Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-06-21
CHILDREs'S COLUMN.
The Pror.ssor,s T.abhers.

| Knowing by experience that the re-
quest would DE granted. the rest Of tho
company drew closer, and General Nj
lutine began as follows:
"When ! was about thirteen / used
To 90 70 school at the st. Vladimir
| Iyccum. There were several Of my
chums In the same class, and a wild
lot they were, always in some scrape
or other; but the widest Of all was a
lad from the Lower Volga. We used
70 call him Prokaznik' (Madcap). and
very good name it was, for he
couldn't be happy without playing
some mad trick or other. One even
ing he caught the professor Of history
"a grabbed old fellow who was al
ways scolding asleep in his chair, and
rubbed his bald head with phosphorus.
and when the poor old gentleman came
into the classroom, half AN hour later,
he lighted up the whole place like an
eastern illumination, and scared some
Of the smaller boys 50 much that they
ran away screaming.
"On one occasion it was the old pro-
fessOr Of mathematics at the lyceum
who became Madcap's victim. Among
the professors queer ways-and he
had plenty Of theTn-was his custom
Of going about, winter or summer.
wet or dry, in pair Of enormous rub
bers, whether 10 save his boots or from
mere force Of habit ! can't say. Re-
| gularly every afternoon he took of his
rubbers at the door Of the classroom
before going in, and put them on again
when he came out, and all the boys
knew them as well as they knew the
dome Of the Isaac cathedral.
"Well, our friend Madcap took IL
into his head to have some fun with
the professors rubbers One after
noon he contriyed 10 come up just as
the professor had gone in. leaving his
rubbers outside as usual Madcap
pOunced upon them at once, drove a
nail through each Of the heels right
into the floor, hid the hammer in .
corner, and walked into the classroom
looking as innocent as could be-
"lou may fancy the poor professors
dismay when, on slipping his feet into
the ruhbcrs and trying To shuttle away
as usual, he found himself rooted to
the ground. and unable TO stir an inch.
He struggled, twisted, tugged, jumped.
ami At last, thinking he was bewitched
or struck with paralysis. he began to
shout and scream till the whole place
rang. MaIrap and his chum. who
were looking on from the stairs above.
got scared. and ran TO help him; but
just then the professor gave a tremen-
ious tug, and tore one Of his RUBBER
almost in two
when the boys saw the old man
look troubled, they began 10 think
that he might not be able 10 afford a
hew pair, and they at once repented
Of their joke. Out rushed Madcap to
store round the corner, bought the
best pair Of rubbers in it, and put
them into the professors hand as be
came slowly and sadly down the steps;
and there were tears in the poor old
mans eyes as he took them. But it
didn't end there. for Madcap had a
friend at the court in the shape Of his
godmother, the cars own sister-in-
law, and through her influence the
professor got such a good appointment
that I don't think he'll ever have TO
wear won-out rubbers again"
"And what's become Of him nowY'
asked all the three children at once.
His eHcellency the president Of the
Imperial university" announced ser.
want at that moment, throwing open
the drawing-room door.
In came tall, fine-looking old man
IN black. so erect in figure, so firm in
step, and with such a clear, bright eve
that required the evidence Of his snow
white hair and wrinkled forehead to
make one believe that he had really
celebrated his eightieth birthday near
ly six months before.
"Ha, Stefan Nakowitch" (Stephen.
son Of James, the usual form Of adj
dress in Russia. cried General Milu-
tine, springing up and grasping the
newcomers hand heartily, you've
come exactly at the right moment.
Do you know. I've just been telling
our friends here how YOU had your
rubbers nailed TO the floor by mis-
ahievous young student at the St
Vladimir lvceum a good many years