The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-12-29
Tim and the Apples.


working an example on the board, de-
tected an urchin directly behind her in
the unlawful act of devouring an apple.
She said to him, "Tim, what are you
doing2" No'hm," said Tim, with his
mouth so full that his cheeks stuck out
on either side like aldern.en's stomaehs.
"Yes you are" paradoxically insisted
the teacher; "What have you in your
handa" 'Napple," said Tim, with
some surprise, as he looked at the frag-
ment of the apple in his hand and Won
dered who had bit it while he was study
ing. "What has become of the rest of
it2" "Dunno," said Tim, looking
around in an amazed effort to discover
who had the rest of it. "Somebody's
been eatin' it," Have you any more 2"
demanded the teacher. "Yes'm." said
Tim, doiefully; "got mother" "Where
is 1t 2" relentlessly pursued the teacher.
".'N my desk, " sighed Tim, as he began
to suspect that the teacher was going to
demand it Of him. "Well, take it cut
and go stand on the platform and eat it. T"
Eat 'em both ?" queried Tim. eyes,
eat them BOTH" "Eat all 1 got2" de-
mhnded Tim in subdued tone of coun-
tenance. Yes, eat all you have" i'm
patiently responded the teacher, and,
turning to the board, continued,
"And don't you leave that
platform while you have any apple
uneaten." Silence reigned in the school
room. The paper pellet pursued its
tranquil transit unobserved. The busy
hum of the studious made more noise
than the cautious smile of the indolent.
Tim stood at his post. The fragment in
his hand soon disappeared, and he fell
upon the other apple silently, but deter
minedly. Quickly it followed the first.
Then he put his right hand intohi pants
pocket and took out an apple, and, after
cautious reconnoitre, during which he
wiped it on his trousers, he began the
attack. He carried the fort. Down
went the hand again, and another apple
was brought to light. It was quickly
dispatched. A third followed. Then he
changed his position, and, resting the
weight of his body on his left leg, sighed
as he drew from his left breeches pocket
another apple. When it was gone he
drew on the commissary for another,
; and by the time he produced the eighth
apple he was silently being observed by
two-thirds of the boys in the room
The teacher turned and saw the boy still
standing in the attitude of one who was
reaching for something In his coat
pocket. "Arn't you through YETI" she
queried in some establishment. SCOT
Mother" stoically responded Tim, pro-
ducing it and falling to work on it. In
surprise the teacher saw him reach for
still another, and when that was gone
surprise grew to amazement as his I'M
wavering hand again sought the gaping
mouth of that pocket. As the boy ate
he grew in dimensions, and the teacher
became alarmed. There seemed to be
no end to the apples that he had in his
clothes. "Tim, for mercy's sake, have
you any more apples2" "Got mother"
said Tim, indifferently. "How many
more apples have youa" "Dunno, F"
said Tim; "guess got two or three
more" The teacher did not dare 10 let
him proceed, and appointed herself an
investigating committee to look after the
back counties. The boy never changed
muscle of his countenance nor moved
an inch while that teacher pulled apple
after apple from his coat, and stacked
them up upon the desk, until there was
something less than peck piled up,
with Dade county to hear from. The
matter hasn't been laid before the school
board yet, but the exhausted school
maram declares that the next time she
will learn how much of crop of apples
boy has about him before she issues
any orders.