River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-09-19
Paving off the Miller.


pering behind their raised desK-lids.
The school-roOm was so quiet and the
whispering so loud, that the tired little
woman on the platform heard it, and
came softly up behind Sim to see what
it was all about.
4" Get outm cried Sim, suddenly, feel
ing a smart pull at his hair. "Teil teach
er I you don't stop thatlH
CT don't know whether teachers do
such things nowadays; but that was in
the days OF hair pulling, when boxed
ears and raped knuckles wire taken as
a mater of course.)
"I'll have a word with you two, after
sohooim said Miss Anderson, shutting
down the desk-lids.
Sim gave one SCARED, upward glance,
saw who it was, and subsidized into red
faced studiousness. He remembered that
in these after school interviews, from
words they often came to blows
"Ebml chm = coughed Bud, across
the aisle, when Miss Andcrsons back
was turned.
Sim caught dirty white note in the
note:
"G,t al the boys you can and all the
tin paus and girls and things to max a
nois aud then les al Civ old dodge a reg
gler Serrynaidar suTv him rite for ordren
US oul the mill wunt it"
Sim turned the note over and wrote 'al
rite" on the other side; then sent it back
with that endorsement. Miss Anderson
was providing around distrustfully, and
Bud crammed ii into his pocket. with a
hasty glance at Sims answer. But peck
cts have other holes sometimes than those
at tkc top, and notes have way Of slip
ping 1hrougk to the floor. Buds did.
THE little good -for-nothings said
iss Anderson, picking it up at recess.
Il hope Mr.. Dodge Will give them a good
horse whipping. I'll tell him sor
Five minutes later small boy was on
his way to the mill, with note from the
teacher, informing the miller of the
childish bit of revenge the boys were
planning. The miIler's blue eyes twin
killed. With fun as he read it,
Think they're going to drive me out
of camp, do they2' he said, chuckling
merrlly. ''I'll fix 'em!'
Two o'clock came, and with it an omin-
Gus sound of rafting pans, and drums,
and things TO make a noise. Rub-a-dub-
dub! up the hill they came, rub -a-dub
They tramped into the mill The dusty
miller pushed his dusty hat off his fore.
head, and gave the little army the Dene-
fit OF one long stare. then turned to his
work without a single word
'Goodyp cried Bud, spying an inn
mense drum in corner. Guess he
wouldn't have left this round, if he'd
known he was comingm
"Don't it make a splendid racket
said round-faced Susy Piper, Humping
away with both her dimpled fists on one
of her mothers milk-cans, the only thing
she had been able to appropriate without
suspicion.
Don't you bleeve he hears what
noise we're making2" asked Sim, little
anxIousIy, when they had drummed Wig
orously for half an hour without detect
ing any signs of uneasiness on the part
of the miller.
es, course" answered Bud. Hes
mad, and won't speak, that's all. Les
KEGS at it till he has to-
So they pounded away for another ha.f
hour, with an energy worthy It better
cause.
awful hotl' sighed Jenny Allen,
one Of the SMALLER boys, tanning his red
face with limp straw hat. Don't you
s'pose he's ever going to speak2 It's such
fun to hear him rave when he's mad-if
he cont catch you!'
"0' said Bud, reassuringiy. 'Dont
give up vet. He's most crazy now. l
saw the corners of his mouth twitch when
he emptied that sack of meal.
I'm gong homer whined two OF
three, as the half-hours slipped away,
and the jolly miller went in to his five
O'Clock supper
- don't, cried Bud and Sim,to eeth-
er. just wait and ep drumming. He'll
come out pretty quick, and then you'll
see fun. He can scold ever so much bet
tern Miss Anderson. Keep a-drum-
mini"
Pub -a-dub- dub how the oldmill rang.
Sucn a Babel of sounds was surely never
heard before within Its walls
The miller came out at last. He looked
cool and comfortable. and his eyes
twinkled more than ever.
We'll, boys and girls, he said, cheerily.
'tired, be yea 'Fraid we've worked too
hard for such hot afternoon. I'm any
quantity oblige kto We for coming up
been thinking of sending for host on ye
10 come and drum my rats away. Plagued
me most to death all the spring; but |
guess thls'H fix em. ee this ere big
drum into Boston The other day, and
thinks says I, that's the very thing to
skeer EN- with.
WELL s'pose you want TO get some
supper now. Can't pay ye much, 'cept
in good will. Here's a cent apiece all
round to buy some candy with. When
We don't want 10 play, come up and help
me again sometime. GOod-night!'
Tue children stood there for moment
or two-a blank-faced company; then
turned and marched in melancholy pro-
ceasion down the hill.
The jolly miller laughed as he heard
Bud mutter sorrowfuliy, "SoId for
cent "-Annd Il. Bur7aham, in Youths