The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-08-31
NIY COUSIN FANNY.

]
She vas up to all sorts Of tricks, and
would play some most unmerciful jokes
on me whenever an opportunity presented
itself.
|, at that time. was q young man OF
twenty-five, just graduated from the prln-
cipal High School, aud naturally, as most
young men do at that age, thought my
self of some importance to the community.
| Ny name was-no matter, Fanny al
ways called me "Couz Frank
/ | was paying a short visit at Uncle
Johns, aud as | was thrown great deal
/ in Fannys society, |, Of course, became
very intimate with her.
/ If Fanny ever played practical jokes on
me, | was certainly very little behind her,
for | am naturally very much Of a tease.
If Il found anything would annoy her,
that was the very thing | was sure TO do
/ If she disliked a certain book l was
sure to be continually quoting from 1t
/ IF she abhorred a particular person, |
was always talking about him, and would
bring him to the house until she would
grow frantic and seek relief in food OF
tears. which invariably had the desired
effect to make me beg pardon and prom
! ise better couduDt in the future--tor l
never could stand tears.
/ It was a glorious evening and Fanny
Intended having a few Of her young lady
I acquaintances with her TO while away the
hoqrs pleasantly. She was very find ot
company and always entertained her
friends DELIGHTFULLY."-.
Well Fanny was to have company, aud
7 concluded that I would have some
amusement at the invited young ladies
expense.
| revolved several plans in my imagin-
alton. aud finally concluded that | would
slip into the bedroom, uuobserged, where
the girls would be lGely to leave their
capes, shav!s, hats, etc. carry cut my
practical joke, ard take lsaFe while the
glrls were busiIy engaged in the pagIor,
So, early ie the evening | MD myself
behind wardrobe that stood in corner
Of the room, a few feet fr0Cl the wall,
fully beat On doing some mischief and
having laugh at the expense Of Fanny
and her friends.
had not been n my hiding place long
before a beVy Of young ladies, al. talhigg
at once it seemed to NE, made their ap.
. pearaace, aud began divestiug themselves
Of hats, ciosks, sLawls, and other wearing
apparel.
Fanny" said Bertha, young lady to
whom l had been paying particular al
tention, IL wonder whether Frank sill be
here tonight p
81 csu't tell, Bertha" replied Fanny
Il told him I expected company; aud that
you would probably be one of the party,
but lie simply said 'Ah, indeed, aud
walked of, wearing something Of mis-
chievous smile, which | could not inter
pret. There is one thing you may de-
pend upon : if lie is not here tonight, we
Will be apt to have some cf his horrible
jokes played upon US so keep a good
lock out, girls, and Ie: US turn the tables
on him, if possible"
Yes" replied Bertha, "it would be
such fen to play good joke on Frank
"Ah my beloved Bertha, would it ?
We shall see whether | am to be denied
my anticipated sport" mentally said
The girls having relieved themselves
Of all unnecessary garments, and looked.
each one, for the dozenth time in the
glass, withdrew to the parlor, and left me
sole occupant Of the bed room, and having
the necessary articles before me with
which to make eonc sport.
Stepping out Of my hidieg place, 7 pro
ceeded to tie capes, clOaks aud shawls
together 10 string, at the end of which
| attached the hats aud bonnets without
number. I intended to sprinkle cayeune
pepper over the whole, aud give the girls
a sneeze; to do this, | must go to the
kitchen after the pepper.
Noiselessly stole out of the room into
the kitchen, found the Cayenne bottle,
and was just on the point ef retracing NY
steps, when | heard the whole troupe of
girls coming pcll-mell, as though the Old
Harry was after them.
" hat was L 10 90 under the existing
circumstances 1t wouldn't do for me
to stand still and be caught in that posi-,
ton. 1t certainly wouldn't be policy to
rush out of the back door, and thereby
excite the girls suspicious.
/ looked around in dismay, when sud
denly nay eyes fell upon the neg swiil-
barrel Fanny's mother had get that day,
and which had been left standing in one
corner Of the kitchen until a proper place
could be found for it. 1t was perfectly
clean, and would have been fit to hold
-four. 1t had cover on it, with an open
ING about ten inches In dianlefnr