Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-06-11

from the m0nolonols routine ol study
aud recitation, was always hailed
with demonstrations Of great JOY by
the pupils,
Mr., Sloddard called Samuel John
son to his desk, and more calmly than
was his custom under such circumstan-
ces, told him to so out and bring IN
a switch, The pupils noticed that
there Sas something unuspally gentle
in the teachers manner, and II struck
Samuel Johnson very forcibly that II
was certainly very much out of the
ordinary method Of procedure for the
culprit TO be accorded the privilege Of
cutting his own switch, But he was
not the boy who would fail TO opprc-
ciate and make the best use OF his
privileges and opportunities So he
did not idly waste his time but pre-
sently returned with n very peaceful
looking switch indecd-a switch ap-
parcntly far gone in the last stages OF
ccnsumption--'hc sickcst switch!
"Now," said Mr., Stoddar1, with n
gentle compassionate intonalion'
"s,rike me-"
Samncl Johnson who had already
began to uubu,ton his own jacket,
opened his mouth wide, and the whole
school stared in spccchless amaze
n,cnt. Mr.. Stoddard calmly repeated
his order. He thought he could see the
"new set Of shatlles beginning to
work. "Somc one" he sad-and a
woman could not have spoken more
tenderly-"some one must suffer Tor
the inlraclion of the rules. | do not
punish any Of you tor the pleasure OF
seeing you suffer. do it because
Justice demands it. Some one must
be punished, and / will suffer chastise-
ment in your stead The teacher
saw "new light spring up ia Samuel
Johuson's countenance. The boy
looked at the teacher and then at hts
switch. The teacher could "see astrug
gle begin in the face Presently the
tears sprang to Samuel Johnson's eyes
and he said ina voice sutfused with
anxiety: Hadn't better 60 out
and get bigger switch ?"
The teacher told him softly that he
might do so if he wished, and Samuel
Johnson went ont and was gone ten
minutes-ten long, anxious, qniet,
wondering minutes. When he return
ed the school smiled He carried in his
hand a switch that looked like q Rus.
sian peace commissioner. He had cut
it on Usage hedge, and when he
held it where the sunlight could fall
upon it, it looked wickeder than John
7Morrssey's faro parlor. It was abou
seven feet long, and an inch and three
quarters thick at the butt, and was
timber and twisted, and had knots
and knobs clear down TO the point
The boys face shown with a bright
GLOW of conscientious satisfaction as
he balanced this switch and drew
it through bis hard, muscular hands
Mr. Stoddard stood up and foldec
his arms. Then he said, with sac
sweet look at the culprit, "Now strike
me-" The school just sat still and
held its breath.
Samuel Johnson did not act il
greedy and unseemly haste, as though
he were meanly and wicked!y glad te
have the opportunity of hitting his
dear teacher. He conducted himself
like boy who has painful duty tt
perform, but is impelled by conscien
tious motives to perform it thoroughly
He pulled off his jacket; he'rolled "
his sleeves; he spat on his hands anc
took o-handed grasp on his switci
he changed the position ofhis feet t'
get better brace. Then he drew
long, deep breath, raised his arms, ant
the switch just shrieked through the
air like a wild, mad, living thing.
Old Mr.. Hargi
the senior director, who lived only
mile and half away from the school
house, says he was out in his fell
blowing, and when Mr. stoddard le
off his first yell the old mans first i'm
preston was that the school-house hat
been struck by lightning. The clea
sky however dlsproved this theory
and the next time the teacher shouted
the director was convinced that
steamboat had gone. astray aud wa
! whistling for landing somewhere VI
the creek. While he was trying t
hold his terrified horses, another vol
ley of sound came sweeping over tn
. land like a vocal cyclone, and old Mr.
Nosengale, who had been deaf TO