Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-04-15

forget the feeling of relief that came
ever ME when the hours Of torture had
passed and the school was dismissed,
and for the day saw the last OF that
cruel, sneering smile This feeling
was shared in by every boy and girl
in the school, and the only thing that
kept down the number of truants was
the terrible consequences that each
one knew would follow. There was
bov named McC- who had incurred
the hatred of this man more than any
of the other children. McC. had been
bullied and thrashed until his nerves
were unstrung and he was afraid to
come into the school-room after he had
been coaxed by a larger brother al
most to the door. The boy fled one
morning into the woods and hid. Mr..
B started out with blood IN his
eve and a big stick in his hand to
round up and bring in the truant.
Nee. was soon caught, and with his
hands tied behind him was marched to
the school-house, while Mr. B., follow
ing close behind, probably keeping
time to The Dead March in Saul,
applied the rod mercilessly. When
the school-room was reached Nee. was
placed in a chair, with his hands still
tied behind him, and placed upon the
platform as an object lesson. On the
desk in front of the culprit was placed
a reading book, and then as Mr.. B.
selected fresh stick, he looked with
a smile Of triumph at the weeping
brother rand sister of the boy, who were
present, made him read and whipped
him brutally for every word he missed.
On another occasion there was lynch
ing at school. \ little dog named
Brisk, very pretty and very much
petted, followed two boys to school,
and although he had done do harm,
Mr. B. had warned the boys not to let
him come again. The love Of the dog
for his little masters was much strong
er than the rope that tied him at home
on the following morning so after the
boys had gone to school, thinking that
Brisk was safe at home, the dog had
gnawed the rope and by the time the
bows got to school Brisk was also ready
to answer to roll call. At noon Mr..
B. heard the statements Of the boys,
but did not heed their fearful plead
ings for mercy for the dog so with the
remainder of the rope poor Brisk was
led to an orchard nearby and without
a fair trial and without jury he was
hung "on a sour apple tree before the
very eyes Of his many sorrowng little
friends 4 smile of satisfaction rest
ed upon the face of the teacher as the
rr-rassion returned TO the school
house, and when school was called and
the writing exercises Of the day begun,
Mr.. B. gave the boys for copy his
favorite sentence, you should love
and obey your kind teacher. "
The reader may think this descrip-
ton is overdrawn and that the writer
is severe, but when 1 remember the
many times have seen that man, for
some trivial offence, stand a young
girl, almost grown to womauhood, upon
bench and whip her when think
how he would in a fit Of anger, en-
twine his fingers in the hair Of a boy
and pull back and forth until be would
shake the bench on which he sat oI
bend back a child's hand and with a
stick leave blood-red marks in It's palm
| I write with a clear conscience and re-
ioice that the civilization Of today
would not tolerate such a teacher in
our schools. Mr.. B., after the war
went to California, and whether or not
some rowing band Of Indians killed
him while crossing the plains and thus
improved his disposition, have never
heard. If he isyet alive we hope thai
time has softened his heart if dead
we hope God showed him the mercy
he so often denied his pupils
But let US turn to scenes more pleas
ant and speak of teachers less severe
and Of school days that brought with
them more smiles than tears; Of day.
when war had become only recol
lection and It's horrors had day after
day been crowded farther and farther
back into the dim distance Of memory
Of the days when Mr.. John Ed. anc
Mr.. Wynkoop and Mr. PelIiseur an(
others taught school, and such jogia
spirits as J. Crider and G. Curtis anc
W. Rice answered to roll call, and
were permitted to change school lif'
from so stern a reality into a yount
picnic. 'Tis true, the old stove never
gave up the habit of smoking, but whc
would shed tears about that when q
| II I IL q 1..s1. 49, bo,,g batrI