American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-04-13
TOMMY's .sAPRIL FOOL.v

L. f
Say, Tommy, did you know it was
| mysteriously. -
''No. What fors" asked Tommy, great
ooh, to fool fellers," said Billy; "you
| put things around for grtenies to pick up,
and pin strips of newspaper on to their
| coat-tails-but I'll tell you the best go.
You tic string to a pocketlbook and put
| fence, and when fellers go to pick it up
you yank it back and boiler April FooP
at 'em." -.t- ys. .;.-,-
Tommy saw the joke, and laughed lit
ssYou c'mover, an We'll try it," said
| Billy. ,...
''No," said Tommy, suddenly growing
virtuous, 81 can't 'sociate wild yOu," and
he walked away from the crestfallen
Billy
All that day Tommy was meditating
quite forgot it at beu-time, but the next
morning, as Uncle Jim was looking from
the window, Tommy heard him laugh
heartily, and, squeezing in before him,
saw a very pompous young gentleman
struttlng down the street with a long strip
of white. cloth dangling from his coat,
while a couple of ragged newsboys danced
anu CdDCTeu III SuCuJ ucuguL.
"He's tored hisself," said Tommy, but
just then the cry of "April FooP rang
out, and Tommy understood. .. .-
While Uncle Tom was adjusting his.
gloves Tommy made hurried search in
his mothers work basket, and found a
whole piece of magic ruffling, the end of
which he managed to secure to a button
behind his uncle's coat, and in a moment
had the satisfaction of seeing the long
white ribbon-yards and yards of it
fiuttering down town in the rear of Uncle
Jim's new spring suit. His delight and
establishment were so great that he forgot
to say "April Fool" until it was alto
gether too late, so he turned his attention
to another trick He had no pocket book,
but of cOulse there was his pretty red
savings bank, that would do as well or
better, and while mamma was searching
for her rutf1ing to finish baby's aprons,
and wondering what had become of Tom
my, that young gentleman was in the very
middle of tangle of lilac syranga, and
arbor vitae, holding fast to one end of his
red and white lines, and wondering why
somebody didn't pick up the bank. The
lines lay like gay little path across the
sidewalk, leading through the fence to the
clump of bushes, where Tommy's eager
face was plainly visible, and the sell was
SO very transparent that people passed it
I
along. He had his hands in his pockets
and was whistling Shoe Fly" but when
he saw the bank he stopped, set his ragged
boot firmly on the red and white lines,
picked up the pretty red bank with all its
jingling contents, and walked rapidly
away.
Tommy was so intent upon getting
ready to say 'Aperil Foor' that he did not
comprehend what had happened until the
boy disappeared around the corner, and
then he started for the gate, screaming:
''Bring it back! want my bank"
capri fool! April foolr' shouted some
BOYS across the street, and Tommy ran
sobbing to mamma to tell her the SORROW
full story.
"WelI,'' said mamma, ''Tm sorry about
the bank; but if it teaches you not to try
such silly tricks again. shall be willing
to have you lose it. See here, Tommy"
and mamma lifted her hair and showed
him great ugly scar just above her tenn
pie.
''Oh" said Tommy, in a Mortified tone,
''did an Injun scallup it wild his chopper
hawke" -., .-.-r..,.--. ..
''No," said mamma, "a boy did that;
boy not much bigger than you, who want
ed to play trick on April Fools day"
''Fd shutted him in Jail, if I'd been
there" said Tommy, fiercely.
lie tlcu a SlrlnS across tne Walk, Salu
mamma, Gin such way that it lay on
the ground, but could be frightened by
pulling at one end, and then this little boy
hid behind the fence and waited for some
one to come along. Two little girls came
by, chattering and skipping, and never
looking at the ground until quick as
flash their feet struck the string. One of
them rolled over and over in funny lit
tie heap, and jumped up laughing. But
the other lay with her poor little head on
the curb stone, and her blue eyes shut as
fast as if she had been asleep. She wasn't
asleep, though, and when they lifted her
up there was blood all over her yellow
curls, and blood ran down her white face.
Somebody carried her home, and the little
boy who had done all the mischief follow
ed after, crying dreadfully. The doctor
came and shaved off the pretty curls, and
looked very grave, and there were days
and days when nobody could tell what
would be the end of it ALL"
Mamma saw the tears in Tommy's
eyes, so she said gaily but after all, the
little girl got well, and the yellow curls
grew out again, and here she is this very
minute, but you may be sure she never
wants her little Tommy to try any April
Fool tricks. ''-Litle Corporal.
-4%~