Chapter 20
CHAPTER XX of Little Masterpieces of American Wit and Humor, Volume 1. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joe Sela. Little Masterpieces of American Wit and Humor, Volume 1. Edited by Thomas Lansing Masson. Section 20. By William Pitt Palmer. A Smackin' School. A district school not far away,
mid Berkshire Hills one winter's day, was humming with its wonted noise of three-score mingled girls and boys, some few upon their tasks intent, but more on furtive mischief bent. The while the master's downward look was fastened on a copy-book, when suddenly behind his back rose sharp and clear a rousing smack, as twere a battery of bliss led off in one tremendous kiss. What's that? the startled master cries. That, thir, a little imp replies,
with william willeth if you pleath i thaw him kith to thanapith with frown to make a statute thrill the master thundered hither will like retcho are taken in his track with stolen shadows on his back will hung his head in fear and shame and to the awful presence came a great green bashful simpleton the bud of all good-natured fun with smile suppressed and birch upraised the thunderer faltered i'm amazed that you my biggest pupil should be guilty of it act so rude before the whole set school to boot what evil genius put you to it "'Twas she herself, sir," sobbed the lad. "'I did not mean to be so bad. "'But when Susanna shook her curls
"'and whispered I was fraid o' girls, "'and durn't kiss a baby's doll, "'I couldn't stand it, sir, at all, "'but up and kissed her on the spot. "'I know, boo-hoo, I ought to not,
"'but somehow from her looks, boo-hoo, "'I thought she kind of wished me to.'" William Pitt Palmer End of A Smackin' School Recording by Joe Sela
