"Abyssinia, eastern Africa, three kingdoms--Shoa, Tigre, and Amhara, elevated table-land, of which majority of people--m-m-m-m--pastoral pursuits."
Willy Flint again leaned forward and slipped something through the damper.
"Ah!" said Mr. Pollock, at the door. "Come in." And the violent Selectmen entered, namely, Deacon Crockett, Harvey Cummings, and Mr. Atherton Bell--who had been to the Legislature. Again Willy Flint leaned forward.
"Exports, skins," shouted Angelica, "ivory, gums--"
"Angelica," said Mr. Pollock, sternly--"Angelica Flint, that will do." And Angelica, with an eye on Willy's movements, thought that very likely it might.
"We've come to see about that stove," said the fluent Mr. Atherton Bell. "Now I don't see anything the matter with the stove. Do you, Deacon? It appears to me to have an excellent draught."
"A good serviceable stove," said Mr. Atherton Bell.
Bang! went something in the stove; boom! crack! bang!
The top of the stove rose and danced about in an angular manner. The pipe came down and covered Deacon Crockett and Willy Flint impartially with soot. Legs went here and there. The door bounced off, followed by ashes and coals, and smote Mr. Cummings sorely on the foot. Then the stove settled down, propped only by one leg plainly showing and declaring itself the most disreputable stove in the town of Hagar; and the school resolved itself into anarchy, which proves just what all wise men say, that nihilism results in anarchy.
"Who done that?" shouted Mr. Cummings, angrily. Deacon Crockett said nothing, but glared. Willy Flint, being also covered with soot, looked in every respect like the down-trodden victim of conspiracy. Mr. Pollock wiped his glasses, which meant that he intended to maintain his presence of mind; and Mr. Atherton Bell, whom neither soot had touched nor flying missile smitten anywhere, seeing the misfortunes of his colleagues, immediately saw also the humor of the thing in a broad and liberal manner, thumped his sides and laughed loudly.
Then Bobby Bell, who greatly admired his father, joined in shrilly; then the rest of the school saw the humor of it too. Mr. Cummings, polishing his toe, smiled feebly. Mr. Pollock's eyes, as he brushed the Deacon's back with the broom, twinkled behind his glasses. The only persons who seemed really chagrined were Deacon Crockett and Willy Flint. Such it is to have an eye for the humor of a thing.