The Van Buren press., 1871-02-14

they to ~ait in vain for the pleasure OF
seeing her horror stricken facet The
bell rang, the play time was over, and
they were forced to forego their delight
but they saw her in the house, in the
dormitory at night, and she looked trou'
bled and perpleXed.
They were sure she had complained to
the Doctor; but no must have told he,
it was fancy, that the apples could not
60 through the key hole, and that the
heaps were not any less, as she declared
they were.
| Nevertheless, they thought il best &c
rest awhile, and allowed her to make an
other visit before they took any NOR,
apples. .
Thinking now that she was satisfied
they went to work again, and the dimin
ished heap left no doubt in Mrs. Pinnick-
er's mind that thieves were somewhere.
She had Dld her that she was mistaken,
but that il she saw any fresh signs Of the
theft she had better let him know, and
say nothing about it to any one else.
SO she went to him again with more
CONSERVATION than the Doctor thought
all the apples were worth; but he said he
would see the apples and judge for him,
self, for by visit now and then, he
would be able to settle the question of
theft or no theft so he took the key.
Mrs Pinnicker seemed to quiet about
her second loss that the boys thought
they might venture a fresh excursion in
to her treasury; and, as it CHANGED, they
on the roof, hidden by its ins and outs,
and tho Doctor on the walk beneath, were
making their way at the time to the same
spot.
He had let himself in, and was looking
at the fruit, when he thought he heard
noise above him.
He waited and heard voices.
lie was almost as much frightened to
find that he had caught the thieves as he
would have been if they had caught him.
In nervous expectation he waited, won.
dering where he should see them appear,
when the basket slowly made its way
through the chimney hole and gradually
settled on the hearth the small boy in it
not expecting any company, and least Of
all the Doctor.
When he saw him (Which at first he
had not done, as his back was towards
him, he was so paralyzed with fear that
he could not utter a sound. The Doctor
observed this, and Immediately took nd
vantage of it. He put his fingers OH his
lips as sign that he should keep silence.
" Safe" cried voice above which the
Doctor knew to be his nephew's.
The Doctor made signs to the trem.
did, but in very husky voice.
"Loa away, then, said several voices,
Whereupon the Doctor, making signs to
him of his intentions, and looking at the
thickness of the rope, whispered to him
to give the accustomed signal when he
had taken his usual time Tor filling the
basket.
Then he settled himself with some diff
ficulty in it, to the utter confusion Of the
small boy, who devoutly wished he had
never seen an apple in his life,
"a good lot this time" said the Doc
tors nephew.
"He is coming up with it," said an
other.
Mind the rope; don't let it slip give
it another twist. Well, l think we shall
have enough this time.
While they were rejoicing in the CON-
ing spoils, the nearest boy caught sight
of the Doctors hat; and soon his face
was visible, to the horror and amazemcnt
Of all
"Don't let me down among the ap-
pies, boys he said. al have had some
trouble to come up, And should like to
stay here little, ifyou please
There was no escape--no help for it,;
they went to pulling and twisting till he
was fairly landed on the floor
my dear lads" he exclaimed, when
he was out Of the basket, show could
you drive me to make such journey?
wouldn't for all the apples in England do
it again, not even il got them honest
ly."
Seeing so little anger in his face they
clustered around him and made an awk-
ward attempt at al apology.
"Lads," he said l cant forgive you
don't ask me. 1t is so very disreptuta-
BILE an affair that wash my hands Of it,
and will forget it Immediately. | am
only very glad that no one knows it bat
ourselves. Are any other Of the boys
concerned in it2'
They said they had trusted mono young
er than the one below
:" Pm glad Of il for your sake. Here,
let us put these boxes straight, and un.
twist these ropes. wouldn't have Mrs.
Pinnicker know that you could so far
forget your duty to yourselves and me
for anything"
They could have well borne scolding.
learned a lesson, or stood Gaming, but
this way OF meeting their misdoiLg com.
pletely overcame them. They resolved,
one and all, inwardly, never to engage In
anything unworthy again.
The boxes were speedily replaced, and
the rope put right; and to save the char.
acter of the thieves, the Doctor got BY
their help from the chimney As soon
as he got into the house, he sent for his
housekeeper, and said
"Therc are too many apples there by
half Mrs. Pnnicker. I'm sure the boys
cannot have had enough, mind that they
have plenty in future. In fact, to pro
vent their falling into the hands of
thieves, as you have supposed they do,
it is better you should give the key to the
senior bOy, and let them take a sufficient