The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-08-11

Again there was silence. This
seemed more Ominous than any of his
threats. 1t was broken at length by
mutfied sounds on the roof.
really thought. as did many of the
younger children, that Mr. Pitkin was
coming down the chimney, and clinging
to my sister Mercy's dress, begged her
to take me home.
An instant after. the smoke came pour
ing out into the room in volumes. We
choked and laughed and cried and
shouted altogether. He had put board
over the chimney, and for a time it APP
peared as we if would have to leave the
school room, but Seth was equal to the
emergency.
$50 that's his game, is it?" said he,
quite cody. ''Well, I'm ready for him;
I've seen that tried BEFORE" and going
into the entry he got long pole and
thurst it up the chimney.
Meanwhile, somebody had opened one
of the shutters little and the master
was seen sitting on snow drift-also
quite coolly-awaiting the result of his
experiment.
Well, all the big boys took hold of the
stout pole, and with a Nov them" gave
a tremendous push and off rolled the
board. At this they set up hurrah, but
if they thought the battle was won, they
were mistaken. Mr.. Pitkins picked up
the board, stepped from the drift upon
the roof, and Us we knew by the smoke,
put the board across the chimney again.
''All together once MORE" cried Seth
But this time the board did not move
hair.
Hes got on it himself said Zach
Christie. Lets push him off.
At this the boys thrust the pole up the
chimney more vigorously than ever; they
worked as if for dear life.
The rest of the day was passed in
games and merry-making, picnicing at
noon upon the dinners we had brought
in our pals. Mine,I remember. consisted
OF cold sausages, mince pie and brown
bread Some of the girls had coffee,
which they boiled over the fire, and
nearly all brought pickles.
1--WE shall catch it tomorrow" was
the general opinion expressed, and some
of us felt no little anxiety as to what we
should catch-at least l can answer for
one.
But when the morrow came there was
no allusion made to the affair at all. If
anything, Mr.. Pitkin was better natured
than usual, and we concluded that he
had taken counsel with his common sense
and perhaps with some of the elders of
the town.
Well, all this was long time ago. Mr.
Pitkin has been dead several years, and
am getting to be an elderly man. Some
of the boys who took part in this roguish
meeting meet occasionally; some l have
lost sight of.
My last meeting with Seth McMarsters
was curious one.
Passing through the town where he
lived, called to see him, and found him
in his barn. His son-a boy perhaps a
dozen years of age-was with him, and
from the jacket thrown over the barrel
and other indications, judged he had
been receiving a sound hogging.
Seth looked much older than l ex-
pected him to look. He had no teeth to
speak of. His thin hair was quite gray,
and he had acquired a stoop in his
shoulder.
Peering at me moment through his
round iron bowed spectacles, he held out
his hand and said:
"Why, if it amt Barizillai! shouldn't
have known you, you've changed so. l
s'pose I've changed some, too. You
may go, Seth to his son. That boy
got punished in school to-day for some
of his pranks-sarsin' his teacher, or
sometbin.' And do you know, when he
gets whipping at school, always make
it point to give him another at home.
But it's shame, Barizillai, there amt
no discipline neither at school or among
parents to what there used to be. l
don't know what the world is a-comin
tn ~ Youths' Communion