Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-29

The boys did not want to go out to play;
the teacher begged and prayed them to 60.
At last he succeeded in getting them out' az
though they went very unwilhngly
Once outside, they showed themselves to be
much like other boys, by crowding about BOD
by and asking him many questions about NM
self and the manner of living In the upper
world
do you ever have holidays there?" asked
one. Don't you hate them!'
Before he had time to answer another ex-
claimed:
"Oh, sometimes they are nice! On cold,
moony days the teacher rows us over TO the
island there"-pointing to the pool OF water
in the centre of the patch of grass-and we
spend the whole day in learning verbs ana
studying arithmetic"
'That is fun!" said third, enthusiastically
Just then the bell, which had been ringing
all the time, stopped, and the scholars rusheo
eagerly back into school.
Again the studying and reciting went on,
the schoolbell ringing all the time. bopDy
wondered how it was kept going; but no boy
was inattehtive enough to be asked, SO ne
was obliged to be content with wondering.
School was over at last, and the teacher,
having persuaded the boys to 60 home, started
off with Bobby, talking pleasantly all the
way.
Master Bobby greatly enjoyed feeling HIM
self of so much Importance. Being encourag-
ed to talk was something quite new to hun.
He had by this time become 80 well accus-
toned to the strangeness OF things tnat ne
showed no surprise whatever, when, on reach
ing the house, they went in at the side door:
He was, however, scarcely prepared to hear
the schooimaster say, as he laid aside his hat:
Dinner does not appear to be ready. 1
suppose they have not finished eating.
"Who% asked Bobby, never very slow with
his questions.
"My servants-they always eat first, you
know"
Bobby did not know. but, having nothing
to say, kept quiet, which was rather good
idea.
Presently the dinner came But here was
a fresh surprise:
First appeared huge, smoking plum pud-
ding. Quite large slice III had been cut from
"Ah" said the master. ut is lucky you
came on an ordinary day. because we have a
good dinner. If you had happened here on
feast day you would have Jared badly"
"How nice that pudding looksN was Bob
by's reply.
"Do you like it? Boys seldom do. Don't
eat too much, or you will have. no appetite for
the meat and vegetables. 1 hope they have
not eaten them all. That often happens when
they are particularly good"
Bobby made haste to seat himself. at the
table. The schoolmaster placed generous
slice of pudding on his plate. just as he was
preparing to put much larger piece in his
mouth than he would if he had been sitting
beside his mother, the schoolmaster put out
his hand, seized him by the collar and began
shaking him violently.
IL was such a surprise. Never in his life
had he been SO shaken. The room seemed to
turn round; his teeth clattered together; the
table. plate, schoolmaster and pudding all
disappeared. For the second time that day
he shut his eyes. When he opened them he
was lying on the seat on the summer house,
with his aunt standing over him.
s'Bobby! Bobby! get upl" she said. II
have been calling and looking for you every
where. You must have been asleep"
Bobby rose, but said nothing. He thought
great deal, however, and arrived at two
conclusions-one that he had not been asleep.
and the other that he would pay another
visit to that strange country at his earliest
opportunity.
ing SO all the next day. The day after Bobby
went to visit his grandmother, and when he
came back the brook was at home again. BY
The next summer he had forgotten all about it.