The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-03-09

bed he had the mIddlel staring alternately from
any face to Harrys. who Was not vet awake. His
upper lip was black MS SCOT 1t flashed into
my mind about the noustache compound"
| Tom :" l exclaimed, you've got a prOdigi0us
| one"
| Have l 2" cried he. jumping out and running
| to the glass. II hope 1t isn't like yours"
Isprang out and looked over his shoulder. Ny
| lip wss black as his!
| What is il 2" said Harry, rousipg UP.
Then seeing us storing into TIE glass he leaped
| out and came looking over my shoulder. The
were now reflected three of jus. the bl,ckest lin,
you ever Saw. We eagerly felt OF them. II
wasn't hair, it Was black st 4iu. Cur iureias-
ers were equally black.
by hockey exclaimed Harry, u didn't thin.
that's the way twas going 10 do! Did you 2"
We didn't.
"Bnt it's oil right and regular enough. 1
| guess he continued, after moment of doubt
iul smazement "We'n wash it off, though
before we 90 into breakfast"
We went down to the sink, and. getting out
the SOAP began to lather and scrub, running
| along to the glass now aud then TO see how it
looked We could no more start the stain than
We could dissolve granite! 1t see ned to grow
| all the blacker for sosping! For a moment we
were thoroughly frightened; then, orr faith in
| the Compound returning, we resolved to ac-,
cept the situation resignedly tor the sake OF q
| moustsche.
az, probably getting the roots laid" whis-
pared Harry, as we went in to breakfast rather
| shsmefscedy.
"Whv! Why! My stars. boys" exclaimed
Aun, Dolly Mrs Smith, we took our places
| opposite her at tho table. ''Wha, hare You been
DONG to your faces? Ink! Its ink. 0 you
silly boys!'
We SID not word. Far better to have her
! think !. l'oS ink than to know what we hid real
ly ben loing.
Row little Rhe5a enc Lizzie laughed! But
we were thin King of the tougher ordeal in store
for at school,
80, if We hadn't to go to school" exclaimed
Tom, AFTER we had left the tsble.
1t wouldn't do 20 think OF giving up our go
| ing to school, however, The folks wouldn't
hear ~ word to that. II we even asked to stay
at home one day, we should have to xplain it
all Bei5es, there was no prospect of the stains
coming out very soon.
| We gave our luckles' lips another scrubbiug
| q frnitless one and then. as it drew near nine
| o'clock, went off towsrd the school-house. The
| master WAS just going il rs we got there. Hold.
| ing our hands up to our noses, we went to our
seat without attracting much notice. But while
reading in the Testament, several of the boys
| spied u oft in spite of the books we held up
| We beg,n to hear suspicious titterng; and
| while the "Fitth Reader Class" which came
| Be4C was OUT OF tNe recitation seats, IL Et pb
| breaking out, much to the masters anneyarc e
and surprise. He looked sharply around. But
held our heads down and studied prody.
! 10 lsly.
"Class in Fourth Reader!" cried the rsaster
! That was our class.
| Our hearts gave a great jump The crisis
had come. We stole to our places. Tom holding
his open book under his nose, while Harry and
I put our handkerchief over our mouths All
|
| snickered oHt.
"Whar's this?" demanded the master, CON-
ing down to our end Of the room. No one an.
swered but gene raj grin and staring pointed
us out as the root Of the difficulty.
"Put down your book, Thomas" said tho mas.
| ter Tom wriggled and hesitated. "DS you
hear!"
Down came the book, aud, 10 the black lip.
| 4 roar followed this unwilling.
| what is that I" cried ne master, looking At
| 1t attentively.
"Moustsche" suggested = voice behind
The master gl.need at it .gain. then frownsd.
He had 4 small, sandy noustache himself, and
with young sentlensns usual sensitiveness
on the subject, l think he took it a. = ssucy i'm.
itation, piece of impudence. For moment
! he almost gl.red at poor Tom when another
voice b!urted out, "a couple more under the
| h,nHkerchiefe"
Take them down 7" th.ndersd he, turning
We did so, and were greeted with another
reer.
Bot Mr. Rsdwsy recovered his humor in a
| moment. and tlraing to one Of the little boys,
said pleasantly, though still with slight CLEAN
! in his eye, Johnny. run over to Mr. Needhan's,
| next door. and borrow hs razor aud piece of
soap. These young gentlemen will have to
shave. The class may be seated till we can got
their moustaches Of"
"Now the best thing for us to have done then
was. But We were 90 fustered, scared, and
! withsl, 20 ashamed, that w stood mute ~ mon
keys. ear lips helping the smile.
"Come out here J" sid he. We followed him
! suto the floor. "Tske eff your jsckess!" We
peeled.
Nov pin your hsndkerchieis about each
othsTs necks, towel fsshiou."
We performed this office for each other, in q
d.esdfally clumsy way, elieiting fresh ou,burst.
with msrriment. BY this time JOHNNY lad rot
back with Mr.. Nsedhs.'s r.z.r aud l.,h.r.sox.
The master went along t. the pail aud poured
some water into the box, which he set on the t..
bio. Next he seated me In his chair, barber
! fashion, and had me pat my heels up on the
| stove This done, he retired 10 the back seat
and babe Harry shave me after the mest ap.
proved style, with the remark that he would
teach "a 5ar6ertng, il nothing else.
"L.,her him md shave hn WELL waa the or.
der, a. he vent up the isle, leaving US alone ia
the hour.
L. took = second command to drive Harry into
~ And then, o, how ling.rngly awkward aud
ssw Il" went about it How he looked a. he
'mered ,hs lsther over my face! And how his
hand. 'remblsd and shock about a. he otdtle-ea
the r'1or along my lip And the Htts chap in