The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-08-12
LITTLE MIGGS.

LITTLE MIGGS.
None of us knew exactly what was
going to happen, but we could not fail
to notice the look of anxiety which the
masters face had worn during all the
morning lessons. This alone was enough
to arouse our suspicion, even though
Mullett and Decker had not been alb.
sent. But they were, and that settled
1T at once. Something was wrong, and
there proved to be only two in the
schoolroom that morning who could an
swer the eager questions which passed
from IN to lip up from the lowest tier of
small boys to the last row which held
such big follows as Lloyd, Gray and
BridgmaD, and these two were-the mas
ter and little NLiggs.
Poor little NIiggs, he evidently knew,
for lie sat very still in his seat, and
never ouce looked up from his book.
But he wasn't studying, for if you took
the pains to look you could see he didn't
turn leaf. He was very pale-but that
isn't strange, for little Miggs' face was
always white. Don't you see the handle
of a crutch just in sight above his
desk
You canpot expect boys to study very
attentively when some expected disclos-
ure Is hanging over them, and how we
ever set through the morning is ques-
ton for a jury. Half-past one. The
school session is over at two. Can it be
possible we are to be dismissed without
knowing why Mullet and Decker are
absent, and why the master and little
NiSgs have looked like a funeral all day.
The master strikes his bell.
"Boys, the usual half hour for writing
will be omitted this morning. The
school will como to order, as there is an
important matter to be brought before
you. During the ten years l have been
connected with this establishment there
has never been any serious conflict with
my authority; never any waywardncss
where pardon could not be granted when
asked. Yesterday, however, i,n offense
OF so grave nature was committed, or
ut least attempted, and one for which L
was so little prepared, that L was at a
loss to know the best way of meeting it.
The severe action | finally adopted is
the result of consultation and of serious
reelection on my part; and that the les
son may not lie without benefit to you
all, | have decided to inform the school
of the whole matter, together with the
course my method of punishment has
taken.
\ pin drop! Why, you might have
heard the very dust fall had you been
thinking of it. We were frightened, too,
and Todd, down i'll the corner, began to
cry, which might have made some i'm
preston If Todd We're not always crying !;
SO we let him whimper without much
notice, and sat watching the door
through which the master passed, after
charging us to keep our seats. We had
not long to wait-olly time to say :
Shut up, Todd" once or twice, when
the door reopened.
The master, Mullctt, Decker, and
and-is it possible, Coles, the constable |!
We rub our eyes and stretch our nccks,
but cannot change that burly form into
anything but Coles, the constable. This
was more than we bargained for, having
thought the excitement would culminate
Ill public Hngging, or at the most an
expulsion. The culprits were placed be-
fore masters desk, and Coles took a seat
Oh the platform beside him.
"Little Miggs, will you come and take
this chair, ii you please"
The boy slowly arose, took his crutch,
and limpcd to the seat assigned him. As
he passed across the floor you could see
he was a cripple, and sadly deformed
one, too; but you couldn't have been in
the school a single day without dis
covering that he is the favorite. Who
could umpire game of ball or cricket
with the fairness of little DIiggs /? No
one ever thought for moment of dis
putting his decisions; and of the cheers
which followed the conclusion of game,
those for little Miggs always seemed the
heartlest and most prolonged.
Boys, l learned from little NIiggs
yesterday that conspiracy had been
formed to commit crime in this house.
The information was given that L might
be on my guard. could not draw from
my informant the names of those i'm
plicated, but through means of fortu-
nate accident L discovered the culprits.
What the crime was, and how the design
was thwarted shall be told by one who
was a listener, although an unwilling one,
at the plotters' rendezvous. 1 have in
sisted ON this disclosure, and L need
hardly assure you that my principal
witness tells his story with the greatest
ioAuo1ance, anu oAly ny my express
desire.
eff you please, SIR" said little Miggg,
" | was down i'll the birch hut yesterday.
which we built. you know, for our ball
club meetings. There was one appoint
ed for that day, but it rained and so it
was adjourned. was late, and didn't
get there until all the boys were gone.
1t was raining 50 hard, that could not
return, and as the roof isn't very tight,
the water poured through, SO / crawled
into the large box where we kept our
clubs-it is the old dog kennel-and 1
could not have been there more than five
minutes. when heard Mullett and
Decker talking outside, and by-and-bye
they came in and seated themselves ON
the box over my head. was just going
TO come out, when Mullett said
"' But are you sure you can put your
hand on thesmoney after you get in q