Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-04-01

night, said Harry, ''and Well put on
some of it.
We went back with him, and at an
early hour retired to Harrys chamber.
He had brought up a cup with some wa
ter. We tore off corner of the package
and turned out about quarter of the
Compound into the cup. 1t was merely
gray powder; but what a puissant
look it had to us !! 1t dissolved readily
in the water. And standing there be-
fore Harry's little looking glass, we put
it on to our upper lips with our fore
fingers dipping them alternately. The
operation took some fifteen minutes we
rubbed it we'll. 1t was bitter cold
night There was no fire in the cham
Der. | remember that we nearly froze
our legs; though, Of course, little
thing like that was not to be put in the
balance with mustache. After what
VIC deemed faithful application, Harry
blew out the candle and we got into bed,
shivering considerably, but with high
hopes.
"It'll probably begin to start 'em out
by morning" said Harry. "We'll put
on some more before we 60 to school
Drive 'em as fast as we can, now
1t was light when woke. Tom was
up in bed Che had the middle) staring
alternately from my face to Harry's,
who was not yet awake. His upper lip
was black as SCOT 1t flashed into my
mind about the mustache Compound "
''Tom!'' | exclaimed, you've got a
| prodigious one p
'Have ?" cried he. jumping out and
running to the glass. Il hope it isn't
like yours.
sprang out and looked over his
shoulder My lip was black as his
"What is it?' said Harry, rousing
up
Then seeing US staring into the glass,
he leaped out and came looking over my
shoulder. There were now reflected
three Of just the blacklist lips you ever
saw. We eagerly felt of them. 1t
was black stain. Our forefngers were
equally black.
by hokeyr' exclaimed Harry, Il
didn't think that's the way twas going
to do !. Did you?' We didn't.
"But it's all right and regular enough,
| guess" :" he continued, after moment
of doubtful amazement. We'll wash
it off, though, before we go into break
fast"
We went down to the sink, and, get
ting out the soap, began to lather and
scrub, running along to the glass now
and then to see how it looked. We
could no more start the stain than we
could dissolve granite! 1t seemed to
grow all the blacker for soaping! For
a moment we were thoroughly frighten-
ed then. our faith in the Compound
returning, we resolved to accept the sit
uation resignedly for the sake of mus
tache.
ITS probably getting the roots laid, %
whispered Harry, as we went into break
fast rather shamefacedly.
why Why My stars, boys p ex-
claimed Aunt Dolly (Mrs. SMITH, as we
took our places opposite her at the table.
"What have you been doing to your
faces ? Ink It's ink. o you silly
boysv'
We said not word. Far better to
have her think it was ink than to know
what we had really been doing.
How little Rhoda and Lizzie laughed
But we were thinking of the tougher or
deal in store for us at school.
80, if we hadn't to go to school !" ex-
claimed Tom, after we had left the table
1t wouldn't do to think of giving up
our going to school, however The folks
wouldn't hear word to that If We
even asked to stay at home one day, We
should have to explain it all. Besides
there was no prospect of the stains com
ing out very soon.
We gave our luckless lips another
scrubbing, fruitless one; and then, a.
it drew near nine o'clock, went off to
ward the school-house. The master wa
just going in as we got there. Holding
our hands up to our noses, we went Il
our seat without attracting much notice
But while reading in the Testament
several of the boys spied it out in spit
of the books we held up. We began t.
hear a suspicious tittering; and whil
the Fifth Reader Glass; which CAM
next, was out on the recitation seats, i
kept breaking out, much to the master
; annoyance and surprise. He looket
sharply around. But we held our head
down and studied prodigiously.
''Class in the Fourth Readern' crieC
The master. That was cur class.
Our hearts gave a great jump. Tn
crisis had come. We stole out to ou
: places, Tom holding his open book un
der his nose, while Harry and put ou
handkerchiefs over our mouths. al
eyes began to fasten upon US; and some
body snickered out
What's this 2" demanded the mas
ter. coming down to our end of the room
No one answered but a general gri
!, and staring pointed US out as the root 9
i, the difficulty
Put down your book, Thomas" sal
y the master. Tom wriggled and hesita
ted. do you hear ~
Down came the book, and 10 th
II black lip! A roar followed this unvei
s ,s ing.
What is that % cried the master
looking at it attentively.
+ .Mustache p suggested a voice b
hind.
: The master glanced at it again, the
frowned. He had SMALL sandy mu
d tache himself, and, with young gentl,
:. mans usual sensitiveness on this subjec
a | think he took 1t as saucy imitatics
If piece of impudence. For moment /
almost glared at poor Tom, when anotl
,e er voice blurted out, "a couple more III
r der the handkerchiefs -
Take them down. thundered h
E turning upon US.
II We did so, and were greeted with al