Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-02-02


Every country boy in New Englan,
knows that the village school-huuse i
generally located upon the top of the bleak
est hill in the neighborhood, and is th'
sport of every edifying gust of wind tina
drives down from the great pine wilderness
of Maine, heaping the great drifts acros
the road and about the door for the child
ren to break through. and then shake them
selves free of the clinging snow like S,
many young Newfoundlands -
And where, by any chance, was ther,
ever schOol-house containing stove tina
| didn't roast the scholars seated near it, anC
leave the others to freeze?
All wide-awake boys who know the
pleasures of skating will agree with me
that however cold and stormy il is upon the
hill-tops, the mill pond (and what does 6
village amount to without mill pond
indeedP) is always down in the cosest nook
between the hills, where the winds cam
come with more force than is needed tC
blow the falling htkes across its smooth
surface, plling them in great heaps among
the bordering willows, and leaving the ict
in tempting order for "shinnv." In fact
upon this the coolest morning of the win.
ter, the school-house on the hilltop is moi
to he mentioned or thought of in compari
son with the mill ponds for comfort OF
attractiveness, and it is hardly surprising
that Mr. Chalker, the school-master, walked
to and fro in solitary state, surveying with
vexed air an array of vacant desks. He
was not altogether alone. however, fol
| three boys had fought bravely through the
| drifts, and now sat huddled bv the red-hot
stove, trying hard to look as though they
at least, didn't think the weather good
excuse for staying at home to hunt hens
nests in the depths of the haymow.
NowSchoolmaster Chalker was shrewd
observer, and loved n good joke rs well as
anyone. He had adopted many Original
plans of instruction. He could see one end
of the mill pond, half IL mile away from
his window, and rs he gazed out upon the
bleak waste of Snowclad fields he saw q
couple of small black figures gliding ovel
the surface. and "a trace of smile shone
among his wrinkles as an idea seemed tc
strike him. Perhaps he had recalled the
time, ever so many years ago, when he toe
was IL lad and the "wildest cub in the
town." as his father often declared Turn.
ming lo one of the boys, he said: ben, il
seems to me that the ponds II much nicel
place for us than the school-house to day
| Let's 90 fishing | can't skate, but per.
haps | can show you how we used to catch
pickerel down there fifty years ago"
Ben and his two companions looked al
Mr.. Chalker with eyes widely opened, bu
they soon found that he was in earnest,
and they agreed to the proposition Joy.
fully.
Now" said Mr.. Chalker, two of you
get out the bob sled and heap on plenty o
sticks from the wood pile. Be sure and
get some big ones and you, Berton, 90
down to Mr.. Sampson, the miller, with
this note. He will let you have some lines
and II few mnnows for bait"
When the school house had been proper.
ly locked up. and they had started, drag
ging the sled after them, it occurred to
Ben to suggest Il slide. So all three vot
upon the wood, and slid away merrily
toward the pond. The road was steep but
straight, though near the bottom there was
II sharp curve, where the wind had blown
away the snow, leaving a crust of smooth
ice. Over this they sped at Il lively pace
Ben steering. Poor Ben couldn't turn the
corner, and in another second the sled
school. master and all plunged into the
depths of IL big drift. Nothing was to be
seen of Mr.. Chalker foc Il moment but his
heels; but he shortly emerged, putting and
laughing heartily, much to the boys relief
who had begun to think the fun was all
over. But Mr. Chalker shook himselt,anC
declared he enjoyed it, and was ready tC
try it over; in fact, he didn't act a bit like
IL school master, but just like boy LEI
loose-a very old boy, to be sure. but 4
very hearty one, for all that.
1t only required n few moments to cut {,
couple Of round holes in The ice, and tc
build Il roaring fire upon a platform o
| flung its forked tongues into the keen air il
merry defiance of the frost king and all hi!
servants. The half dozen boys already OF
the pond viewed these preparations with
considerable wonder, but gathering cour
age, finally skated up and warm d theil
fingers at the fire. Then somewhat more
than dozen other boys looked oit from
the windows of the houses scattered alons
the hill side, and said something like this
"MoLher, guess there amt any school to
day; | couId't see any smoke comm ou
of the chimney. Can't 90 down to the
pond?"
And an equal number ofmothers replied
"Why, of course not. It's much too colo
for you to go out. You said so yourself
and besides, You don't feel very we'll"
There's lots of the boys on the pond
mother, an the skating's splendid dom
feel so badly now. Can't l gop | won
stay long. think you might let"
,ubinh oil ha 1,>th Il -
feet, "Well, do go along; but mind yo,
don't get into any air-holes.'
Thus, before an hour had passed, nearly
all of the boys in the school were gliding
over the pond, or gathered in the groul
, watching MIR. Chaker and his fishing
party.
Meanwhile the school master and Bel
had enjoyed remarkable luck. Four fint
pickerel lay on the ice, and fifth (mucl
the biggest ever seen in the pond, of course
had been lost by Ben in pulling him up
Now it occ .rred TO Mr.. Chalker that i
would be much nicer if erybody hat
seats, SO he suggested to the boys that the,
should bring some fence rails, and 81
down in a circle about the fire; all O
which was done with Il merry good will
and Mr.. Chalker surveyed them with in
finite satisfaction through his glasses as h
hauled in another struggling victim of hi
hook.
Now" said he, II see plainly that it i
all mistake to hold school up there il
that uncomfortable building on the hill il
such weather as this, and so I'm going t,
propose that on all cold days this winte
we shall meet here on the pond and hol,
our classes; in fact, think We may AS wei
begin now" Without further ado tn
teacher pulled a supply of spoilers from hi
several capacous pockets, and said. "rh
first class in spelling will take seats OIL
this side"
Then it dawned upon the minds of th
boys that they had been fairly trapped, an,
they nearly choked with inward laughte
as they went through with spelling, arith
metc, and reading, taking turns at keep
| A. tla