"They had hard laws, too. They punished anyone who swore, or even scolded. A high frame called the stocks stood in the middle of every village. It had a number of holes in it. Many of those who did small wrongs had to sit all day with their legs and arms through these holes. That was the way they were held up to scorn.
"Then there were ducking-stools. If women became common scolds, they were bound to these stools and ducked in a river or pond.
"Once in a while a man was caught swearing. It was a sad day for him. A split stick was fastened on his tongue for hours together. If that did not cure him, his tongue was burned with a red-hot iron.
"The children had a hard time of it in school as well as at home. If they told wrong stories, they had to hold out their tongues to be burnt with a good dose of mustard."
Uncle Sam looked quite sad as he went on to tell of a little girl who took something which belonged to a playmate.
"Her teacher held her fingers over red-hot coals and burned them."
"I don't believe children dared to turn round or whisper in school very often," said Joe.
"I should say not. If they did, a sudden rap came upon their heads. It made them wish they had not broken the rules."
"I am glad I am alive now, and have such a lovely home, and father and mother, and—"