ATONEMENT
It was a mountain one-room school house where severe discipline was used to keep the rowdyism of uninterested pupils in check. The noon recess was ended and the teacher was interrogating the class with regard to the disappearance of Sally Jane’s lunch. After a few minutes of verbal threats and demands, a sob was heard. It was little Billy — a thin, undernourished child. His family was the poorest of the poor. “Did you take Sally Jane’s lunch?” demanded the teacher. “Yes, sir,” mumbled Billy through his tears. “I was hungry.” “Nevertheless, you did wrong to steal and you must be punished,” declared the teacher. As the teacher removed the leather strap from its place on the wall, Billy was ordered to the front of the room and told to remove his shirt. The arm of the teacher was raised over the bent and trembling form of little Billy . . . “HOLD IT, TEACHER!” shouted a husky voice from the rear of…
To view this resource, log in or sign up for a subscription plan
