A big snow had fallen, but the weather had soon turned warmer and the
snow had softened just enough to make snowballing good.
[Sidenote: Snowball Contest]
“You may snowball all you want to as long as you keep above the row of
trees,” said the superintendent to the boys.
A fierce battle was going on within the prescribed bounds. The contest
increased in fury and finally one side was driven back.
“Remember the limits!” cautioned one of the pupils.
Most of the boys either forgot to stop or kept running in the excitement
of the game, and rushed far beyond the limits. Then several more were
crowded beyond the limits, and unfairly engaged in the contest from
their new position.
“You’d better quit now or get over with the rest all of you!” shouted
the head of the schools.
Charles stopped for a short time, but in a few moments threw again from
outside of the limits.
“Charles, you go upstairs at once!” were the decisive words of the
superintendent, hurled at the offending boy in a way not to be mistaken.
Charles mounted the stairs without delay and entered the office. The
superintendent soon appeared.
“What did you mean by throwing after I cautioned you, Charles?” asked he
sternly.
“Well—I don’t know. I got lost in the game and didn’t notice what you
said, I guess.”
“Well, what do you think, now?”
“I think we should obey the regulation.”
“Will it be necessary to speak to you more than once the next time?”
“No, it won’t!” said Charles decisively.
“Then you may go.”
Charles left the office, glad to get off as easily as he did. Thereafter
the superintendent watched this boy, but Charles was careful to obey
whatever the teacher told him if the superintendent was within reach.