River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-03-04

the crack of the double front door, so
that a sufficient length of the teps re-
manned unfenced, to afford to Miss Molly
and the children unrestricted entrance
and exit.
One day-a February day in that sun
ny south-when the class in denominate
numbers was required TO estimate the
area of the whole interior of the house,
with view 10 putting IN ceiling with
out knotholes and floor that would not
wobble, an i'll wind from Miss Molly's
cold home away up north sv ooped down
into the piny woods and came nigh TO
sweeping the steadfast old Methodist
church quite beyond the possibilities of
reconstruction.
How every body did SILVER. and how
the angry flames roared N the heaped
fireplacesi There was no fireplace in
the schoolhouse. but there was stove
"a very plucky stove. 200. Ii stood on
one leg of its own and three of brick and
pulled away until il was red all over.
reckless of the fact that at any moment
the stovepipe might topple or telescope
down and set fire to the schoolhouse.
a great pile of lightwood and pine knots
cyerfiOwed the wood box.
The children had gathered in a close
circle about the stove. screening their
faces as best they could from the scorch-
ing heat of the fire, and forgetting the
shiVers behind in compliment contem-
plation of Miss MOlly's red nose and
purple chin. Thad, with his usual as
surance, had placed himself beside Or
della. Ordelia perused her book. coolIy
indifferent to his presence. Lon sat
apart from everyone and deigned to
look neither TO the right nor to the left
of his history book.
Lon had been in the dumps ever since
the loss of his button. and il was under
stood by the school that he was likely
to remain in that unhappy state of mind
until he had thought out some ade-
quate revenge for Thad's meanness.
Accordingly. since the morning when he
had shortly refused to permit Ordelia
t. sew on the button. the school had
let him respectfully alone.
The door of the schoolhouse had been
closed, even locked aiust the weather.
The windows had been stuffed with
hats and bonnets. But the boisterous
nOrther secuted such frail defenses.
It seized the sides of the house and
shook them till they swayed. 1t
screamed through cracks and " histled
through knot-holes; il swept under the
rotten stills and sifted up through the
floor. Above. below. and or every side
ii entered. cold and gusty. pressing
back the warn n of the stanch little
stove.
Miss Molly. with her feet on a sheep
skin and her hands muffied in her coat
sleeves, sat with her back to the school,
watching the red fingers of Gistee and
Guy trace a sentence on the black board.
Selling the opportunity. Thad stuffed
the stove full of fat pine. The flames
took a moment TO grasp the fuel. then
mounted merrily.
There was a cautious showing back of
benches and chairs. The first reader
class, Pouley. having craned his neck
to make sure that Miss Molly was not
looking. stealthily retired into the in
viting cavern under the ros;Fum. where
the pinching drafts of the norther aud
the parching heat of the stove were in
less serious contest. There he made a
seat of his book. settled his chin in his
palms. and. gazing serencly upward.
observed the phenomenon of red creep
ing up the vering line of stovepipe.
Miss Molly's pencil dropped from her
stitched fingers. and. STOPPING TO pick
IL mp. she spied through a crack the
image of PouIey's placid contemplation
beneath her feet. Drawing the con-
geaIed muscles of her face 10 a frown.
she opened her lips to issue a sharp
summons. when out popped PouIey into
the middle OF the room. pointing up
ward and shouting:
Quick! quickI The house done
caught aire!"
The smaller children huddled towsr
the door Some of the older cnes
scrambled for their books and hats
Miss Molly stepped swiftly from the
rostrum to Pouley's desk. thence to the
floor.
Ordelia, big Hayes. Thad aud Lon
stood beside her. Looking up through
the pipehoie in the ceiling. they plainly
saw the danger. u length of the stove
pipe had settled. leaving an open space
between il and the next length. Swift
flames were pouring into the pipe. striv-
ing toward the draft of the brick chm
ney above; but the wind. breathing I'M
der the caves. blew the fiery column
aside so that the hot DANES licked the
roof. The curling shingles we're al
ready smoking. in a moment they
would be afiame.
With three bounds Lon was out of the
door. He seized the ak from the wood
pile. dashed back into the room. and
leaped TO Miss Molly's desk.
That's the go! Rip her down. Hi.
big Hayes. catch hold!" shouted Thad.
excitedly.
With a mighty spring Hayes caught
rhe board that Lon had pried loose. and
both swinging from it. they peeled il
down. leaving a wide opening in the
ceiling overhead.
"Now. then. up with you and wipe her
out." directed Thsd. even before their
feet had touched the floor.
Ordelia turned upon him. wipe il
out YOURSELF" she flashed.
Thad gave her one surprised look.
then swung mp into the loft. Filing
me something to work With" he shout
Lon ierked OF his coat and tossed it
up; then. snatching the bucket from
Miss Molly. he threw the s'oyc door
wide and began 10 dash cautious cups
of water upon the kissing fire. Choking
smoke and steam poured into the room.
but the leaping flames died dow n quick
". and the red-hot glow soon began to
fade FROM the stove sad pipe
How are yor coming on mp there?"
conghed big Hayes. trying TO peer up
through the smoke.
"All right-I've put it out Look
away tbsTel I'm coming down.
Thad's cowhide shoes appeared. swing
ing out Of the smoky atmosphere.