The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-03-08
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THE FATAL JOKE.
BY HELEN C. GAGE.


| was once preSent-where small
party of young persons were discussing
the subject Of practical joking. After
long and interesting debate. the ques-
ton seemed about to be decided IN its
favor, when gentleman whose singu-
lar and melancholy and detected air at
once attracted our attention, related
the following story:
In my Younger DAYS | was remarka-
ble for my fondness of practical joking,
even TO such degree that / never al
lowed good opportunity to pass I'M
improved.
My orphan cousin, Robert to whom
! was fondly attached, was of differ
ent nature from this. He was sober.
sedate and graceful almost to fault.
very thoughtful and very bashful This
stupidity. as | called it. was often
check upon my natural eayety, and il
was seldom that could induce him to
join in my boyish sports, though he
sometimes did. merely to crafty me
Poor Robert! the green turf of his ma
tive valley, on whose bosom the fairest
flowers that New England could boast
of have bloSSumed and withered, and
passed away to eternity. leaving be-
hind them the impress of their lowell
ness. is now covering his mouidefft1g
ashes Yes; Robert is dead, and | am
the cause of his untimely death, the
circumstances of which will serve to
convince you of the folly of practical
joking"
Ii was late one evening in early
September. that Robert and myself re-
turned to our room. TO talk over the ex-
citing scenes of the day, for it was the
night after the election, and fine holl-
tay it had been to US. had just re-
turned from a visit TO some friends IN
the CITY, and had of course Brought
with me many curious things which
Robert had never seen nor heard Of
Among them was mask, the use OF
which | explained to my unsophisti-
Gated cousin, who laughed and Won
dered why the people could wish to
look horribly enough to wear one.
| was in my gayest mood. Just ready
for an adventure, and seeing he was
disposed to make fun of my mask, |
proposed an experiment.
sWhatw exclaimed my cousin, ! you
do not intend TO wear it to bed, ito you s.
Far from it" | replied, /" it is you
should wear the mask, not IL am
quite ape enough without it..
"A very Just remark, indeed he
observed, gravely.
| had never seen him in better hui
NOR, and had thought ii best TO un-
fold my plans at once. At our next
door lived wealthy gentleman. with
whose daughter my bashful cousin was
already smitten. That very night, as
we passed by, on our return from the
village. he had called and bade her
good night, and received in return one
of the sweetest smiles from the hap
piest ewes and most charming, lips
ever beheld. | was his bosom friend
and to me he always entrusted his Sc
crets. (alas! howlittle have deserved
such confidence,) yet he always blush
ed when spoke to Julia.
Some evil spirit, | know not wha
else it could have been, prompted mt
when proposed to have little spor
at her expense My plans were these
He was TO dress himself in suit Q
ci0IneS 10 COffGSpuuu Viii 1llo i1aes. =
which, by the way, was the most fright
full looking thing ever saw, repair II
the dwelling of his friend, and call he
to the door by rapping. was to stan,
near to witness the result and partlcl
pate in the joke.
He blushed, hung his head, and 0
course, refused. had expected this
but flattered myself that could easll
persuade him to the contrary, 1t was
however, harder task than had al
ticipated, for his unwillingness SCENE
greater than ever, the reason | readil
understood.
/ pooh;d and p'shaw'ed, and fnalf
threatened TO expose to all the boy
his cowardly disposition, as | please
to term it, and tender feelings to JUL;
which as vet none of them had di:
covered. This last argument prove
more successful than the other, for h
well knew that | never suffered tn
idlest threat to be unfulh!fed, and th
fear of being laughed at, besides b.
traying that which he most wished
conceal, conquered, and he ylelde
though reluctantly. even exnlfe
over my triumphs, though have ofte
since wished my lips had been struc
dnmb before I had uttered these wors