He Took My Whipping For Me

A preacher, who was born in a mountainous area of the country, relates the following:

Years ago, there was a certain school in his section which no teacher could handle. The boys were so rough that the teachers resigned.

A young grey-eyed teacher applied, and the old director scanned him, then said, "Young feller, do you know what you are asking? An awful beatin'!" He replied, "I'll risk it." Finally, he appeared for duty.

The teacher said, "Good morning boys, we have come to conduct school!" They yelled at the top of their voices. "Now, I want a good school, but confess I don't know how unless you help me. Suppose we have a few rules. You tell me and I will write them on the blackboard." One fellow yelled, "No stealin'!" Another yelled, "On time." Finally, ten rules appeared. Now, said the teacher, "a law is no good unless there is a penalty attached for breaking it. What shall we do with the one who breaks them?" "Beat him across the back ten times without his coat on", someone yelled.

"That's pretty severe, boys. Are you ready to stand by it?" Another yell, and the teacher said, "School comes to order!"

In a day or so, "Big Tom" found his dinner was stolen. Upon inquiry the thief was located - a little hungry fellow about ten. The next morning the teacher announced, "We have found the thief and he must be punished according to your rule - ten stripes across the back! Jim, come up here!" The little fellow, trembling, came up slowly with a big coat fastened up to the neck and pleaded, "Teacher, you can lick me as hard as you like, but please don't make me take off my coat!" "Take that coat off; you helped make the rules!" "Oh, teacher, don't make me!" He began to unbutton, and what did the teacher behold! Lo, the lad had no shirt on, but strings for braces over his little body.

"How can I whip this child?" thought he. "But I must do something if I keep this school." Everything was as quiet as death. "How come you to be without a shirt, Jim?" He replied, "My father died and mother is very poor. I have only one shirt to my name, and she is washing that today, and I wore my brother's big coat to keep warm."

The teacher, with rod in hand, hesitated. Just then "Big Tom" jumped to his feet and said, "Teacher, if you don't object, I will take Jim's licking for him." "Very well, there is a certain law that one can become a substitute for another. Are you all agreed?" Off came Tom's coat, and after five hard strokes the rod broke! The teacher bowed his head in his hands, and thought "How can I finish this awful task?" Then he heard the entire school sobbing, and what did he see? Little Jim had reached up and caught Tom with both arms around the neck. "Tom, I was awful hungry. Tom, I'll love you till I die for taking my licking for me! Yes, I'll love you forever!"

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