﻿220 PICTORIAL MISCELLANY. 



the prospect of mischief; for he was a naughty boy, and loved idle 

 pranks ; so turning to Oliver, he said 



" Here, hand over your crackers, and I'll make those fellows jump 

 and fly like scared rats." 



Taking the crackers, he crept softly up to the group, and soon 

 succeeded in edging himself close to the fire. 



" Holloa ! " exclaimed he, pointing to a distant window ; " what's 

 that ? " " 



Every head was turned towards the window, and as a dozen voices 

 asked, " What's there ? " he thrust the crackers deep into the fire. 



" Don't you see what's there ? J;i replied he to their question. 



" No ! " said the boys. 



" Nor I either," answered he, with a laugh. 



The boys were promising to pay him for his joke, when bang 

 bang bang, came the noisy crackers into their midst. Away they 

 rushed down went the chairs some of the boys lay sprawling 

 on the floor some cried some laughed the scene was one of 



Q 



utter confusion. 



The master, who was mending his pens at his desk, started up. 



"What's all this mean? Who put that in the fire? To your 

 places ! I'll settle for this scandalous behavior !" exclaimed he in a 

 breath. 



The boys took their seats, with many a nod and wink, except a 

 little fellow named Andrew, who stood with his hands on his face, 

 and crying most piteousiy 



" Oh my eye ! oh my eye ! ' : 



The crackers had struck him. 



After examining Andrew's eye, and finding it but slightly hurt, 

 the teacher put the question to the school 



" Who put those crackers in the fire ? ' : 



There was a deep silence, but no reply. The teacher con- 

 tinued 



" No scholar shall quit the school until I know who did this mis- 

 chief." 



A little boy, who had observed Aaron's movements, stood up and 

 said 



" It was Aaron Hill, sir.' 



