Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-11-09
How Dir. Roundcr Beat His Boys.

n IuctI, oIu-lhsniouct hOunD was "NloN'l-
hobs, " where the sensible but somewhat
queer DR.. Rounder kept his school.
The doctor had fine garden and orchard,
in which all manner ofpleasant fruits were to
be found, from the early strawberries to au-
tumn pums and apples From him the boys
had full liberty to revel in those inviting
pastures. He considered that the fruit was
sent to be eaten, and that the boys Of Clover
hobs were sent to eat it,
All the boys were Of the same opinion; but
Mrs. Pinnicker, the housekeeper, did not
agree with them, now and then. Many
grievous complaints did she carry to her mas
ter of the nursing and doctoring arising from
the boys eating unripe fruit, or too much Of
what was ripe and she so weared him that
he was lain to let her lock the gate, and give
out such measure of the daintes as she
thought fit.
For this, the big boys resolved to be re-
yenged. The theft of her spectaeles, the
drowning of her cat, and various other plots
were made and abandoned, as unworthy of
gentlemen, and dlsgraceful to the doctors
pupils Nevertheless, something, it was de.
cided, must be done. Now where there's u
viii there's way, and that may be said with
a strong significance Of boys will. What
chance, then, had the housekeeper against
the wills of between thirty aud forty boys2
The apples had been chiefly gathered in
with the plums, which were stored for pre-
serving, and the whole were laid in the most
housekeeper-lke order on the floor of large
room at one end of the struggling old house.
OF this room, into which the boys saw all
the good things 60 in and never come out Mrs.
Pinnicker kept the key-a great door-key,
that hung with others from her girdle. TIC
get the key was impossible, and to get the
apples without it equally so; at least so il
appeared till accident showed it otherwise.
1t CHANGED that in the game of hide-and
seek, one boy, the bider, climbed the roof oil
the house, and creeping towards the apple
room end, got down an UNCOVERED chimney
The chimney was very large, and he descend
cd rather quicker than he wished into the
! chamber beneath, and fell within few inches
of large hole in the floor where the graf,
} had once been.
At first he was in panic, but finding he
was not hurt, he soon recovered himself, anC
began to look about him. 1t was dingl
} place the window was almost covered witt
ivy but there was light enough to show hin
, that the boxes Of all the pupils were KEEP
} there.
e Having ascertained this, he went to tn,
edge Of the hole, and looking down, coul'
see nothing but a fiat hearth stone
, There's no fireplace there, he thought
5 but while he thought and looked, strong
(. Whit Of apples came up, and suddenly CAV,
/ ] bft Ia ~ he
"Of course, he exclaimed, " am oyei
the fruit store-room
, Filling the boxes up, he soon got out fron
e the chimney, and, smoothing the Ivy, he de
e scended with all speed TO tell his comrades
b Exultation was in every heart that night
G for, although much had to be done to carry
: out their enterprise, the first step aud mos
' important had been taken: the apples wer
found to be within reach without the big key
s After many a consultation in the play
5 ground, measures were agreed on and tn
I very next day the ringloaders were down tn
e chimney smelling the apples and schemin
how to get at them. It was too far to jun
! or drop down but rope there were tn
= cords of the boxes-what could be NOR
I handy2
, They twisted and twined them in and gu
= to the size Of cable, and then, letting dow
: the smallest Of the party, charged him I
come up with his pockets full. But pockets
d even large ones, would not hold many an
the small boy had small pockets, of course
Y so he had to 60 down several times before h
? could satisfy his companions
s Lets drop down basket" said one
!. Our supper basket" said another.
: Yes" said the small boy Sand il woul
be easier to 90 down and come up in the basil
n ct the cords hurt"
9 Accordingly, that night, after supper, tn
t market basket was in its ordinary place. b.
the following morning nobody conld find it
n where it was hidden, and how, cannot tel
c but the next play hour saw it in the box room