New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-08-20

Mr.. Stoddard called Samuel John
son up to his desk, and more calmly
than was his custom under such cir
cumstances, told him to go out and
bring in . switch. The pupils noticed
there was something unusually gentle
in the teachers manner, and It struck
Samuel johnson very forcibly that it
was certainly very much out Of the or
binary 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 appre-
ciate and make the best use of his priv
ileges and opportunities. So he did
not idly waste his time, but presently
returned with very peaceful ooking
switch indeed "a switch apparently far
gone in,the last stages of consumption
the sickest switch.
Now" said Mr.. Stoddard, with
gentle, compassionate information,
s.strike me- .
Samuel Johnson, who had already
begun to unbutton his own jacket,
ope; d his mouth wide. and the whole
school stared in speechless amazement.
Mr.. Stoddard calmly repeated his order.
He thought he could see the new set
OF shuttles beginning t0w0rk.' - "Some
One," he said-and 9 woman could not
have spoken more tenderly-s.s some
one must suffer for the infraction of the
rules. I do not punish any of you for
any pleasure it gives me to see you
suffer. do it because justice demands
it. Some one must be punished, and
will suffer chastisement in your stead.''
The teacher saw IS new light spring up''
in Samuel Johnson g countenance. The
boy looked at his teacher and then at
his switch. The teacher could "see
struggle begin in the face" Presently
the tears sprang to Samuel Johnson's
eyes, and he said, in q voice suffused
with anxiety: Hadn't better go out
and get bigger switcha'' r.. :
The teacher softly tod him he might
do SO il he wished, and Samuel johnson
went out and was gone ten minutes
ten long, anxious, quiet, wondering
minutes. When he returned the school
smiled. He carried in his hand =
switch that looked like Russian Peace
Commissioner. He had cut it out Of
an Usage hedge, and when he held i
where the sunlight could fall upon it,
1t looked wickeder than John Norris
sey's faro parlors. It was about seven
feet long, 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
shone with bright glow of conscien-
tious satisfaction as he balanced this
switch and drew it through his hard,
muscular hands.
Mr.. Stoddard stood up and folded his
arms. Then he said, with sad, sweet
look at the culprit, "Now strike me-
The school just sat still and held its
breath. 5s5sz1
Samuel johnson did not act in greedy
and unseemly haste, as though he were
meanly and wickedly glad to have the
opportunity Of hittinghis dear teacher.
He conducted himself like boy who
has q painful duty to perform, but is
impelled by conscientious motives to
perform it thoroughly. He pulled of
his jacket; he rolled up his sleeves; he
spat on his hands and took q two
handed grasp on the switch. Twice he
changed the position of his feet to get
a better brace. Then he drew q long,
deep breath. raised his arms, and the
switch just shrieked through the air
like 9 wild, mad, living thing.
Old Mr.. Hargis, the senior
Director, who lives only q mile and q
half away from the school house, SAYS
he was out in his field blowing, and
when Mr. toddard let of his first yell
the old mans first impression wasihat
the school house had been struck-b,e.
lightning. The clear sky, however,.
disproved this theory; and next time
the teacher shouted, the Director was
convinced that steamboat had gone
astray, and was whistling for a landing
somewhere up the creek. While he was
trying to hold his terrified horses, an
other volley of sound came sweeping
over the land like vocal cyclone, and
old Mr.. Nitengale, who had been deaf
twenty three years, came running over,
saying he believed they were fighting
down at the quarries. By this time
they were Joined by the rest of the
neighbors, and the excited population
went thr0nging on toward the school
house.
I In accepting Mr.. Stoddard's resigna-
ton, the Directors considerably al
lowed his pay for the full term, aud, in
q series of complimentary resolutions,
spoke of his efficiency in the highest
terms, although it TRANSFERRED that the
board was privately agreed, after all
the facts had been laid before it, that
he was too much of q "nat' ral-born
fool' to suit q practical locality. Mr..
Stoddard is not teaching anywhere this