OR, THE WORLD HAS CHANGEt). 103 



MOUNTAIN SPROUTS AND SAND LAPPERS- 



n^HE boys from near the South Carolina coast used to call us 

 up-country fellows mountain sprouts, and we in turn 

 called them sand-lappers. Near a little town called Slab 

 town, in Anderson District, off in the woods was a famous 

 school in the days of our story, a large, one-room hewed log 

 house. This school was taught by the deservedly celebrated 

 John Leland Kennedy, who had been a pupil of the famous 

 teacher. Dr. Waddell, and upon whose shoulders the veritable 

 mantel of the Doctor had fallen. Mr, Kennedy was also a 

 preacher, a Presbyterian of the strictest sect, and the word 

 strict would hardly strike those who kncAV him as striking 

 enough, on account of his striking propensities, for he struck 

 all his pupils in the most striking manner ; that he would not 

 hesitate to strike, and indeed, when it was necessary to strike, 

 he invariably struck. His reputation as a teacher was known 

 throughout the country, and he had a very large school, not con- 

 fined to mountain " sprouts" and " sand-laj^pers," but boys were 

 sent there from other States, and of all who came to this great 

 school, no boy ever got too big for Mr. Kennedy to strike. 

 Consequently, many unruly boys were sent to this noted school, 

 which increased in numbers so that the house would not hold the 

 pupils; therefore, we were sent by classes out in the grove to 

 study our lessons under the shades of the great oaks. Mr. 

 Kennedy sat in the door, where, with the sweep of his keen 

 black eyes, he could command both the house and the grove, 



