The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-01-09
WHIPPING THE SCHOOL, MASTER.

Teacher after teacher had ~endeavored
to teach the district school there. eth
erto be whipped or badgered so that
each was ready to give up before SIX
months had passed. The boys fought
or inundated the male teachers, and
annoyed tue female teachers, until, I'M
nerved and utterly broken down, they
took their departure, shaking the dust
OF the Point from their feet. The day
arrived when no teacher made applica-
ton for the vacant school, and the Hlck-
DRY Point parents were anxious and dis
turbed at the state of things.
81 don't know what we are going to
do with them boys of ourn," Deacon
Jones said to Deacon Savage. "They
amt bad boys for work, nor for play
ing, but the they get on them
school benches, with books in their
hands, the very evil one seems to get
inter EN-. All the Point boys pattern
after them, and a very bad pattern it is,
as you know, Brother Savage. They
seem ts be determined not to be in any
school, and I'm worn out furnishing
Zach. 1t don't seem to do him any
good"
"That is so, Brother Jones. I'm sorry
for it, but it's so. Didn't I punish
my Abe fur whipping young Winter,
and did that make him any better? No.
just think what he did to that last
school-ma'am-that old maid, Miss
Brown!"
Deacon Jones, if he was adeacon, had
a keen sense of the ludicrous, and he
laughed aloud. ~ declare, I can't help
It'll" he said. 1T laugh every time I
think of how that poor woman came
into my house, with her false front ali,
slnged SO you could see bald spots I'M
%derneath, and the hair behind crisped
and smelling like burnt feathers.
"'Just look at me, Mr.. Jones! she
cried. Just see the work of that mis-
able Abe Savage and your son! They
came pretty nigh burning me up, sir.
My back hair was all IN a blaze before
l knew that it was on fire. And they
just laughed, instead OF putting it out.
l demand satisfaction, sir, for the out
rager"
WELL" we did have to pay we'll for
the %frolic." Mr.. Savage answered, dole
fully. "But she was too high-tempered
and excitable to be a school-teacher
Folks that are always flying into pieces
can't manage boys, any way"
We've had all kinds of teachers,
Brother Savage. 1t isn't the teachers,
but the wickedness of the boys them
selves. Why, you know we've had
good and bad-tempered teachers, young
and old, mild and cross, and how long
did any of them stay? I'm discouraged,
and shall not try to get another teacher.
Zach may go without an education, and
I'll give him n behind q plough. If
he don't work I'll whip him, and that's
all I can do"
Most of the parents at the Point
adopted this plan. The boys were set
to work in the fields, the barns and the
stables, and kept steadily at it. They
were allowed no holidays and no recre-
%ations, and before six weeks had passed
they began to look back with regret to
their detested school-days and to wish
them back again. Even their ring
leaders did not hesitate to confess this.
II don't have a moment for any kind
of fun" grumbled Abe Savage. "Pa's
always at my heels; and when he isn't
there, mas just like q Watchdog. It's
Abe, do this or Abe, you do that,
until i fairly despise my own name.
Why, even Sunday; if I walk down the
road. I'm called back"
They're treating us in this way just
to pay us for making it uncomfortable
for the teachers" Zach SAID gloomilv.
az know it's that, though they don't say
so. But I don't care. I'm not going
back to school,"
It'd rather have the teachers" Abe
said "for if they keep this up Tn go
ing to run away. Now, if you hadn't
treated Mr.. Japp in the way you did,
he'd have been here now; and if school
is hateful, we did have Saturdays and
holidays"
II said no teacher should stay here
that couldn't lick me-" Zach cried,
frowning land I'm not going back on
my word. No mar shall scold and fer
u1a INC wbp icp.f c4ro,, rar 4lo, r -. -
l can help it. You can show the white
feather if you choose, but I reckon l
can hold my W and drive EN- away,
if all the boys do play coward"
Zachariab Jones was the leader inthe
revolt of the boys against school au-
thority. He was a stoutly- built, pow
erful lad, nearly eighteen years old, who
ruled the scholars with a rod of iron.
Hardly a boy dared to oppose him, for
he was as ready with his fists as he was
with his words.
Yet he had some rather generous i'm
pulses. He was a staunch friend, and
if he whipped the weaker boys himself,
he would allow no one else to touch
them.
In strength and boldness Abe Savage
nearly matched him, 80 there was an
offensive and defensive alliance between
the two. Zach was unprepared for
Abe's detection, and was lndignsat at
it.
IT never thought you'd be the one to
give in" he said.
did 1 say I'd give in p" Abe answer
ed, sharply. II said I'd run away, and
Ireckon it will come to that at last"
It'd as soon go to sea as ANYTHING
else, I" returned Zach. IT don't believe a
sailor has to work harder than I do.
Lets go, Abe