coaxingly.

"On account of its being such a very personal one I'd rather not, sir,"
Dick answered, still standing by his desk. "I might hurt some one's
feelings."

"Too bad!" murmured Old Dut. "And just after we had all been enlivened
by the hope of hearing something really funny! I know your rare quality
of humor, Master Prescott, and I had promised myself a treat. My own
disappointment in the matter may be cured, but what about the boys and
girls of this class? I know that they are all still eager to hear a
really funny story."

Old Dut paused, glancing impressively about the room. Dick, shifting
first to one foot and then to the other, had not yet succeeded in
parting with much of the fiery color that had flamed up to his cheeks,
temples and forehead.

"Master Prescott," announced the principal, "the class shall not be
deprived of its expected treat. I will tell a story, and I think you
will find some of the elements of humor in it. Will you kindly step this
way?"

Dick went forward, head up and chest thrown out, a look almost of
defiance in his clear, blue eyes as a titter ran around the room.

"Stand right here beside me," coaxed Old Dut. "Now, let me see if I can
remember the story. Yes; I believe I can. It runs something like this."

Then Old Dut began his story. It was a very ordinary one that had to do
with a boy's disobedience of his father's commands. But it had a
"woodshed" end to it.

"So," continued Old Dut, "Johnson took his boy out to the shed. There,
with a sigh as though his heart were breaking, the old man seated
himself on the chopping block. He gathered his son across his
knee--about like this."

Here Principal Jones suddenly caught Dick Prescott and brought that lad
across his own knee. The expectant class now tittered loudly.

"I can't tell this story unless I have quiet," announced Old Dut,
glancing up and around the room with a reproachful look.

Then, after clearing his throat, the principal resumed:

"'Johnny,' said the old man huskily, 'I know what my duty in the matter
really is. I ought to give you a good spanking, like this (_whack!_).
But I haven't the heart to give you such a blow as you deserve. (Whack!)
But the next time (whack!), I'm going to give you (whack!) just such a
good one (whack! whack!) as you deserve. (Whack! whack!) So, remember,
Johnny (whack!), and don't let me catch you (whack!) disobeying me
again. (Whack! whack!)."

Each "whack" Old Dut emphasized by