The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-10-15
Little Miggs.
The Nuyserg.

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 absent.
But they We're, and that settled it at
once. Something was wrong, and there
proved to be only two i'll the school
room that morning who could answer
the eager questions which passed from
lip to lip up from the lowest tier of
small boys to the last row which held
such big fellows rs Lloyd, Gray and
Bridgman, and these two were-the
master and little Miggs.
Poor little Miggs, he evidently knew,
for he sat very still in his seat, and never
once 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 a
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 i'll sight above his desk!
You cannot expect boys To- study very
attentively when some expected disclos-
ure is hanging over them, and how we
ever get through the morning is ques-
ton for jury. Half-past l. The
school session is over ut 2. Can it be
possible we are to be dismissed without
knowing why Mullett and Decker are alb
sent, and why the master and little
Miggs have looked like funeral all day.
The master strikes his bell.
"Boys, the usual half hour for writing
will be omitted this morning. The
school will come to ORDER rs there is an
important matter to be brought before
you. During the ten years i have been
connected with this establishment there
has never been any serious conflict with
my authority; never any waywardness
where pardon could not be granted when
asked. Yesterday, however, an ofiense
of so grave nature was committed, or
Mt least attempted, and one for which
was so little prepared, that was at a loss
to know the best way of meeting it. The
severe action / finally adopted is the re-
suit of consultation and of serious re-
! Election on my part; and that the lesson
! may not be 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.
A pin drop Why, you might have
heard the very dust fall had You been
/ thinking of it. We were frightened, too,
/ and Todd, down in the corner, began to
cry, which might have made some i'm
preston if Todd were 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--only time to say
"Shut up, Todd" once or twice, when
/ the door reopened.
The master, Mullett, Decker, and
and-is it possible, Coles, the Constable.
We rub our eyes and stretch our necks,
but cannot change that burly form into
anything but Coles the Constable. This
was more than we bargained for, having
thought the excitement would eliminate
in public fogging, or at the most an
expulsion. The culprits were placed be-
fore masters desk, and Coles took seat
on the platform beside him.
"Little Miggs, will you come and take
this chair, if you please.
The boy slowly arose, took his crutch,
and limped to the seat assigned him.
AS he passed across the floor you could
see he was a cripple, and sadly de-
formed one, too: but you couldn't have
been in the school Il single day without
discovering that he was the favorite.
Who could umpire game of ball or
cricket with the fairness of little Miggs
No one ever thought for moment of
disputing his decisions; and of the
cheers which followed the conclusion of
game, those for little Miggs always
seemed the heartiest and most pro
longed.
"Boys, 1 learned from little Miggs
yesterday that conspiracy had been
formed to commit a crime in this house.
The information was given that L might
be on my guard. l could not draw from
my informant the names of those impli-
Gated, but through means of fortunate
accident l discovered the culprits.
What the crime was, and how the design
was thwarted, shall be told by one who
was n listener, although an unwilling
one, Mt the plotters' rendezvous. have
insisted on this public disclosure, and
need hardly assure you that my princi-
pal witness tells his story with the great
est reluctance, and only by my express
desire.
eff you please, sir, said little Miggs,
81 was down in the birch hut yesterday
which we built, you know, for our bal
club meetings. There was one appoint
ed for that day, but it rained and so il
was adjourned. was late, and didn't
get there until all the boys were gone
1t was raining SO hard, that l could not
return, and as the roof isn't very tight
tie water poured through, SO L crawleC
into the large box where we keep our
clu bs-it is the old dog kennel-and
could not have been there more than five
minutes, when / heard Mullett ant
Decker talking outside-and byand
; by they came III and seated them
selves upon the box over my head.
was just going to come out, when Mul
lett said
&c But are you sure you can put youl
hand on the money after you get in 2
Yes, said Decker, he keeps it under
his pillow at night. Miggs saw him pu
it there the day master had him sleep OF
the lounge in his room when he wa
} sick 1 lay very quiet while the,
! talked over their plans. / was ve-,
t,nt,nl, 81 -. g., n