Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-06-29
ROUND The CHIMNEY.
The Funny Escape of Mischievou,
Schoolboy from the Master,

The Funny Escape of a Mischievous
schoolboy from the Master.
A correspondent sends a story which
his grandfather used to tell. It was III
the days of open fires, and the school,
house had an enormous brick chimney
built out into the room, the better to
afford warmth, leaving space about
three or four feet in width between it
and the wall. This was an attractive
spot for the boys on rainy days, when
outdoor sports were impossible, and
many game of tag was played, in
which lodging about the old chimney
formed a prominent part.
One afternoon the master, tall,
Aharp-featured man, whose specialized
eyes took note of the smallest breach of
discipline, detected a boy in some of
tense that in his opinion warranted a
whipping. The culprit was called to
the platform at once, and as the teacher
was in the midst of an explanation to
the class, and perhaps held the belief
that the worst part of punishment is
the anticipation of it, he simply mo-
toned the youngster to wait until the
recitation should be over.
The recitation came to an end at last,
the class filed to their seats, and the
master grasped the ferule and started
toward the delinquent. AS he put out
his hand to take firm hold of the boys
collar, there was an unexpected move
on the victims part. The suspense had
been too much for his nerves, and he
gave quick jump, just out of reach of
the avenging hand, and stood rapidly
winking his eyes in establishments at his
own daring.
The teacher made another attempt to
seize the boy, but he lodged again. The
performance was repeated several
times, and, at last, before the lad re-
allied what he was doing, hehad broken
into a run, while the schoolmaster, with
ferule uplifted and vengeance in his eye.
was close at his heels.
Down one aisle and up another they
ran, the youngster slightly in advance.
the teacher, with superior length of
limb, rapidly approaching him. At
length their headlong course brought
them near the brick chimney, and the
| boy darted behind it like a hunted rab-
bit.
Then began q race such as the old
schoolroom had never witnessed.
Round and round the chimney they
tore, first boy and then teacher, appear.
ing and disappearing in dizzy rotation
before the eyes of the staring and ex-
cited pupils.
Suddenly the idea struck the boy that,
in the natural course of events, the mas
ter would soon think of the simple ex-
pedient OF stopping short, and he, with
his acquired momentum. would find it
impossible to avoid running into the en-
emy's arms.
He changed his tactics at once, and,
darling off at a tangent, slid into the
nearest seat, which happened to be
among the girls. There he sat painting,
leaving his pursuer to revolve alone.
The teacher was putting his soul into
his work. He raced, he few, his coat
tails few behind him, drops of perspira-
ton stood upon his forehead, and still
his efforts were unrewarded by even q
sight OF the runaway.
| AT last, as the boy had foFeseen, he
stopped short, and d grim smile came
over his face as he planted his feet firm
ly and stretched his arms wide apart
to resist the expected shock.
| As he waited, the smile gradually
faded from his countenance, and gave
place first to surprise and then to utter
bewilderment. The sight was too much
for the pupils. They began to litter
and, as the absurdity of the situation
grew upon them, burst into peals OF
laughter. Even the culprit, covering
in his too prominent seat, joined in witt
faint giggle.
The master was utterly at loss. He
wiped his perspiring forehead, gazet
dizzily around the room, looked down
rubbed his spectacles, and seemed con
fused.
| 'Well," he said, when he recovered
his breath so that he could speak, g.
can't remember which boy was chas
ing; but if he will come forward ant
own up, / win let him off this time"
| "And as you may imagine" my grand
father would add, u was only too GLAD
to accept the conditions offered, for
was that boy."-Yonth's Companion.