The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-08-16

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
raorning lessons. This alone was enough
to .arouse our suspicion, even though
Mullett and Decker had not been ab-
sent, But they were, and that settled
it 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 lip to lip up from the lowest tier Of
small boys to the Inst row which held
such big fellows as Lloyd, Gray and
Bridgmnn, aud these two wcre-the mas
tor aud little AGiggs.
Poor little Aiggs, hc evidently knew,
for he sat very still i'll his seat, and
never once looked up from his book.
But ho wasn't studying, for if you took
the pains to lHok you could 500 hc didn't
turn n leaf. lie was very palc-but that
isn't strgncc, for little Miggs' face WIS
always white. Don't you SEQ tho handle
of n crutc! Just i'll sight above his
desk
You cannot expect boys to study very
attentivcly when some expected disclos.
ure is hanging over them, md how We
ever get through the morning is qucs.
tion for Jury. Half-pnst ono. The
> school session is over ut two. Can it be
possible we nre to be dismissed without
knowing why Mullot aud Decker are
absent, and why tho master and little
Aiggs have looked like n funeral all day.
The master strikes his bell.
"BOys, the usual hulf hourfor writing
will be omitted this morning. The
school will como to order, rs there is IN
important matter to bo brought before
you. During the ten years | have been
connected with this establishment there
has never been any serious conflict with
my authority; never any waywlrdness
! where pardon could not be granted when
asked. Yesterday, however, I'LL oilense
Of 80 grave nature was committed, or
at least attempted, aud one for which |
was so little prepared, that | was ut II
loss to know the best way Of meeting it.
The severe action | finally adopted is
the result Of consultation md Of serious
reflection on my part; and that the les
son may not be without benefit to you
all, l have. decided to inform the school
Of tho wlf1lu matter, together witt, the
course my method Of punishment has
taken.
A pin drop! Why, you might have
heard tho worry dust full hal you been
thinking Of it. We were frightened, too,
and Todd, down in the corner, began t.
cry, which might lmvo malc some i'm
preston il Todd were not always crying
SO We let him whimpcr without much
3 notice, and mt watching tho door
through which tho master passed, nftcl
charging ls tO keep our seats. We had
not long to wait-only time to say
t"Shut up, Todd" once or twice, when
the door rcopcncd.
- The master, Mullett, Decker, and
aand-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. Thi'
was more than We bargnined for, having
thought the excitement would culminat
in n public ilogging, or Mt the most nj
expulsion. The cul prits were placed be
fore masters desk, md Coles took Il seal
on the platform beside him.
"Littlo Miggs, will you como and tax,
this chair, il you please"
Il The hoy slowly arose, took his crutch
and limpcd to the scat assigned him. AZ
he passed across the floor you could set
he was II cripple, AMI sadly dcformed
one, too; but you couldn't have been III
the school single day without dis
covering TINT he is tho favOrito. Who
could umpire game of ball or cricket
with the fairness Of little Miggs? Nc
{ ono 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 tho
hearti0st and most prolonged.
Boys, | learned from little Miggs
4 yesterday that conspiracy had beer
formed to commit crime i'll this house
/. The information was given that I might
! be on my guard. could not draw from
my informant the nnmcs Of those i'm
plicated, but through means OF n fortu
nate accident l discovered tho culprits
What the crime was, and how the lcsigl
was thwnrted shall bo told by ono whC
lwas a listener, althoughan unwilling one
at the plotters' rendezvous. l hive in
, sisted on this disclosure, and ncct
hardly assure you TINT my principa
witness tells his story with the greAtes
relactancc, and only by my express
desire.
'd2t.If you please, sir, said little Miggs
81 WIS down in the birch hut yesterday
which we built, you know, for our bal
y club meetings. There was ono appoint
cd for that day, but it rnincd and 20 il
was adjourned. was late, asl llilln'
get there until all the boys were gone
II was mining 50 hard, That l could no
return, and Gs the roof isn't very tight
tho water poured through, so l crawlel
into tho largo box where We kept oul
clubs-it il tho old dog homeland
could not have been there more than five
minutes, when l heard Mullett ant
Decker talking outside, and by-anl-byt
they came i'll and seated themselves OF
thebox over my head. was Just going
TO come out, when Mullctt said:
80 But are you sure you can put YOU
bonI IN fhn mnnny aftnr you unk in 2