The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-02-02
BILL ARP.
He Comes Homo Unexpectedly at Mid
night.
From Tie atlanta Consultation.


got home away in the night, when
deep sleep falleth upon a man, and
especially woman. The doors are neve,
locked when I am at home, for Mrs. ARP
has confidence in me. She calls me her
bulwark-her tower Of strength. But
when l am gone she locks and bars the
doors and fastens the windows, and
dreams of Charley Ross and Tom Wool.
folk. She knows my football upon the
piazza, but tiptoed this time and tapped
gently at the door. "Who is that ?"
said she. "It's me-" said I; "your bull
wark-your tower" ri don't believe
it," said she; "it's some tramp-you
said you we're not coming till to morrow
night" II couldn't stay away from you
that long," said I. She lighted candle
she always keeps one at the head Of
her bed-aud before she opened the door
said, "Now, William, are you sure it's
you? l was in hopes it was Ralph. He
hasen't been home for two months nor
written line for three weeks, and I'm
afraid the poor boy is sick" (You see
I'm no kin to her, but Ralph is.) "Open
the door, if you please" said I; "it is
cold out here" She stirred around
awhile, and walked up Carl and Jessie,
and they all came running to the door
together, and we embraced and kissed
ard were happy again. When 1 am
away, Mrs. Arp says it nearly kills her
to gel up out of warm bed at daybreak
and unlock the door for Ned to come in
and make FIRE; and so I have had an
iron latch made and fastened a cord to
one end, and the cord goes through q
pulley in the ceiling over the door, and
another pulley right over the head of her
bed, and comes down to the pillow where
the angel is sleeping, and now, when
Ned knocks at the door, she don't have
to getu at all. Well, we talked and
exchanged all the news, and I learned
that the wood was getting low and the
COW wasn't doing we'll, and the milk
wouldn't turn in the churn, and some.
body had broken the peafowls leg.
"What about the school? ?" aaid I to the
children. "How do you like the new
teacher?" ooh, we like him." said
Jessie. "He is just as nice as he can be.
I believe he is as good as Mr.. Mobley
was" "How do you like him, Carl?"
said I. "Papa, he has given me two
marks already" said Carl, "and it was
just for talking little, and he says when
a boy gets ten marks he Whips him and
then rubs out the slate and begins again.
Papa, do you reckon he means it?"
"Why, of course" said I. "You know
the rules and you must not break them."
"But Mr.. Mobley let US talk little"
said he. "Well, my boy, if | vas
teacher the boys would have to conform
to my rules or quit the school. The
teachers rules are all for your good.
You don't think he just naturally wants
to whip you, do you?" "No, sir" said
he. 81 like him. He is good teacher
and treats US all alike, but I thought he
might let us whisper little sometimes
it just looks like I can't help it," And
the boy Struggled up to me in the bed
and put his arm around me like he didn't
have another friend in the wide world.
What world Of memories itawakened.
I used to get whippings at school and
they hurt-hurt awful bad-for whip.
pings in those days were in enrnest.
They meant business and reform. My
mother could tell when I had been pun
ished-tell by my subdued look, and one
time when she thought I was asleep she
uncovered me aud looked at the red
marks on my legs and she leaned over
and kissed me and I felt a tear drop upon
my cheek. But my father had been e
school teacher and he said it was right.
One time I had q big boil somewhere on
the suburbs and l begged the teacher not
to whip me on my "bile," but I reckon
he didn't believe I had one for he bursted
it with center shot and liked to have
killed me. He was sorry for me and
honeyed me up, but I went home and
my mother cried and father looked sad
and solemn and asked what he whipped
me for. told him that I rung the bell
before the teacher got there, and another
boy told on me. Long afterwards, !
learned that my father was mad, and
talked to the teacher, but he never let
me know it, nor stopped me from school.
When there is no meanness in boys
mischief, I think the whipping should be
light. Come down heavy like you was
killing him, but slack up just before you
get there. One morning early, Jim
Wilson and 1 got on table aud broke
off the nail whereon Mr.. Norton always
hung his hat. he was tall man, and
the nail was as high as he could reach.
When he came we were all in our places,
and as he looked round and said, "order,"
we bent to our books with the usual
alacrity. Then he approached the wall,
and with great dignity hung his hat upon
the accustomed nail. He thought he
did, hut it fell to the floor, and I said
"te-he," and the other boys snickered a
little. He picked up the beaver and
brushed it with his red bandana and once
more hung it upon the nail and down it
came again. He never wore spectacles
except to mend the pens or set copy,
and without them it loolei like tho nail
was there. As the hat struck the floor
and rolled around, Jim Wilson said,
ste he, te he," and I was holding my
mouth, but it exploded like squirt gun.
The teacher took out his spectacle case
and put on his specks, and as he tip toed