The
whipping which Ned received created quite a sensation among us boys, for
it was not often that Mr. S. used the rod. We began to have our fears
that as he had got his "hand in," more of us might share the fate of
poor Ned. In a very serious conversation which we held upon the matter,
on our way home that evening, some of us asked Ned, why he screamed so
loud. "I thought," said he, "if I hollered pretty well, he would think
he'd licked me enough and stop; but I don't see what great harm I did
any way. He asked why I stayed out; and I said, cos I did'nt go in, and
I am sure I could'nt give a better reason than that." Time passed on,
and by degrees Ned dropped many of his odd ways; and began to make
tolerable progress in study; but still, much patience and forbearance
was necessary on the part of the teacher. He had the same habit of
frequently giving absurd answers in his class, as well as upon other
occasions; but after a time his stupid answers were much less frequent,
and Mr. S. began to indulge the hope that he would soon overcome the
habit entirely. When he had attended school for about six months, as was
the custom two or three times a year, we passed under what to the school
boys was an "awful review" in presence of those awe-inspiring
personages, termed in those days the school-trustees, and any other
friends of the school who might chance to be present.
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