Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-03-30
THE NECK-TIE PARTY.
prom the cinelnnatI Tiues

| With reckless disregard of conse
quences, they ran back and forth
through the mad laughing and scream
ing. Then, as some log larger than
the rest was launched, and went
plunging under the wooden bridge
the uproar was louder than ever.
They formed a group often to be
seen in country districts in the west
composed largely of boys, with few
girls nearly as hardy, and scarcely
less boisterous. The oldest might
have been twenty; the youngest not
over FIVE.
While she watched them, Winfield
Marsh stepped upon large cake OF
ice, and, aided by long pole, pushed
it from the shore. 1t tioated down
stream with him standing upon it.
Re dropped the pole when he reached
the swing gate, and as the ice shot
under it he chung to the boards and
climbed upon them but they were
old and soaked and the nails loosen
ed /; they gave way, and down he
went up to his neck in the water,
with the ice dashing against him. He
had barely time to gasp for help, when
Gilbert Wilson clambered upon the
log of the swing gate and stretched
his arm to the struggling boy. This
assistance enabled him to reach the
topmost board, and then rescue was
comparatively easy. Very shortly be
was walking towards the house and
his companions were racing along the
creek TO regain his hat which had
sailed away. The teacher gave vent
to an exclamation of thankfulness as
she went to the door and opened it
for his entrance.
Come to the fire, Winfield. You
had better remove your boots and
stockings and place them under the
stove; they will dry sooner. You had
quite an adventure
Then she wiped his face with her
handkerchief, and did what she could
to ameliorate his condition, wringing
his coat and vest and hanging them
upon chair before the open door of
the stove.
'You had better go home, had you
not, as soon as your clothing is dry
enough &c be moderately comforta-
BILE p
I'D rather not, said he, holding
his arms beneath the drums, and ap.
parently very much interested in his
steaming sleeves.
But / am afraid you will take cold
if You do not change your garments.
| really think you had better
I'd rather not. Need /, teacher p
There was such a beseeching ex-
preston in his pretty brown eyes
that she hesitated. There had been
whispers that home with him ment
anything but pleasant and lovely
place and the earnest way in which
he preferred his request limited
strongly that the whispers were true.
Governed by such thoughts as these,
she replied
well, no, Winfield, if You wish so
much to remain
He made a verbal response, but the
relief and gladness that shone upon
his face gave greatfnl answer. She
remained talking with him some time
upon various topics. When at length
she glanced at her small silver watch
she saw that it wanted but FIVE min
utes to one. With regretful feeling
she took rule and stepped to the
door. A few we'll applied raps
brought the muddy troop swarming
into the room, stamping the clinging
yellow clay from their heavy boots
and shoes as they came, one OF them
bringing Winfeld's hat and deliver
ing it to him with showery fling.
A short lowering around the huge,
cracked, red-hot stove busy push
ing of wet feet up toits agreeable
warmth a sabsiding into the seats
which were around the walls, graced
by ancient and abused desks in front;
then the teacher mounted to her
pulpit-like throne, few coverless
books were brought into requisition,
and the business of the afternoon be-
gun. Little Matt, abecedarian Of
the school, was dreamily repeating
his alphabetic lesson, when he dis
lodged q paper from his book. The
teacher picked it up and read:
DEAR Lucy st. Valentines eve I'm going to have
nee * tie party. Mothers baking for it now. want
you TO invite all the scholars that are old enough
valentine, and each girl neck-tie Wen be sure and
have lots fun. LoTTIE
She replaced it with q smile.
Whose spelling.book is this said
she.
'Lucy's,' said Matt. the letters
was all torn out of mine
At recess the larger boys and girls
remained indoors and discussed the
coming event.
slow many boys have you invited,
Lucy?
Twenty said Lucy Bailey. read.
inc off the names, and asking each
one if they were coming. 'All of us
but Win and the little ones
why not Win.?' asked one OF the
boys.
well, I.ottie said TO have an even
number, and there's twenty one of us.
Win. never goes anywhere and
likely his mother won't let him go
now. If any of you want to give up
your chance, I'll invite him in your
place.
None of them wanted to do any.
thing Of the sort, so poor Win. was
left ont in the cold. The teacher
heard the talk and pitied poor VIM;
but thought, perhaps, that was all she
could do for him.
After the school was called to
order, Win. Marsh and Lucy Bailey
took the places allotted the captains,
and chose sides for exercises in spell
ing, as was their weekly custom the
teacher pronouncing and keeping
tally. When each side had missed a
respectable number of words, they
stood up in row, in order to finish
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