Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-10-21
Mi5leIlnneons.
THE FATAL JOKE.
By HELEN c. GAGE.

Twas once present where party of young
persons were warmly discussing the subject
Of practical joking. After long and int
resting debate, the question seemed about to
be decided in its favor. when q gentleman,
whose singular and Melancholy and detected
air at once attracted our attention, related
the following story:
In my younger days / was remarkable for
my fondness Of practical joking even to such
a degree that never allowed a good oppor
tunity to pass unimproved-
My orphan cousin Robert, to whom | was
fondly attached was of different nature from
this He was sober, sedate, and graceful
almostto fault. This stupidity, as cal
led it, was often check upon my natural
gayety and it was seldom that | could in
duce him to join my boyish sports though he
sometimes did, merely to crafty me Poor
Robert. The green turf of his native val
ley on whose bosom the iairest flowers that
New England could boast of, have blossomcd
and vithered, and passed away to eternity,
leaving behind them lasting impress of
their loveliness. now covers his Wondering
ashes. Yes, Robert is dead, and | am the
cause of his untimely end the circumstances
of which viii serveto convince you of the
folly of practical joking
1t was late one evening early in Septem-
Der, that Robert and myself retired to our
room to talk over the exciting scenes of the
day, for it was the night after the election,
and Gnc holiday it had been to us. had
just returned from visit to some friends in
the city, and had, of course brought with me
many curious things which Robert had never
seen nor beard Of. Among them was mask,
the use of which | explained to my unsophis-
ticated cousin, who laughed and wondered
why people could wish to look horrible enough
to wear one
was in my gaycst mood just ready for an
adventure and r,eing that he wars disposed
to make fun of my mask, proposed an ex-
pertinent.
What 7 exclaimed my cousin, you do
not intend to wear it to he'd do your
Fer from it. replied, it is YOU who
should wear the mask, hot /, | am quite ape
enough without it,
"A very just remark, indeed he observed
gravcly
had never seen him in better humor, and
| thought it best to unfold my plan 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 babe her good night, aud re-
ceiyed in return one Of the sweetest smiles
from the happiest eyes and most charming
lips ! ever bcheld | was his bosom friend,
and IN bo ~ t.l
(alas how little have | deserved such con
fidence,) yet he always blushed when spoke
about Julia
Some evil spirit ] know not what else it
could have been, prompted me, when pro-
posed to have a little sport at her expense
NV plans were these: He was to dress
himself in a suit Of clothes to correspond
with the mask, which, by the way was the
most frightful looking thing ever saw, re-
pair to tho dwelling Of his friend and call her
to the door by rapping. | was to stand
near to witness the result and participate
in the joke.
He blushed, hung his head and refused.
| had expected this hut fattercd myself that
could easily persuade him to the contrary.
1t was, however, a harder task than | had
anticipated, for his unwillingness seemed
greater than ever. The reason | readily I'M
derstood
poohed and pshawcd, aud finally threat
cned to expose to all the boys the cowardly
disposition as pleased to term it, and ten
der feelings to Julia, which, as yet, none OF
them had discovered This last argument
proved more successful than the other, for he
/ well knew ] never suffered the idlcst threat