Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-01-10
Bob IngersOIl's "Reminiscences Of an
Early Larrus,inS.

Bob XngersOIl's "Reminiscences Of an
Early LarrupinE.
''My hther.' said he, "was as kind.
hearted man as ever lived. lido not think
| got half the wlippings that other boys
ofmy acquaintance and age did. And yet
| know that | never was whipped in my
life that ! wasn't whipped unjustly.
know IYE that I never did anything to
deserve The whfppings got. But in those
days they whipped children more than
they do now. My father whipped me be-
cause he loved me-whipped his children
to keep them out Of hell. Every real or
supposed intraction of 4 divine law must,
to accord with his views, he visited with
severe and immediate punishment.
Il remember Il circumstance which hap
pened when was about 10 years Of age.
Near our house was wagon-maker's shop.
1t was f;lvorite resort for all the small
boys of the neighborhood. Four or five
OF us were congrcgated there one morning,
when something happened which incensed
the wagon-lnaker. One or two days after
ward my father called me up and wanted
to know what had said or done at the
wagOn-shop on the occasion referred to. |
tried to remember, but could not recall
anything in particular. The fact was. |
had been busy making something or other
for myself at the time. and had not paid
any attention to what was going on. How
ever, repeated as near as | could all that
had taken place."
g is that all?' asked my father.
'-All that can remember
Z" Didn't You say so and SOP I have
forgotten what the particular charge
was.)
"'No, sir, did not
"'Don't tell me a lie, Or shall have to
punish you for that
Il stuck to it that l had not used the
language attributed to me, that l had taken
no part in the conversation and knew
nothing whatever about it. My father be-
lieved was lying to him. and came at me
with a CAD. After whipping me severely.
he asked if I would now acknowledge my
guilt | maintained that was not guilty,
and he whipped me again. This was re-
peatcd two or three times, and each time
Protested my innocence. At length, when
he asked! me again if would admit that
had lied to him, I said:
"'Ies. I'll admit it.
Greatly relieved. he exclaimed, well,
why didn't you admit it betore?'
Because it WASH true said.
"'Whit. Go you sui deny
s.And he came at Inc again.
Il took fills beating. which was seyerer
than the Others, when he asked me
again if would now acknowledge my wick
edness. Iagain replied:
"'Yes. I'll acknowledge ANYTHING Won
want me to, I'll admit that lied, that |
used the language you say l did; any
thing
"'Well, why didn't you admit it before?
why did you persist in denying it, and have
me whip you in this way?'
"'Because it wasn't true.'
"'Bccause it wasn't true?' he repeated.
Haven't you just admitted that it was
rue? What do you mean by this insane
IL said. 1 told you the truth in the first
place. don't know thing about the mat
er you charge me with. didn't do what
you say | did, but confessed it because
thought you would never quit beating me
mtil did confess. confessed to lie TO
ave myself any more beating.'
''Fully convinced Of my guilt, angered
It my obstinacy, and taking this as another
md a most appalling evidence Of moral
urpitude on my part, he seized me by the
'ollar and began on me again with the
,ad.
"-At first had cried and screamed with
'ain. had begged and entreated for mer-
y in vain. Then got stubborn and des-
'erate. felt that my punishment was un-
I,st, that was being outraged; and made |
p my mind that | would die right there
eforc [ would utter another groan or an
wcr another question. l would neither
peak nor plead. When my father paused
he next time in his flagellations and asked |
ne if would admit my fault and my sor-
ow for it, said:
Yes, I'll admit anything you please,
ut it isn't so. told you the truth in the
rst place. and won't contradict yor again
you kill me-
"This conduct seemed to my father so
tterly depraved that he continued whip
ing me until he was forced to stop from
leer exhaustion.
''Cruelly bruised in body and spirit, l
lrunk away out of sight and got over it
J best l could.
''lt must have been two years after
lat in a conversation with my father
this matter. one of the
oys, little sneak by the name of
orser confessed that he had used the Ian
uage attributed to me, and that, in point
fact, had taken no part in the CONVEX
tlon, anil had been busy with some affair
myown at the time and in his opinion /,
I'd not even heard word of it.
My father felt very badly about it, and ,
led to speak of the matter with me. But
would not hear anythir e about it-I ney- |
could bear to-never did. And though ,
loved my father dearly, and never consci- !
lsly did thing in the world to hurt hi, :
on the contrary, | did !
eryihinS in my power to prove my af- +
,tion for him do not think ever fully l.
rgave him for that whipping, or that | h
er loved him quite as well as l might 6
We loved him, if it had never occurred.
nd yeti know that he sincerely believed v
at he was whipping me for my own v
.od.'
:,
Cool old Uucle Jabez said one cold
Drning, as he WAS hunting for the match :,
"When | die l hope I'll go where l =
mt have to make the fire every MORN .
r ~ sst naa1n-f