Jack Hall Or the School Days of An American Boy

OW JACK SPEST THE FORESOON OF WASHING TONS BIRTHDAY. IT was a bright February morning. The sun was warm, so that the piles of silom in the streets mere in a perfect condi tioii for snow-balling, much to the satisfaction of a medium-sized boy of thirteen who had just come out of the house and was standing o, n his doorsteps, drawing on his mittens. His name was Jack Hall, and he more a Scotch cap, a reefer, and a pair of rubber boots. As soon as his mittens were on he cleared the last two steps with a jump, and, plunging his hands into the nearest snow-bank, stood patting a ball into shape while he looked around. The street on which Jacks house stood was a long and tolerably steep slope. There were houses on both sides. He lived at the top, near the corner of an intersecting street, which ran at right angles to it down to Boston Common. Opposite to his house was a grocery shop. Suddenly Jack looked animated as he caught sight of another figure, not unlike his own on the way up the hill, and by way of welcome to the newcomer, who was still far off, he emitted a sort of shrill war-whoop, Ehu - ehu - ehu Immediately there came a faint reply from the distance, Ehu - ehu - elm After each had twice repeated this salutation, Jack continued contentedly to make snow-balls. He had finished two, tucking one under either arm, and was moulding a third, when R man appeared on the further sidemalk of the intersecting street. Give nle a shot, mister shouted Jaclr. The man, who was going towards the Common, looked back over his shoulder and grinned, which Jack recognized as a sign that he might blaze away, which he did accordingly. The first snow-ball went a little wide of the mark, and struck the wall beyond with a thud but the next liit the man plump in the middle of his exposed arm, and evidently convinced him that discretion rvits tlie better part of valor, for he gathered liis coat collar about his neck, aild fled with precipitation until the corner s l hlimt out from view, pursued by Jacks remaining snow-ball and derisive scoffing. This put Jacl ii l ighl unB uotr b. eforehe had fully re-supplied himself with ammunition, the area door in the wing of the grocery sl opo peued, and the grocers clerk, a young man of about eighte - e il, appeared, carrying some baskets and bundles, with whicll 11e proceeded to load a wheelbarrow belonging to the est, ablishment, that stood beside the big window, paging 110 attention to Jack, though he perceived him very well. For there was perpetual war bettveen the boys in the neighborliood and nilustacl io, which was the ilaine applied by them to the grocers assistant on account of n feebly sprouti dgo t non his upper lip. Jack had equipped 11in1seIE amply with snow-balls by the time that the clerk, with his barrow-full of eggs and flour and other groceries to be delivered in tile neighborhood, was ready to. start domii the street, and stood leai ing against a tree watch ing the enemy. Before Mushchio had proceeded 4 JACK HALL. twenty feet, Jack let drive, not at him, but at the ... --This text refers to the Paperback edition.