The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1920-02-26
SINS OF CHILDREN
BY ANNETTE sYMMES.

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ILopyrIXnt, lyIy. hI - .ure Newspaper Syn-
dicats.l
It was q bleak, rainy autumn day
and In the fourth grade room Of the
Bellingham school the weather, react
ing as it always does upon the pupils,
had produced q state Of inattention.
restlessness and disorder, which grew
more marked with every hour. Miss
Booth. the pretty little teacher, had a
worried line creasing her smooth white
forehead and there was worried
look In her soft brown eyes.
As usual. the ringleader was Chaun-
ceT Bartlett. During the nrst three
weeks Of school he had been absent,
coovalescing from a minor operation,
and Miss Booth, who was q stranger In
the place and q new teacher In the
school. had had no especial trouble
with her pupils. But when Chauncey
got back, the young imps Of the fourth
grade rallied to their leader to boy {;
he little girls loved their teacher and
frankly disapproved Of "those hor-
"a boys" The negative consolation
e this, however, hardly Offset the &C
dve discomfort caused by the busy
Ohauncey.
He was q handsome boy, the only
child Of Doctor Bartlett, and 1t was
whispered among the teachers that II
any Of their number should presume to
inflict corporal punishment upon
Chauncey, the offender would not re-
main long In the Bellingham school.
Doctor Bartlett was said to be violent
" opposed to corporal punishment.
Upon this day the principal was III
and at home. Chauncsy. aware Of the
eact, became more and more outrage
Gus until Miss Booth saw that she
must assert herself decidedly or lose
the last vestige Of authority she pos
pessed.
The last straw was 4 shrill whistle,
proceeding without the least conceal
msnt from Chauncey's puckered lips.
-Chauncey," said the teacher. pass
into the dressing room. Albert. you
may act a. monitor till return"
She took from the desk drawer .
heavy ferule and followed the offend
or into the dressing room and closed
the door.
-Chauncey," she said, hold out your
handr
The boys eyes widened.
"You whip me and I'll tell my n
ther!" he retorted dehantly.
Tell him. by all means" was the
spirited reply, and II he makes any
objections, I'll ferule him. too. Hold
out your handf"
The unmistakable ring Of authority
and Of perfect fearlessness In her tone
had their effect. Chauncey held out
his hand and a few moments later was
trying to avoid whimpering over a
tingling pain. he was very quiet the
rest of the morning and the others,
sved by the events which had oc-
CURED, were models Of behavior. he
did not return for the afternoon ses-
sion, however, and Miss Booth augured
the worst from the fact. She had Just
finished experimenting her desk Tor
the night when there came q tap On
the door, and going to answer It, her
heart almost stopped beating to see
the splendid figure Of Doctor Bartlett
towering before her.
Miss Booth, / believer he began
stepping int the room In answer to
her mute gesture Of invitation. 4 un-
derstand that you feruled my son
Chauncey today"
II didI said Miss Booth.
.And that you said If I had any cb-
jections you would ferule meT
Fl did! repeated Miss Booth. Hold
ear your hand!"
She was close to the breaking point,
veariness and fear. and loneliness all
but overwhelmed her. It was all
over! She would lose her position.
perhaps have great trouble In getting
another.
.And now" said the doctor, quietly.
rubbing his hands upon his handker.
chief, alet's talk this over. You ses. ]
haven't any objections to your ferul'
Ing my SOM.
Miss Booths face became ashen.
Don't be disturbed. I beg" said the
doctor. II understand the whole thing.
Chauncey is, as you know, motherless
I am away from home too much to
Kive him the attention he needs, and
he winds our cook round his little m
ger. II Is true, do not believe In
whipping children too often. but there
comes a time with some when nothing
else, apparently. will bring them to
their senses. Chauncey has used q
mistaken impression which prevailed
about me to tyrannize over his teach.
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