The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-07-09

master look up quickly and suspiciously
at Jack Dudley, but the expression on
Jacks face was as INNOCENT as that of
cat who had inst Tapped the cream off the
milk.
Pewee Rose, whose proper name was
Peter Rose, had also the nickname of
King Pewee. He was about fourteen
years old, square-built and active, of great
strength for his size, and very proud of
the fact that no boy in town cared to at
tack him. He was not bad-tempered, but
he loved to be master, and there was set
of hatterers who followed him, like jack
ais about lion.
AS often happens, Nature had built for
King Pewee very fue body, but had for
In any kind of chaff or banter, at any
sort of talk or play, where good head
was worth more than q strong arm and a
broad back, King Pewee was sure to have
the worst of it. A very convenient part
nership had grown up between him and
viii Riley. Riley had muscle enough,
but Nature had made him mean.spirited.
He had-not exactly wit--but facility
for using his tongue, which he found
some difficulty in displaying, through fear
of other boys fists. By forming friend
ship with Pewee Rose the two managed
to keep in fear the greater part of the
school. Willis rough tongue, together
with Pewee's rude fists, were enough to
bully almost any boy. They let Harvey
Collins alone, because he was older, and,
keeping to himself, swed them by his
dignity good-natured Bob Holiday, also,
was big enough to take care of himself.
But the rest were all as much afraid of
Pewee as they we're of the master, and, as
Riley managed Pewee, it behooved them to
be afraid of the prime minister, as well as
of King Pewee.
From the first day that Jack Dudley
entered the school, dressed in brown Jeans,
Will Riley marked him for victim. The
air of refinement about his face showed
him to be a suitable person for teasing.
Riley called him milksop" and " sap
head words which seemed to the dull
intellect of King Pewee exceedingly witty.
And as Pewee was Riley's defender, he
felt as proud of these rude nicknames as
he would had he invented them aud taken
out patent.
But Riley's greatest stroke of wit came
one morning when he caught Jack Dud.
ley milking the COW. In the village of
Greenbank milking COW was regarded
as woman's work and foolish men and
boys are like savages-very much ashamed
to be found doing woman's work. So,
having seen Jack milking, Riley came to
school happy. He had an arrow to shoot
that would give great delight to the small
boys.
"Good morning, milkmaid !" he said
to Jack Dudley, as he entered the school
house before school. "You milk the COW
at your house, do you? Where's your
apron ?"
"Oh.hl Milkmaid milkmaid That's
good one," chimed in Pewee Rose and
all his set.
Jack changed color.
"Well, what if do milk my mothers
COW? l don't milk anybody's COW but
ours, do L? Do you think I'm ashamed
not to- can but he stopped minute
and blushed-"I can wash dishes, and
make good pancakes, too. Now, if you
want to make fun, why, make fun.
don't care" But he did care, else why
should his voice choke in that way?
"Oh, girl.boy; pretty girl-boy you
are" but here Will Riley stopped and
stammered. There, right in front of him,
was the smiling face of Susan Lanham
with look in it which made him sud
denly remember something. Susan had
heard all the conversation, and now she
came around in front of Will, while all
the others clustered about her with q
vague expectation of sport.
"Come, Pewee,9 let's play ball." said
Will.
"Ah, you're running away, no you're
afraid of girl" said Susan, with a cut
ting little laugh, and toss of her black
curls over her shoulder.
Will had already started for the ball
ground, but at this taunt he turned back
thrust his hands into his pockets, put on
swagger, and stammered: "No, I'm
not afraid of girl, either"
That's about all that he isn't afraid
Of" said Bob Holiday.
ooh you're not afraid of a girl p
said Susan. "What did you run away
for, when you saw me2 You know thai
Pewee won't fight girl. You're afraiG
of anybody that Pewee can't whip"
"You've got an awful tongue, Susan
Well call you Sassy Susan" said Will
laughing at his own joke.
"Oh, it isn't my tongue you're afraid
of now. You know can tell on you
l saw you drive your COW into the stable
last week. You were ashamed to milh
outside, but you looked all around"
al didn't do it. How could you see
1t was dark" and Will giggled foolishly
seeing all at once that he had betrayed
himself.
alt was nearly dark, but happened tt
be where could see. And as | was com
ing back, few minutes after, saw YOU
come out with pail, and look arounC
you like sneak-thief. You saw me ant
hurried away. You are such a coward
that you are ashamed to do little homes
work. Milkmaid Girl-boy Coward
And Pewee Rose lets you lead him srount
by the nose |"
"You'd better be careful what you say
Susan" said Pewee, threateningly.
"You won't touch me. You go abou
bullying little boys, and calling yoursel
King Pewee, but you can't do sum il
long division, nor in short subtraction
for that matter, and you let fellows lik
Riley make fool of you. Your father
poor, and your mother can't keep girl
and you ought to be ashamed to let he
milk the COW. Who MIXED your COW thi
morning, Pewee? ?"
81 don't know" said the king, looking
lslra ba b. no fool