The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-11-15
THE FIRE AT THE HILL SCHOOL.

L
| Emily Garter, in Nursery.
|
THE FIRE AT THE HILL SCHOOL.
The schoolmaster was seated before
the open CRATE in the large room one
Friday evening, tired with his weeks
work, and the boys gathered about
| him. a
"Tell u.s." said the boys, {" about the
great fire in the school on the hill, and
how Prince Arthur was saved. y
| "But, flrst, tell me, Peter, whether
YOU have all of your lessons learned;
for remember the scholars used to
come to school and say their parents
had visitors the previous evening. and
so they couldnot prepare their lessons"
| Il have everything except my spell
ing lesson, and that lean learn in the
morning, for it is not hard anyway"
"Then will tell you the story; the
Hill School was large brick building
that had been built by rich man who
was retiring: from business. But he
lived there for short time only; for his
wife and children died, and then it was
sold, and used as a school. 1t was, in
deed, huge, rambling structure, sur
rounded and shadowed with tall elms
and naples. Mr.. Stanton, the Princi-
pal was hearty-greeting, kindly
treating kind of man, who had gath
cred over 100 boys under the roofs of
the Hill School, and pretty much every
one was happy. We had some strange
boys there-there was one that always
walked alone and swung his hands and
talked to himself; there was another
that received every month a letter from
a relative-the only relative he'had-in
Portugal; how wonderful he seemed to
us. = There was another whom every
body knew, the son OF a mlnlster-a
lively, sweet boy, with long, golden
hair. His name was Arthur, but we
all called him Prince Arthur; for we
had read Shakespeare plays, and felt
how dreadful i, Hnnai" red hot iron.
Gould go on and tell Won something
about = score of those fine fellows, but
vor are thinking about the fire.
How If began no one knows. 1t was
a cold November night and dark as
n;tch was sound asleep when felt
p,vsaif nplled ont of he'd and heard the
hcvs sav in low ominous tones. 1.-the
bn;lding is ON fire. I could smell the
smoke. 7 knew If was too true. The
hovs wanted leader and with wonder
ri nrasence of mind had not vet shout
| cd the fearful word Fire! Lighting
lamn- we went into the hall to find it
| full of smoke. n dreadful feeling came
over me when I Thought of the hundred
bows. "Yes.n l said, /" shout fire, ring
the bell. knock at every door, wake
every soul in the house," Then ran
to Mr.. Stanton's room. He. was soon
ont and we bagan to bring water, but
# was ali in Vain: the fire had burst
through the roof and the sparks were
dronn;no around ms like snow-f1akes.
| M. Stanton called out for the bows to
assemble on the lawn in front and then
called the roll to see if all were pres
ent Yes. all were there-no, Prince
was not Arthur's mate had answered
for him he darling away-saving he
wonld RETURN in a minute. So the roll
was called again. and each one was or
derad to answer only for himself This
time ali were present except Prince
Arthur. and then. after questioning, it
anneared that inst before roll-call
Pr!nce Arthur had Thought of his white
rabbit which he kent up in aroomy old
rarrat above the school rooms. There
sy.s hut ono stairway in the whole
building and the flames were now rag
;no fur;ouslv into that as though il
yera buoe CHIMNEY built on purpose
for them M Stanton turned pale,
and as NV eve Glanced over the crowd
of facas loot;no at the spot where the
~,rrat sts;rs came info the tower | saw
daodi,, ,,alsnass nm every countenance:
+ could scarcely breathe. .Ob. Prince
Arthmr ha ,,rst be rescuedr, rose in one
cryfrom the group Of boys. In spite OF
tbs orders tn remain on the lawn. they
ran ran aronnd to the rear. and a loud
shont told ma that there was a discov-
ory Yas there at high oarret win
dow was seen thc sweet paiiid face OF
ths & Young Prince Arthur How shall
we we Get T him downp'' Bring ladder 2
TLare RI IA no ladder .eDon't YOU
iumnn keep up courage "We
win save you.'' "See, he has the
white rabbit under his arm These
were few of the many things
said by his excited school-mates. Mean
while MIR. Stanton conferred with the
teachers, but there was no way seen to
get Prince Arthur down from his peril
Gus height; where he leaned over the
window-sill, apparently without realiz-
ing his danger. What strange creatures
bows are! There he was, partially OBJ
scnred by clouds of drifting smoke, the
flames racing and roaring at the end