Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-02-29
: VOL. XX.V.II...

night said Harry, land Wen put on
some of it"
We went back with him, and at an
early hour retired to Harry's chamber.
He had brought up a cup with some
water. We tore off a corner of the pack
age and turned out about quarter of the
Compound into the cup. 1t was merely
gray powder; but what puissant look
1t had to us! 1t dissolved readily in the
water. And standing there before Harry's
little looking glass, we put it on to our
upper'lips with our forefingers, dipping
them alternately. The operation took
some fifteen minutes; we rubbed it well.
1t was bitter cold night. There was no
fire in the chamber | remember that we
nearly froze our legs; though, of course,
a little thing like that was not to be put
in the balance with a mustache. After
what we deemed a faithful application,
Harry blew out the candle and we got
into bed, shivering considerably, but with
high hopes.
.'Itll probably begin to start 'em out
by morning." said Harry. "Well put on
some more before we go to school Drive
'em as fast as we can, now.
1t was light when / woke Tom was
up in bed (he had the middle) staring al
ternately from my face to Harry's, who
was not yet awake. His upper lip was
black as scott 1t flashed into my mind
about the mustache compound"
'sTom ~ / exclaimed you've got a
pfodigSous one '' - 7is - --s-s-
Have l ?" cried he, jumping out and
running to the glass. Il hope it isn't
like yours
Isprang out and looked over his shoul-
der. My lip was black as his
g What is it ?" said Harry, rousing
up.
Then seeing US staring into the glass,
he leaped out and came looking over nay
shoulder. There were now reflected three
of just the blacklist lips you ever saw.
We eagerly felt of them. 1t wasn't hair,
it was a black stain. Our forefingers were
equally black
by hokey!'' exclaimed Harry, "I
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 60 into breakfast"
We went down to the sink, and, getting
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 black
er for soaping! For a moment we were
thoroughly frightened; then, our faith in
the Compound returning, we resolved
to accept the situation resignedly for the
sake of mustache.
" It's probably getting the roots laid, :"
whispered Harry, as we went in to break
fast, rather shamefacedly.
"Whyl Why My stars, boys n' ex-
claimed Aunt Dolly OIrs. Smith), as we
took our places opposite her at the table
" What hace you been doing to your
faces Ink ! It's ink. o you silly
boys -
We said not a word Far better to
have her think it acas 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.
30, it we hadn't to go to schoolr' 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 coming out
very soon.
We gave our luckless lips another scrub
bing, fruitless one; and then, as it drew
near nine o'clock, went off toward the
school-house. The master was Just going
in as we got there. Holding our hands up
to our noses, we went to our seat with
out attracting much notice. But while
reading in the Testament, several of the
boys spied 1t ont in spite of the books we
held up. We began to hear a suspicious
tltterlng; and while the Fifth Reader
Glass" which came next, was out on the
recitation seats, it kept breaking out,
much to the masters annoyance and sur
prise. He looked sharply around. But
we held our heads down and studied pro-
digiously. a
"Class in the Fourth Reader ~ cried
the master. That was our class.
Our hearts gave a great jump
The crisis had come. We stole out to
our places, Tom holding his open book
under his nose, while Harry and I put
our handkerchiefs over our mouths. All
eyes began to fasten upon us; and some
body snickered out
"What's this ?'' demanded the master.
coming down to our end of the room. No
one answered; but a general grin and
staring pointed us out as the root of the
difficulty
6 Put down your book, Thomas" said
the master:' Tom wriggled and hesitated
DO you hear 2"
Down came the book, and, 10! the
black lip A roar followed this unveil-
ing;
ing at it attentiyely.
Mustache ~ suggested a voice be-
hind
The master glanced at it again, then
% ~,
tache himself, and with a young gentle
mans usual sensitiveness on this subject,
L think he took it as a saucy imitation, a
piece of impudence. For moment he
almost glared at poor Tom, when another
voice blurted out, ga couple more under
the handkerchiefs !''
"Take them down !'' thundered he,
turning upon US.
We did so, and were greeted with an
other roar @.
But Mr. Redway recovered his humor
In moment, and, turning to one of the
little boys said pleasantly, though still
with slight gleam in his eye, "Johnny,
run over to Mr.. Needham's, next door,
and borrow his razor and piece of soap.
These young gentleman will have to shave.
The class may be seated till we can get
their mustaches off, @ =
NOW tne pest thing for us to have done
then would have been to tell him frankly
just how it was. But we were so flustered,
scared, and withal so ashamed, that we
stood mute as monkeys, our lips helping
the simile - .
Come. out here p said. he. We fol-
lowed him into the floor "Take off YOUR
jackets !" We peeled.
- Now pin your hankerchiefs about
each others necks, towel fashion"
We performed this Office for each other,
in dreadfully clumsy way, eliciting
fresh outbursts from the whole school,
which now sat agape with merriment By
this time Johnny had got back with Mr..
Needham's razor and lather-box
The master went along to the pail and
poured some water into the box, which
he set on the table Next he seated me
in his chair, barber. fashion, and had me
put my heels up on the stove. This done,
he retired to the back seat and bade
Harry shave me after the most approved
style, with the remark that he would
teach us 6arberi1ag, if nothing else. .
Lather him and shave him well" was
the order az he went nm the aisle 1eayinu o.