuId.
Did she? Well, I've no doubt you
deserved it. There, run along, AND
see IL yoa can't be a better boy to-day
But, mother
We'll, what?'
well, you see, the mistress
We'll, speak out, sonny. I'm in 8
hurry
why, ycu see, mother, the nistress
wants twenty-five cents for whipping
me-
twenty-five cents?'
She says it lanes her arm,' said
Kim, hanging his head. She says she
can't do 1t for nothing, and If don't
bring il she'll have to send me home
Mrs. Price looked at the curly-head-
ed cuiprit with twinkle Of fun in her
eyee-she had black eyes yery mnch
like Kim's.
well, sonny, go get my purse out of
the end cupboard. If l am poor, il
shan't be said I don't do all can for
nv children's education
Kim brought the purse-a red worst
ed one, with steel rings.
Yes, here is q silver quarter, with
the pillars on it. We are out OF GIN
gerbread, and was going to spsnd il
for molasses, but never mind. / don't
blame Miss Pentecost. | know 1t was
hard work to whip you, and she de-
serves the money.
THANK, you, Kimball' said Miss
Pentecost, In q low voice, when she
recefv we'd the bright new quarter.
didn't YOUR mother think i deserved
it?'
sYes'm,' replied the boy, his chin
sinking into the hollow lace in bis
neck.
i thought she would. Well. now,
nv dear, l shall carry this quarter
home, and keep it, and next time l
whip you you must bring nae another.
Do you pnderstand?'
Kim Iowled down ut 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 all she could do to support the
family before; but what would become
of them now?
sYon may take your seat added
Miss Pentecost, still in a low tone, so
that no one could hear, but with q
smile that exaspersted poor Kim. 1T
is dreadful that you will be naughty;
but, then, you see, the more whip
you the more money l shall get; and,
perhaps, before the summer is over L
shall have enough to buy a new dress ,
NO, you don't, thought Kim, shut
ting his teeth together. Catch me
letting my mother buy new dress for
youl Why, we've got to 60 without
gingerbread to-day! You don't get
another chance to whip me for one
while, ma'am-now, you see!
To avoid whipping, 1t was necessa.
ry to study, for Kim was a boy that
must be busy at something. He saw
Bob Whiting 60 to sleep, and longed
to drop tame cherry into his mouth.
He saw Joe Fuller saunteriDg down
the aisle, looking straight before him,
and it was the 'cutest chance to trip
him up, but Kim resisted both these
allurements, and fifty more, and learn,
ed his geography lesson so well that
Miss Pentecost patted him on the head
and said, That's my good boy which
would have been delightful if he could
have forgotten that gingerbread.
Next day be tried studying again
and rose to the head of his spelling
clsss.
why, / haven't had a whipping
since Tuesday, thought he, as he ran
home with the silver medal around his
neck.
After that he seemed somehow to
fall into the habit Of studying. Study
is habit, let me tell you, just as much
as playing, though suppose it is hard
er to acquire.
The little fellows will was aroused,
and that was precisely what he need
ed. In short, Kim had his last whip
ping from Miss PentecOst, or any one
else, and instead of being her most
troublesome hoy he became the best
scholar in school.
u shall not be able to buy that dress,
after all, said she, the night befOreshe
left Skoodac; but Kim, dear, l know
you are glad.'
-.Yes'n,' replied he, meeting her eye
with a smile.
And will keep the quarter to re-
member you by. Your mother says
she wishes me to-
sYes'm.'
Kimball Price is now one of the
wealfhiest and most respected men in
his native State.~es,
sAntl that man, said Squire Hatha-
Nsays the other day, Ia his Fourth-of-
July oration, was educated over here
at Skoodac, boys, ia that little black
school house, that is 90 poor and miser-
able that when 1t took fire few years
sgo II would not burn down.
Mr.. Kfmbali' Price returned from
Europe last May With his wife, and l
heard Mrs. Hathaway say-she was
once Miss Peptecost-that he thought
her last whipping made man of him.
He wanted that old quarter OF a
dollar said Mrs. Hathaway, laugh
ing, but could not bear to part with
it; so he cut it in two, and each of US
kept half
A Brave Woman and a PoltrOOn. |
49,. l