Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-01-31
The Boy and the Apples.

A Burlington schoolmarm, while work
ing in example on the board, detected an
urchin directly behind her in the unlawful
act of devouring an apple. She said to
him: Tim, what are You doing? "
- No'hin'," said Tim, with his mouth so
full that his checks stuck out on either
side like aldermen's stomachs "YeS,
you are" paradoxicnlly insisted the teach
er. What have you IN your hand? "
'Napple." said Tim, with some snrpr Sc.
rs he looked at the fragment of the apple
in his hand and wondered who had bit it
while he was studying. What has be-
come OF the rest of it?" "Dunno," said
Tim, looking around in an amazed effort
to discover who had the rest Of it. Some
body's been eutin' it," Have you any
moreP" demanded the teacher. " Yes m,
got mother" said Tim dolefully. "Where
is t?" relcnlcssly pursued the teacher.
IN my desk" sighed lin, us he began to
suspect that his teacher was going TO de-
mand it Of him. "Wcll, take it out in
90 stand on the platform and eat i.''
" EATEN both?" queried Tim. "Ycs,
eat them both" Eat all got?" de-
manded Tim, in II subdued tone of coun-
tenance. Yes, eat all you have" impa-
tiently responded the teacher, and turning
to the board, continued: "and don't You
leave that platform while You have an ap-
| pie uneatcn' Silence regned in the
school-room. The paper pellet pursued
its tranquil transit unobseryed. The busy
hum of the studious IN de more noise than
the cautious smile of the indolcnt, TIM
stood at his post. The fragment in hi
hand soon disappeared, and he fell upor
the other apple silently but determincdIy
Quickly it followed the first Then lie pu
his right hand into his pants pocket ant
took out an apple and, after cautious re
connoilrc, during which he wiped it on hi.
trousers, he began the attack. He carriet
the fort. Down went his hand again, an
another apple was brought to light. |
was quickly dispatched. A third followed
Then he changed his position and, resting
the weight of his body on his left leg, sigh
ed rs he drew from his left breechts pock
ct another apple. When it was gone hi
drew on the commissary for another, ant
by the time he produced the eighth appl,
he was silently being observed by two
thirds of the boys in the room. The teach
er turned and saw the boy still standing il
the attitude of one who was reaching 70
something in his coat pocket. "Aren'
you through yetP" she queried in SOM
astoniShment. Got MOTHER" sloicall,
responded Tim, producing tand falling Il
work on it. In surprise the teacher saw
him reach for still another, and when tha
was gone surprise grew to amazement II
his unwavering hand again sought tn
gaping mouth Of that pocket. As the DO,
ate he grew in dimensions, and the teach
er became alarmed. There seemed to b
no end to the apples he had in his clothes
Tim, for mercy's sake. have you an.
more apples?" Got MOTHER" said Tim
indificrently. How many more apple
have youP" Dunno. Guess got two o
three more," said Tim. The teacher di
not dare to let him proceed, and appointe
herself in investigating committee to loo
} after the back counties. The boy neve
changed muscle of his countenance q
moved an inch while that teacher pulle
apple after apple from his coat, and stack
: cd them up upon the desk, until there W.,
something less than Il peck piled up, wit
more pockets to hear from. The matte
hasn't been laid before the school boar,
: yet, but the exhausted schooma am de
| clarcs that the next time she will lear
, how much Of a crop OF apples II boy hi
} about him before she issues any orders.