Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-11-05
4 tAtx NIGHTS WORK,
BY ELIZABETH B10ELow.

Mr.. Sprigging, had been his nightly
rounds, and satisfied himself that every
light was put out in the "young gentle
mems" dormitories, and every mischief
divining braip in repose, aud he sought
the privacy Of his'own little den, with a
great sigh of relief that the tolls and trib-
ulations of the day were over. For poor
Mr.. Spriggius had tribulation, indeed.
He was little and wiry, with hair so red
that the boys used to pretend to light
their candles by it when they started for
their rooms at night, and little, greenish,
gray eyes, perpetually squirting; and he
walked in a quick, nervous, jerking way,
that set his coat.tails and his red hair
flying. Altogether he had not, by any
means, a commanding presence" like
DIR. Grindall, and he failed utterly to in.
spire the boys with awe. They mimicked
his gait and his gesture, nicknamcd him,
Grasshopper," and "Sprig," and played
all sorts of tricks upon him. Poor little
Mr.. Spriggins was sure that if Job could
return to this world and take his place, for
one day, he would confess himself to have
made au unnecessary ado about tho tri.
fling misfortunes he had been called upon
to endure in his lifetime.
Itwas fortunate for Spriggins' peace of
mind that night, that he could not look
into one Of the rooms he had just left-the
room where Will Burton and Ned Lander,
and the ng.lcaders in all mischief slept
He had taken especial care, as usual, to
see that their heads were quietly reposing
on their respective pillows; both we're ap.
parently sleeping soundly. But no sooner
had they heard him go down stairs and
close the door of his room behind him than
they both sprang out of bed, fully dressed,
and without the faintest trace of sleepi.
ness.
81 expected the old fellow would won
der where our clothes were," said Will,
but he didn't look around the room much
after he saw We we're in bed. Didn't
suore like trooper ?"
81 shouldn't wonder if Tommy Tucker
should back out, he's such little coward"
said Ned, as they stole out Of the room
and made their way noiselessly along the
corridor.
They tapped lightly at the door of one
Of the rooms, and black, curly head was
thrust out at once.
care you sure Sprig has gone ?"
whispered Bert Hildreth, the owner of
the curly head. Tommy's awful sick Mt
his stomach" he added with a suppress.
ed giggle, "and thinks he had better not
gow
Let him stay then, the little milk
con ~ said Nod confou rkuous1,,
"No, no, he must go!" said Will
He can climb like squirrel-bettcr than
any one Of us, and he is so light that he
can 60 out on the limbs that wouldn't
bear us. Before I'd be such cowrad,
Tommy"
Tommy was a pale.faced little fellow,
much younger than the others, with yellow
hair that had been cut very close and
stood up straight all over his head. and
very wide open, blue eyes, that had a
startled expression.
The blood rushed into his face when
Will called him a coward.
"I'll Co." he said, "but my stomach
does feel awfully, and-and you know
if we get found out we shall all be ex-
pelled"
1--WE shan't be found out" said Will,
impatiently.
"And-and it's stealing" pursued
Tommy, with doleful face.
"Pooh, you great baby! Has fellow
to starve? Nothing but cold boiled NUT
ton for dinner tomorrow you know, and
not half enough of that !" said Ned.
Tommy said to him that he would be
willing to eat cold mutton for dinner every
day of his life, if he could only have the
privilege Of" backing out" of this expe.
dition, but of course he wasn't going to be
called coward and baby! So he made
no further objections. but followed the
other boys, as they crept softly down stairs,
unlocked one of the back doors and closed
it carefully behind them. and took their
way across the fields to Farmer Alden's.
The fare was neither bountiful nor Of
the best at DR.. Grindali's school, aud
they complained continually. Aud there
was neither restaurant nor confectionery
shop within miles, so even the boy that
had the longest purse could only dream Of
oyster pies and taffy, while he ate his NUT
ton or salt fish-those were the chief arti-
cles Of diet
But one day, Will Burton, coming by
Farmer Alden's just at dusk, saw his
great flock of turkeys going to roost on the
trees behind the barn, and the spirit Of
mischief whispered plan in his ear at
once. A plan to have delightful adven-
ture. aud something besides boiled mutton
for dinner ID Ned Lander, his room mate,
was eager for anything that promised ex-
citement, and Bart Hildreth, who was also
of daring and adventurous spirit, though
younger than they, agreed to join in the
expedition, without hesitation. Little
Tommy Tucker being his room mate, they
were obliged to reveal the plan to him,
and finally concluded to invite him to ac.
company them, for Tommy could be trusted
to keep a secret, and though faint-hsartsd