Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-06-02
How a Dry Joker was JOked.


. AT the name of Gale Meeks what re-
miniscences pass before our mental Wis
ion! Old recoilections corn. G.oAdtl4
upon Us, ana an array VI the "sOld "
pass before our mind eve, i'm the shape
of seekers after mythical. frank Me-
Laughlin, the within bf dFh06ln ansf j,i-
lip, for the administration of which NO
medical reason existed, and long line
of those who had humbuyged generally,
without any species Of sell. ~
Gale was the prince OF dry jokers: he
lived, moved. anu had his being through
a diurnal succession OF sells indeed his
life was one great sell, composed os a
conglomoration of intinitcssimal sells OF
fifty years duration.
Now, Bixey, Nathan Bixey, was one
of Gales truest and staunchesJ business
acquaintances, although he had never
been introduced into the domestic circle,
and made glad 10y the portly presence OF
Mrs. Gale, who was somewhat addicted
To jealousy. The reason for this lack oi
acquaintance was that she lived an eX-
cluded lie in one of the little villages
On Long Island, aud Nat Bixley lived
on the other side in our Babel Of New
York.
Well, one day, Gale was hard pushed
practical Joke, and in his dilemma Sc
lected his friend Nat Tor his vlctim.
The manner in which Nat was sold |
do not choose to particularly describe.
suffice 1t to cay, that under the play OF
Gales exuberant fancy, Nat maze II
journey to Albany, insisted that u lady
there had sent him an amatory epistle
which he produced. The lady became
indignant, and called I'm the aid of her
husband, who literally skinned Mr.
Bixey, who thereafter returns to Goth
am with a very adult idea in his auric-
ular apparatus.
The event happened in the early
spring time, and on a beautiful day
About week after Mats return from
Albany, he met Gale at Sherwood's.--,
The sci! was discovered by Gale, and Al
hearty laugh was had over Mats ms
take, and his still bruised features, In
which he joined; but those present no.
ticed that he did not laugh an inch be-
low the chin--indeed, il was generally
believed that Mats mirth was entirely
stimulated.
"NOw, old fellow" said Gale, "you
don't hold any malice, do your"
mot bit" answered Nat, land In
token of amlty, let us take smile all
round"
Which they did in their usual man
ner.
"How did you come to town ?" asked
Nat Of Gale.
81 drove up in light wagon" repli-
ell Gale.
"And when will you return home ~
about six o'clock in the evening""
responded Gale.
Nat thereupon pleaded an engage
ment and LETT; but rs soon rs he was
out of eyeshot of his joking friend, re-
paired to Gray's stable in Warren street,
wnere he hired IA last horse and u light
vehicle, with which he started through
by. street for the residence OF his friend
Gale on Long Island. On arriving, he
left his horse and wagon at Il puolic
house, and proceeded on foot to the
aforesaid residence, where he inquired
of the servant il Mr.. Meeks wasat honc.
On being answered as he knew he void
be, he said:
"This is unfortunate. l want to pay
him some money. Ii l could see Mrs.
Meeks il would do ~ well--shc could
give me receipt in the name of her
husband"
Mrs. NJ. was frugal and industrious,
and always attentive to her husband s
interest. As the last remark fell from
Mats lips, II fine looking matron called
from up the stairs to show the gent'a-
man into The parior, where she followed
IN Il few moments. Nat bowed and said /:
IL desire to see Mrs. Mcsks, madam "
"Very wcll,' said she, ~ am Ms.
Mecks.'
Pardon me, madam, " said Ma with
a doubling shake OF the head, " but this
is u matter of some importance-the
.f -
the lady Mr. Mecks introduced me to d
week ago or so as his wife"
mot the lady? What! shrieked
she, "do you mean to tell me"
81 simply tell you, madam" replied
Nat, with sly lDipertur~ ability, "that
Mr.. .Meeks recently IN B.oadwuy, near
Leonard street, introduced me TO u lady
whom he called Mrs. MBols, and you
are not that lady, that is certain"
"IndeedW exclaimed Mrs. Meeks,
her eyes flashing lire, "how old was
she?"
"Well, about twenty-five"
twenty-five! And how was she
dressed?"
"She wore her hair in ringlets, and
had diamond ear rings"
Diamond ear rings!"
" A heavy silk dress, very large gold
bracelets, u magnificent watch and
chain, and"
We'll, go on" she said spitefully.
"Silk velvet hat, trimmed with mag
niliceHt lace, and muff ana boa"
"BOa!" wrenchcd out the now thor
oughly irate dame, you'd better Dor.
your way out OF this house mighty quick,
or else somebody VIII have headache.
No, sir, l am not the Mrs. Meeks, and
want you to leave this house,
"Oh, certainly said Nat, who saw
the tallest kind of a squall brewing, aud
who had good reason to fear that the
sturdy dame might launch at his head
q conch shell or some other heavy orna-
mcnt which adorned the mantle.
Nat therefore beat "a retreat from off
the premises, and placed himself behind
a stone fence from which he could com
mand u view of the Brooklyn turnpike.
lie did not wait long before he saw the
amiable Gale driving down the road, all
Of the ambush of Nat. The
upon Caleb's face was one Of
great amiability, and exemplified that
he was at peace with "all the world and
the rest Of mankind
In brief space Of time Caleb's steed
was given into the hands OF u stable boy,
and unconscious and happy he entered
his dOmicil and shut the door.
The moment he entered an attentive
ear might have detected the sounds of a
voice In no way mellow Orexpressive of
and a moment after Caleb
hurredly came through the door, with
on his front and mop in
his rear, the wrong end Of which was
under the direct and personal superin-
tendence of lady who was very red In
the face and very sturdy in the arms,
and whostrongly resembled Mrs. Meeks.
The battle had commenced in the pass
age way. CaAeb's castor, which shone
in the rays Of the setting sun, as he
drove down the road, was now very
much bruised aud out Of shape; indeed,
it was driven far down over Caieb's am
table physiognomy.
"What in thunder's out ?" yelled Ca
leb.
Twenty-Five years old ~ shrieked
the infuriated dame, and bang. Caleb
caught the mop over his shoulders.
"Corkscrew ringlets!" and plunk he
got it in the back with all the strength
which nature and anger had given the
enraged lady.