The stars were shining bright that night, and not one of us did know
  that fire, the great destroyer, was laying our school house low. It
  must have been after the new moon had disappeared from sight, or surely
  some of the neighbors would have seen the luminous light. For the moon
  then set about one or two, and all the neighbors wise had long since
  retired for the night, and closed their sleepy eyes. Next morning the
  sun shone brightly, and the scholars hears were light for not one of
  them had even dreamed of the work that was done that night. And the day
  before, the girls had planned to wear their sun-bonnets gay, in order
  to keep their pretty cheeks from the sunshine's heated ray. Amsa (Hunt)
  had started very early on purpose the fire to kindle, but when he reached
  the hill-top his courage began to dwindle; for there before his very eyes
  in a white and massive heap lay our pretty little school house in ashes -
  piled up deep. Then the pupils kept coming to school and each and all in
  turn asked the same unanswerable question - "How did it happen to burn?"
  Of course no one could answer that. And they all began to look to find
  something not destroyed in remembrance of their books. Someone found the
  teacher's clock and it was a sight to see - nothing but the works, and a
  little hand that pointed to the hour of three. That was the hour that
  destruction visited this lonely nook and all that was not destroyed was 
  the old stove poker and hook. But we will trust in Providence, and, perhaps
  some future day, if all are willing the district can for a new school house
  pay.
                   
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 26  
     Submitted by: A Maple Grove Pupil. Leslie Stout found this among his
     fathers' (Chas. Stout) belongings. Leslie Stout.