The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-05-10
From "The Rambler"
April FOOling,
OR,
How a Drake Made a Gander of Himself.
BY STAMPEDE.

|
BY STAMPEDE.
How or when originated the idea that
the first of april is propitious day for
getting off practical jokes, and hoaxing and
humbugging your friends and neighbors,
we are not well prepared to explain; but
that the day aforesaid is devoted by the
waggish portion of the Christian commu-
mites to running rigs upon the unwary, is
clear enough. We have participated III
many of these funny diversions, and the
narrative of them in e.ctenSO would far
exceed all newspaper limits; however, we
shall not tire the patience of the reader
with series of our own doings, but give
brief synopsis of days aCork, the fun
and expense enjoyed, by middle-aged
jocular friend of ours, who was SO addicted
to practical joking, that he cared not fig
for expense, SO he had his joke; and as a
proof of this fact, hear US out.
| Old Drake, that was his name, or what
he was generally called, and quite as fire.
quently, Salamander Drake, from the fact
that his face was always as ruddy as a
setting sun in a summers sky, or boiled
lobster, giving him indeed fiery, sala-
manderish look about the phiz. The
color was not the result of potent spirits,
however. Oh, no! Drake seldom drank,
but an exuberance of humor, and good,
jolly animal spirits, seemed to keep up
the crimson tint of his physiognomy, as
bright and glowing as smelter's furnace.
The first of April was at hand, and
Drake promised himself lots of fun; and
he was Just the codger to concoct it and
carry out the necessary minutie, to effect
his purpose. The first of April came, and
Drake was up betimes: popping his head
out the window of his chamber, he espied
one of those early birds, the 'newsboys,'
laden with the morning papers, and bawl-
ing at the top of his infantile lungs, s'Ere's
the Times, Er'ld, Bee and Daily Mail!'
Drake sung out, Halo, boy!' then drew
in his head. The boy looked in vain for
his customer, then went on. Drake thrust
out his head, bawled again, and drew in
his head to chuckle; but the urchin, smell
ing a rat, armed himself with stray po-
tatoe, and as Drake stuck out his poll a
the 6ul6ous escule,t as hard as his little
muscles could propel it, and though miss
ing the wag, smashed pane of glas that
cost Drake half dollar, straight. The
Joker let down his window and sneaked
down stairs to his breakfast. Stepping
into the yard, Drake picks up some chips
of white marble, slips them silly into the
sugar-bowl ON the table, among the loaf
sugar, and had the satisfaction of seeing
the Jumps of marble in his ehildren's cof-
tee-cups; children wondered why the SUI
gar would not melt, and beat their silver
spoons as crooked as rams horns, poun.
ding the stones; but Drake laughed at the
ljoke heartily, and his wife scolded for an
hour at his nonsense and Jolly.
Breakfast over, Drake sallies out into
the street; meets an old friend, affects sur
prise, and says, why, who BACKED youl
face SO, friend Gray!' BLACK my face
Heaven bless mel calculates the astonish.
ed old gent, running into barber's shop
close at hand, to see who had been black.
ing his face, while old Drake went on
his way laughing for dear life. Coming
by the cab-stand, Drake orders two-horse
coach to call for lady and gentleman pre-
cisely at p. NJ, from No. - Warren
Street, to go to Mount Auburn. Yes
SIR says the cab, noting down the direc.
tion, while Drake hurried off, snickering
l'Ihat's an April fool!' Drake went
chuckling to his office; another idea came
into his head; he sat down and wrote a
note to a sheriff7s officer, directing him to
lget out writ Immediately, and arrest a
certain gentleman, just then getting ready
to leave the city, to swin9le his creditors
but pretending it was pleasure excursion.
Signing the name of commercial friend
to the note, drake gave it to lad to deliver
telling him to return Immediately to his
store, No. = Hanover street, where he
would find him, and get ninepence. OFF
went the boy i'll haste, and old Drake dis
Iappeared, chuckiing over the idea of ma
king three April fools at one move.
The Joker now travelled down to Quin-
cy Market, ordered butter to be sent to his
house In Beacon street, potatoes to be
sent 90 him by another, to his dwelling on
Park street, and poultry and round OF
beef to be sent to Leverett street. Of
went Drake chuckling at his glorious sport.
Met araw-looking countryman, asked him
why he wasn't up town seeing the pro-
cession. 'Persession?' said the green
horn. Yes said Drake, .the wild beast
show is going to pass Faneuil Hall pres
lently, and the elephants are now standing
by the Hail. BE, eh? Wall, hearn SO
much 'beout them creatures, guess I'll 90
see EN- said greenhorn, putting out for
Faneuil Hall; while Drake went on to the
custom house, and left word with an Off
Ger that some silks, &C., were being smug-
gled ashore from a schooner over in East