OLD HOMESTEAD 



I remember seeing Hull punish a large boy, James Patterson, 

 about twenty-two or twenty-three years of age, who was six feet 

 tall and big enough to eat him up if he wanted to. Patterson 

 had maltreated a little octoroon boy who belonged to the school. 

 Patterson did not belong in our district, but was there by permis- 

 sion of the teacher and trustees, as the school was considered an 

 extra one, and he was anxious to get the benefit thereof. He 

 was given the privilege of taking a flogging or leaving the school. 

 He chose the whipping. Hull, suspicious that he might back 

 up and use his giant strength when it came to the execution of 

 the sentence, called in William Johnson, who was running the 

 sawmill, a few rods away. Then he took down one of the blue- 

 beech whips which hung over the blackboard, opened the stove- 

 door to warm it and make it a little tougher, told Patterson to 

 come on the floor in the middle of the school-house and take off 

 his coat, which he did, while Mr. Hull gave him a thrashing which 

 was cruel enough to break the heart of an ox. Patterson shut 

 his teeth, grew red and then pale, but held his temper and went 

 to his seat, a wiser and better man. I do not allude to this whip- 

 ping business as entitled to approval. It was cruel and almost 

 uncalled for, but in those days it was considered the proper thing. 

 The whole population of the district were of New England Puri- 

 tan stock, and believed in the Bible and its assertion that " to 

 spare the rod spoiled the child." No other teacher that I re- 

 member inflicted corporal punishment to any such degree. 



The school was not a graded school in the sense of to-day, 

 and yet it was graded so far as possible and practicable. Classes 

 were formed in all studies according to the advancement and 

 capacity of the pupils. Bright scholars were not held back be- 

 cause of the incapacity of dull ones, and in that respect I can 

 see where the old system far surpassed the present. 



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