From: riharpist@aol.com (RIharpist)
Subject: Story by Gigi: Obediah 1780
Date: 20 Mar 1997 19:24:45 GMT

        Here is another ancestral story.  This one involves Obediah, who
was seven at the time of this story.  He lived on the western border of
Ohio.  As with my other stories, the account is purely fictional, although
Obediah was a real person.  If you object to the spanking of young
children (common practice in those days), or are uncomfortable reading
these stories, please go on to something else.  Also, please do not use
this story or any of my other ones wthoug my permission.  Thank you.
                                      

                       Obediah 1780
                          by Gigi

        Obediah's mother was a widow, raising three children with the help
of a maid, cook, and the elderly nanny, who had been hers when she was
young.  Obediah was the youngest child and was very strong-willed.  He
tried to obey his mother, but the lure of adventure often carried him off
from the straight road of obedience, for which he was always punished. 
His mother,  a delicate woman, always felt that he needed a firm hand, and
although not strong, she did the best that she could.

        One afternoon, Obediah, against all rules, climbed onto a raft
that had been built by older boys.  He had often watched as they took a
pole to guide it in the river.  It was Spring, and the waters were running
high and quickly, so this was no easy task for a seven-year-old.  The raft
got away from him, and Obediah found himself on the other bank, tangled in
weeds and low-hanging branches.  He called and called, but no one came.

        Then, two of the raft-building, older boys came down to the river
to check on their vessel.  It was gone!  They saw Obediah caught and
crying on the other bank, realized that he was in trouble, and ran to the
village for help.

        Five of the village men and Obediah's mother came running as
quickly as they could.  The men tied ropes to each other and made a human
chain across the river toward Obediah.  The pulled him free and hauled the
raft back to their shore.  Everyone was relieved and angry all at the same
time.  One could hear comments regarding "whipping" and "a good spanking"
mumbling from the townsfolks  who had gathered.  His mother looked
helplessly, and all knew she just wasn't up to doing this properly.  She
lectured him right there on the spot about all of the danger he had placed
everyone in, and as she spoke, the five soaked men looked more and more
angry.

        One man was Obediah's Sunday School teacher -- a father of five
sons.  He approached Obediah's mother and made the offer to whip him for
her.  She reluctantly approved the idea, and Obediah looked at her with
wide eyes, crying out "N-O-O-O-O-O!!"  

        The teacher took Obediah by the arm and led him to his house and
out to the back to his woodshed.  He sat himself on a stool and pulled the
young sailor over his big knees.  Down came Obediah's britches, clear off
his feet, and now, with naked buttocks exposed and high in the air, a
powerful, experienced hand began to spank with great determination.

        This was the worst spanking that Obediah had ever experienced.  He
was so stunned that at first he just yelped, but then he began to scream. 
Spank after spank fell, and the little bottom became quickly pink andthen
crimson.  Obediah struggled and fought, but that just brought more and
harder spanks on those tender buttocks.  

        The teacher stood him up, and Obediah arched his back, rubbing his
stinging, burning bottom.  He turned in circles in a kind of dance.  He
squatted down;  he jumped up and down, but the burning pain did not go
away.  Obegiah was ordered to get dressed.

        Out into the streets he now had to go on his way home, forced to
face all of the people who had heard the smacking sounds and his screams. 
Everyone stopped to watch him go, and as he disappeared into his house,
the last thing they saw was the seat of youthful britches being rubbed by
two young hands.