Four Little Blossoms at Oak Hill School

POILE

into the yard. Miss Mason, after putting up every window, a

d not blow them away that he was the last pupil left in the room when Miss Mason went out, closing the d

tumbling books and papers abou

astonished at what he did next. Reaching down into a kind of cabinet that formed the lower part of Miss Mason's desk, Tim

?" asked a voic

der that he jumped. A thick stream of ink spurted out and ran do

relieved to find that the voice belonged to h

ssed down hard on the covers. He did this several times, each inking making

for?" deman

t it?" growled Tim. "Maybe when she finds her precious book marked up she'll

harlie Black, watching the ink seep into a fi

" grinned that bad boy. "And if I

rlie hastily. "Honest,

r find out you as much as whispered you saw me and

m Charlie, who knew from experience that Tim could be both relentless

look at me when she takes it out after recess to show the class. Wait till I put back these papers

ittee sitting on the platform beside Miss Mason's desk, and the teacher announced that th

n period," said Miss Mason. "I'm sorry I couldn't be here this recess, but we had an imp

ould, if he wished, scold even Mr. Carter, the primary and grammar school principal. Some of the boys said that "old Hornbeck," as they disrespectfully called h

class," said Mr. Hornbeck to Meg. "Read clearly

r her, though at home she always had her "nose in a book," as Norah said. She reached th

Miss Mason, as Meg came to

sket, and put her foot squarely into Mr. Hornbeck's high silk

ovingly. "Don't be so clumsy, chil

iss Mason's frown. Meg was glad to escape to her seat, and the committeeman mo

never ring, but at quarter of twelve it di

ed Meg of the twins, who as usual

hool," ans

ver Meg and Bobby told them one day they were pretty sure to "pretend" the ne

ow the higher class her book. Tim Roon, who had been secretly relieved that Mr. Hornbeck's visit had delayed the discovery of his tr

n, 79 drawing out the book. "Now, Ellen, this

o suddenly when she opened her book that the effect was as if som

rd told her mother, "and then it got red

ire. Tim Roon for the first time in his

ldly and slowly. "It was almost priceless. I want each one of you to come up

very quiet and still about it. Aisle by aisle, she made them come up and look at the book, insisting that each 80 c

eave the room this noon. If any one in this class was

hand w

sighed im

," she commented. "Very well, if we do no work t

ss time. As it happened not a girl had entered the room between the bells. An interesting

. Each one denied that he had been

up here," he

r hand?" snapped Miss Mas

ll. I had left it in my

cross, and Miss Mason had some grounds for thi

u up here?" s

s reply. He was beginning to wonder

before the bell rang,

manded Miss Mason. "Do you know ho

lent. Meg lo

am asking you if you know

t a few sparks equal to t

he retorted, not at

at any one should think he would deliberately ruin a beautiful book, and he forgot that Miss Mason coul

morning, all I can say is that you've chosen a very underhanded met

the book," insi