The Republican journal., 1871-04-20
Lottie's April Fool Bundle.
BY S. ANNIE FROST.

Lottie's April Fool Bundle.
BY 5. ANNIE FROST.
1t was the first day of April, clear.
bright, and windy. The first of April,
be it known, was observed with due pomp
and ceremony in Hanover, the scene of
my story. That is to say, boys chalked
each others jackets, left bogus" pack
ages Of goods on doorsteps, mailed alb
surd letters, and played all sorts of time
honored tricks upon each other and the
community around them. Doubtless
there was ''fun' for the perpetrators of
the jests, OF they would have been allow
ed to die q natural death, but whether
she fun was as entirely appreciated by
the victims may be reasonably question
cd.
On the first of April, 1867, q like to be
particular about dates), Miss Lottic Will
kinson was demurely walking up the
main street of Hanover, with little par
eel in her hands containing buttons for q
new dress Dress and buttons were of
great Importance to my little heroine, for
money was by no means bountitully sup
piled in her well worn pOrtmonnaie, and
Il new dress was rather an event in her
daily life. She was walking quietly along
thinking that it her dress was chosen of 4
sober mouse color for economy's sake, ut
least the buttons and braid were blue as
her own eyes, and would match the blue
ribbons of her hat very nicely. Then she
wondered if Bert Gilmore would see her
on Sunday in the new suit, and if he ad-
mircd the combination Of mouse color
and blue in Il walking dress. With such
absorbing topics for meditation, it was
not wonderful that Lottie had forgotten
eatirelv the day of the month, and stop
ped with surprise and the pleasure of Il
discoverer before Il bundle lying across
the sidewalk, evidently dropped by some
one in advance Of her. She looked up
the street and down, but no one was near
enough to be questioned, so she stopped
and lifted the package. adding its weight
to her own bundle, and continuing on her
way, homeward, hurrying a little that
she might examine her acquisition.
See, mamma, what | have found in
the street -
1t was not Il very tempting looking bum
die that she held up; not a neatly tied
dry goods package, or Il white paper COW
cred confectioner's store Of sweets. 1t
was carelessly wrapped newspaper COW
cred package, rather long and narrow,
and not very large. Still, there was ra-
ther an eyulting ring in Lottie's tonc rs
she cried; ''See, mamma, what | found
in the street !"
Her face fell rs q shout came from her
brother Tom, Il lad of ten, who looked up
and, before her mother could answer,
shouted: ''April Fool! O Lottie what Il
goose! I'll bet there's nothing in it but
straw, or rags. or old newspapers. Open
it, Lottic. Thcre..' he cried, again, as
his sister opened the parcel, 81 told you
so, nothing but Il parcel of old papers"
Mrs. Wilkinson smiled at Lottie's dis
appointed face, as she hastily wrapped
the papers up again, and thrust them on
y lower shelf of the sitting room closet,
Il sort of general receptacle for odds and
ends of all kinds, and especially for waste
paper"
The buttons were displayed next, and
by the time Lottic had put away her hat
and shawl and was seated putting the
last stitches in the pretty walking suit,
Tom had gone off to game OF foot ball
and the April Fool parcel was forgotten.
Mrs. Wilkinson had been widow
since Tom had first opened his great saul
cy blue eyes upon the world, and Lottie
then but eight years old, had but little
recollection of u father who had spent
most of his time away from home. lie
had held the situation of travelling clerk
in a commercial house in New York city,
| and durlug Ills lifetime his family had
lived handsomely in that city. Upon his
death, his widow had found that her
means were sufficient to support her in
comfort if used frugally. but were far too
small for the style of living warranted by
his salary. country house was at once
decidedupon, cottage purchased in Han
over, and furniture selected from the city
mansion and sent there Her income was
sufficient for every comfort, but there
was no margin tor luxures, and many an
article of dress was left unpurchased that
the sum laid aside for Toms education
might grow in bulk.
Lotte's education was her mothers own
charge, and few boarding school misses
were more thoroughly taught, or could
boast of more graceful accomplishments,
than the little homebred maiden. In ad-
dition, Miss Lottie was a most expert
housekeeper; could make great varieties
of bread, biscuit, pies and cake; could
piCPaic uuillLJ ulluCIs ttuu stfoi sup
pers was proficient in needle work of
all kinds, and quite dressmaker and mil
iner enough for all home demands.
Mr. Herbert Gilmore was quite well
aware of these varied excellencies of Miss
Lottie, and was also able to describe most
accurately the glossy brown hair, soft
blue eyes, creamy complexion, and grace
full figure of the young lady. He knew
what were her favorite songs, and could
bring a clear, powerful tenor, to aid her
sweet soprano. He knew that the pretty
ornaments in the parlor were the work of
Lottie's little white hands, that the flow
ers on the stand were tended by her, and
the light tea buiscuit were of her making.
You guess they were lovers. We'll, SO
they were but, as 'the course of true
love never runs smooth" so there was a
great rock ahead in the channel of their
love, and the rock was named Martin
Gilmore Martin Gilmore was as tough
an old bachelor, as rich and kind hearted