Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1905-06-01

1t is time that come other plan was
resorted to. Drink this"
She handed him dipper of water
and he drank about half of it. BE
was about to pour the rest on the
ground when she said:
Il know it has a strange taste to
you, but you'll have to get used to it.
Don't waste drop. Here, have some
more"
I've had a plenty"
Aunt Hannah picked up one Of the
switches and proceeded to lay it over
Jim's shoulders in vigorous manner.
AS it was summer and he had only
a ragged cotton shirt across his back,
he was speedily reminded OF his boy
hood days. he reached for the dipper
and downeda quart OF water and then
said:
81 cay, I want this trap taken of.
Do you think I'm man Of wood or
iron? When l tell folks that Aunt
Hannah Davis is pizen mean 'nuf to
set bear traps for innocent persons
you'll be hauled up in law"
I've heard on good authority, Mr..
Peters, that you lick your wife.
If l do she needs 1t.
well, we'll see how licking goes
in your case. Well try one anyway
as an experiment.
I'll holler and raise the hull coun-
ty."
Then the whole county will be
here to see"
Aunt Hannah picked out the long
est switch, dampened her hand to
keep her hold good, and then began
the experiment" Only the third
blow had fallen when Peter began to
yell, but no pause was made until
he had received the thrashing OF his
lite. The woman had the will and
the muscle, and tae sprout from the
peach tree was supple and lasting.
When about 80 blows had been ad-
minlstered Aunt Hannah paused.
"You see how it works, she said,
land you don't seem to like 1t. Will
you ever whip your wife again."
Il won't promise till you let me
out O this trap"
"Oh, you WON'T Then we'll have
little more of 1t.
Six or eight more stinging cuts were
enough for jim. He promised on
his word of honor never to raise bis
hand against his wife again. He was
then handed third dipper of water,
and when he refused it the switch
came down over his back, and the
woman said:
You've got to learn to like the
taste of water, and you We got to learn
here and now. Your children had to
20 barefoot all last winter because
you had to have your whisky. Drink
it down or you'll get another dusting. "
Jim managed to drink the water,
and was then asked for his promise not
to touch intoxicating drinks for one
year.
But what am going to do when
feller offers to treat2" he protested.
You are going to remember this,
she replied, as she gave him half a
dozen cuts and brought fresh chorus
of howls.
He promised. Aunt Hannah went
into the house and wrote out pledge.
it was pledge embodying four or
FIVE promises, and after he had ia
ken another drink from the dipper
Jim put his name to it. The hired
man was then called up to sign
as witness and to pry open the jaws
of the trap, and Jim went limping
away.
That day marked an epoch in Jim
Peters life. Within a week he had
work. He turned to water like a
duck. He administered no more
thrashiugs to his wife. In fact, before
year was up he was spoken Of as a
sober, steady man and had credit at
the stores for the first time in his
life. Many persons asked Aunt Han
nah how she did 1t, and her answer
was alike to all
why. first got my bear trap and
then tried an experiment. ."