Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-03-31
9u greelIent gtory.
The APRLL FOOL.

= Nothing Is SO mucn enjoyed, o
: some men, as practical joke; an
the greater the annoyance they OF
: casion, the greater their delight
Of this class was Mr.. Thomas Bur
ting, who resided in a village fe,
miles ont of New York. Bunting KEEP
Store for the sale of almost ever,
article known in domestic and agri
cultural life, from number ten aec
! die up to a hoe-harrow; and from 1
mint-stick up to bag of coffee
Consequently, be was pretty
well acquainted with all the towr
people, who were, likewise, pretty
we'll acquainted with him.
As Bunting was constantly play.
ing off his pranks upon one and
another, be only kept himself free
from enemies by his good temper
and ability 20 sooih the parties he
sometimes. irri;ated beyond the point
Of endurarce.
The Fist Of April vas never per-
mitted to come and 60 without be-
ing well improved by the joke-loving
Thomas. If a customer sent for IA
pint of brandy on that day, he, would
be very apt to get four gills of vine
gar: or, if for pound of sugar, half
a pound of New Orleans mixed with
an equal weight Of silver sand. That
was smart child who could come
into his store on the occasion. and
leave it without being the victim Of
some trick. So, from morniug till
night of the First day of April, the
face of Thomas Bunting was one
broad grin. Full Of invention as to
the ways and means of playing off
tricks upon Others, our merry friend
was wide awake to any efforts at re-
taliation; and it generally happened
that most of those who sought to
catch him, got the laugh turned upon
themselves.
Two years ago, as the First Of April
approached, Bunting began to think
Of the sport awaiting him, and to cast
his eyes over tha town to see who
was the most fitting subject for
good jest.
4 must make'a fool of somebody
said be 20 himself; "a first rate fool
i'm tired of mere child's play in this
business. Who shall it be? There's
Dr.. Grimes. Suppose ] send him to
see the young widow Gray? He'd
like to make her a visit exceedingly,
| know. Dut The widow knows me
of old. and will be sure to suspect
my agency. / guess that won't do.
Crimes is good subject, and I've
got sort Of spite against him. ]
must use him, some how. The wild
ow Gray would be frstrate; but I'm
a little afraid to bring her in. The.
doctors poor as Jobs turkey, and
would be off to visit her on run.
Let me- see? I've got it! Ill
send him to York OIL fool 8 errand!
And Bunting snapped his finger
aud thumb in childish delight.
DR.. Grimes, to whom ourjoker re-
ferred, had been in the vii lIace only
about a year, and, in that tnhe. had
succeeded in making but a small
practice. Not that he was wanting
in ability; but be lacked address.
In person, be was. rather awkward;
and, in manners, Gar from proposes
sing. Moreover, he was poor, and
not able, in consequence, to make a
very good appearances.
( We would not ike to say that, liz
selecting Dr. Grimes as the snbject
Of his best joke for the First Of April,
Bunting acted on the principle Of a
certain worthy, who said Of another,
kick him; he's no frierds!'
But we rather incline to the opin-
ION that some such feeling vas in the
heart Of the joker.
The First Of April came. DR.
Grimes, after eating his breakfast, sat
down in his office to await expected
morning calls for consultation, or to
request his attendance on some suf-
fering invalid. But no such calls
were made. The doctor sighed. un'
der the pressure OF disappointment, as
he glanced at the time-piece on the
mantle, the bands (which pointed !t
the figure ten.
! "a poor prospect here be murmur
ed, despondingly. 'Ah, if there wer'
mono 10 ths world to care for bu