The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-10-17

were little disturbed themselves.
Perhaps the muscular ease with which
the new master tossed the great fore
stick" and 4" back-logsn into the fire.
place served to hold them in check.
Then, too, his manner of giving and
hearing lessons was off-handed and
manly. For the next four days they
were impelled to behave quite well.
But it would never do TO let him rule
them whole week. The eighth of
December was bitterly cold day and
the wind blew piercingly keen. 1t was
a cold walk to the school-house, and on
his arrival there Master Ammi found
tbs chimney had refused its ordinary
function. The room was full of smoke,
and the children stood shivering and
coughing. The five large boys above
mentioned were sitting on the forward
benches, pretending to study, but some
thing in their manner caused the mas
ter to feel that mischief was intended.
" This is a bad fire for so cold a morn
ing" he remarked. "Who laid it?n
"Joe Yatesl" exclaimed Sally Briggs,
spitefufly, " and it seems to be stuffed
up. But it can't be anythng's in the
chimney, she added, sarcastcally, for
] L StCD OOlt vi Ilt JOOl lOOhlu1 lulO IL
as | came along to school"
Something in the chimney" re-
peated the master. What can it be?"
He saw the trap at once, but for rea-
sons of his own he chose to walk into
it, and got partly down on his knees,
with his back to the boys, and essayed
to look up the hue. This was the very
thing the Kaidgers were lying in wait
for. With shout they all sprang upon
him, pulling him backward on the floor,
and then began dragging him through
the door and along the covered way
opening into the woodshed, or Z" trap"
Somewhat to their surprise the master
did not offer much resistance. "Don't
be so rough with me, boys" he said, in
what they thought rather queer tone.
In moment more they had him in the
woodshed - just where they wanted
him, they thought-but just where he
wanted them really. No sooner were
they all inside than the athletic but
hitherto passive Ammi Bray suddenly
bounded to his feet and delivered two
lightning blows which sent Joe and
Ziby headlong and with tremendous
force against the others. Before they
had time to rally, the master was out
and had hasped the door behind them.
You will remain there, boys" said
Ammi, till you can appreciate good
fire."
With this parting salutation, the
master went back to the schoolroom.
After some delay the wad of brush and
turf was removed from the chimney,
and lessons proceeded as usual.
| 'ThankG IN thair tho
outer door of the woodshed had been
securely barricaded, the mutineers
were hopelessly prisoners, and ere
which whistled through the chinks be-
tween the logs.
Ye don't b'lieve he means to keep
us here all day, do YEP" whined Nat.
Yis, | do" snared Ziby, rubbing a
very puffy black-and-blue bunch over
his right eye. "Jes' like him tn. !
tell We he's a regular blue pill, he is
Look at my eye" "Wal, WED a
sarved him the same sarse eff he hadn't
up an got the better on u.s." said Joe
But there was no great comfort in
that reflection with the thermometer al
thirteen degrees below zero.
" Well be laft at by the hull town, >
growled Cuffy, and then each began tC
lay the blame on the other. But they
soon had to bestir themselves to keeI
from freezing, and, after doing theil
best, they were soon thoroughly chilled
After a time they began shouting to be
released: but two doors intervene(
between them and the school room
and a high wind was blowing. Moor
came, and the noon recess passed. NJ
one went near them, and by tire,
O'Clock in the afternoon they were 81
benumbed and so near freezing tina
they were ready to accept succor on al
most any terms.
Perhaps it was for this that Maste
Ammi had waited: for not much afte
I three O'Clock he called up little As;
Foster, and babe him 90 out to tn,
minister's" tree, as the children
called the yellow birch, to the top o
which poor Mr.. Wentworth had beer
tied by the Kaidgers, and cut ten sticks
, stock. When these had been brough
: in, Master Ammi first warmed then
before the fireplace and twisted them
little, and then he went to the door o
the woodhouse and asked the captiv,
halugerS ii Iney were cOlu, ana Wnetne
they would like to come in and ge
warmed
Yes! yes!" they roared. "Let Vi
a out! Let us out!" He could hear thei
teeth chatter.
Well" replied the master, "yol
can come into the schoolroom, one at
time, and get warm. Do you agree t.
that?"
Yes, yes" they chartered.
Well, then, Jad may come first,
4 said the master, and he opened tn
b door partly but stood ready to fore
it to if the Kaidgers showed bad faith
Jad squeezed out, and the master, afte
hasping the door upon the others, es
6 corted him into the schoolroom. Hal
, frozen, the youngster rushed toward
the fireplace but Master Ammi laid
heavy hand on his collar.
- mot so FAST" said he. 81 did no
| say you were to have fire heat. hav
something that will better suit you
case" and he pointed to the pile of bi
a birch Withes ~ YOu great boys - con