The Van Buren press., 1871-02-14
MISCELLANY.
How DR.. Rounder Beat His Boys.

A queer, old-fashi0ncd house was
Cloverbobs,' where the sensible, bu
somewhat queer DR.. Rounder kept his
school.
The DR.. had a fine garden and orchard
in which all manner of pleasant fruits
were to be found, from the early straw.
berries to the autumn plums and apples
From him the boys had full liberty to
revel in these inviting pastures. lie con-
sidercd that the fruit was sent to be eat
en-, and that the boys ofCloverbobs were
sent to eat it. I'D. r#-rr.
All the boys were ofthe same opinion
but Mrs. Pinnicker, the housekeeper, did
not agree with them now and then.
Many grievous complaints did she carry
to her master Of the nursing and doctor
ing arising from the boys eating unripe
fruit, or too much of what was ripe, and
so worried him, so that he was fain to
let her lock the gate, and give out such
measure of the dainties as she thought
fit.
For this the big bous resolved 70 be
reyenged. The theft of her spectacles,
the drowning Of her cat, and various
other plots were made and abandoned as
unworthy of gentlemen and disgraceful
to the Doctors pupils. Nevertheless,
something, it was decided, must be done
Now, where there's q will there's a way,
and that may be said with a strong sig
nifcancc to a boys will. What chance,
then, had the housekeeper against the
will Of between thirty and forty boys?
The apples had beeA- gathered in with
ting, anu the whole were laId in une most
housekceper like order on the floor Of a
large room at one end Of the Struggling
old house.
OF this room, into which the boys saw
all the good things 60 and nothing come
out, Mrs. Pinnicker kept the key-a
great door keep, that hung, with others,
al her girdle. To get the apples without
the keys it was impossible, at least so it
appeared till accident showed it other
wise.
1t chsnced that, in game ofhide- and
seek, one boy, the hider, climbed the
roof of the house, and, creeping toward
the apple room end, got down an ivy
covered chimney. The chimney was
very large, and he descended rather
quicker than he wished into the chamber
beneath, and fell within few inches of
a large hole in the floor, where the CRATE
had once BEEN
At first he was in panic; but finding
he was not hurt, he soon recovered him
self, and began to look about him. 1t
,nla uin do, al
most covered with ivy but there was
enough light to show him that the boxes
Of the pupils were kept there. ...
Having ascertained this, he went to the
edge Of the hole, and, looking down,
could see nothing but a fat hearth stone.
There's no fireplace there" he
thought; but, while he thought and look
ell, strong Whit of apples came up, and
suddenly gave him an explanation of his
whereabouts.
"Of course" he exclaimed, Il am
over the fruit store room"
Piling the boxes up, he soon got on,
from tie chimney. and, smoothing tho
ivy, he descended with all speed to tel
his comrades.
Exultation was in every heart tha
night; for, although much had to b,
done to carry out their enterprise, the
first step and most important had beer
taken the apples were found to be with
in reach without the big key.
After many a consultation in the play
ground, measures were agreed on; and
the next day the ringleaders were dowr
the chimney smelling the apples ant
scheming how to get at them. 1t wa,
too far to jump or drop down; but a rope
there were the cords OF the boxes
what could be more handy?
They twisted and twined them in anC
out to the size Of a cable, and then, let
ting down the smallest of the party
charged him to come up with his pocket.
full But pockets-even large ones
even large ones--wonld not hold many
and the small boy had small pockets. o
course; so he had to go down severa
times before he could satisfy his com
panions.
Lets drop down ba kct," said one
"Our supper. basket" said another.
"Yes,' said the small boy, land i
would be easier to % down and come uf
in the basket; the chord hurts"
Accordingly, that night after supper
the market basket was in its ordinary
place; but the following morning no
body could find it, Where it was hid
den, and how, ] cannot tell but the noxl
play hour saw it in the box.room
To prevent the possibility Of their let
ting 90 the rope when the basket con
tanned their messenger or the apples, they
secured it round an iron bar that went
across the window, and wound or un
wound it as nced required.
\ For some days their depredations went
on, and now their revenge was at hand
They knew it was Mrs. Pinnicker's time
for bringing fruit for the Sunday pies