The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1874-09-30
THE PRACTICAL JOKE.

30,
Tom Hurd was the practical joker o
the school.
Practical Jokes we're his Joy. and nov
he had concocted one that was to car
tho olimax and make him a SHINING
lieht Hlnonp The fnn-Ioving bows. Pale
little Jack Redburn, whose mother wal
q clergyman's widow, who loved he
only child with m absorbing tender
nega, which be returned in a way few d
the great boys could understand, wal
TO be the victim.
Harry Pratt was going TO New York
where the mother lived, and Tom Hurt
had instructed him to send q Telegram
to Jack, TO tho care of Professor Law
ton, bearing these terrible word
"Your mother is dead. Come home.
Yes, and Tom had given Harry tht
money for This telegram and had writer
it out for him.
eft will kill two birds with on,
stone" said Tom. "Fanoy Jack ant
the professor going OFF together in tht
gig, and finding the old woman aliv,
and jolly Well have a half-holiday
too, and that's worth while, and nobody
can catch MS as L have managed II. Itft
jolly fun And To seo how they'll come
back after it old Tawton furious and
little Jack full Of tho atory-ha, lie I'll
will be fun T.
"But il Viii said one
small boy. 49,
"You hold dd Tom.
Whats the ian Of the JoEe II il
didn't ?"
Aud SC Harry pooketed the Telegram
aud bidding goodbye to his friends,
departed.
II was noon, next day. The boys
were playing in the school yard. Little
Jack sat perched upon the gate looking
out along the road. He wa talking to
his ohum, VIII Sparrow.
"Six weeks 20 vacation" he said,
''and then I shall have six more with
mamma. Ishall 40 out with her to see
things, and in The evening she will take
me in her lap Dis IL I were a baby. /
love to be mammals baby still. TIC is
n~ioe-notbiug is SO nice as that, though
the boys laugh ct nae for il. Well,
what can that be driving so fastP IL it
should be mamma come 10 see me r.
He jumped down from the gate post
and ran out into the road but the
vehicle that approached held only one
young man. It was the telegraph mes
HenFer they ell knew him. He asked
for Professor Lawton, and stood wait
ing for his coming with a grave oounte-
nance. When he came he whispered
something In his ear, before ne handed
him n large yellow envelope.
ITS our telegram, whispered Tom.
snow for fun"
Professor Lawton took the message
with a ~countanance full of trouble. He
walked fnho bis Study. ana III I'll minute
mora Mrs. Thwhon cafne ont into the
garden, and approaching little Jack
'took him by the hand aud led him into
the house.
"We1l see the gig brought out soon,"
said Tom. "It's working finely"
The iokers grouped about the porch.
One or two looked very much scared,
but Tom was in high feather. They
listened, but heard no sound for a long
time, Then there arose q faint long
drawn moan. "a woman'a scream fol-
lowed IL. Then came silence. Tom
stopped laughing. One of the bows
began to cry, All felt a strange terror
come over them.
In q moment more the study door
burst open and Mrs. Lawton appeared.
Zone of you hoys-Tom Hurd, you,"
ahe cried, lyon are the largest--run
for DIR, Blair. Don't let him lose d
moment Run.Y
What has happened ~ asked Tom.
"Don't stop to ask questions. Go"
cried Mrs, Lawton.
And Tom, without his hat, started
OF. Ib was q long run TO the doctors.
aud he wa breathless when he reached
the door. He could not talk TO the
doctor as he drove back in his gig he
could only say something dreadful must
have happened And when the doctor
hurried into the professors study he
waited outside, trembling end trying In
vain TO hear what vas going on.
Mfr. Barl ant. came
around the ha ana aaia
there would last after
noon, and That the boys must make M
noise whatever.
The practical iokers Ind no wish 10
do 60. They sat silently On the porch,
until at last the study door reopened
and the doctor came Out with the pro-
lessor following him.
ut is q terrible thing" he said. |
slowly "terrible. have known sud.
den shocks TO produce death very Of
ten, when tho heart was affected. Alb,
dear me r.
"please sir" cried a dozen boys
voices OF once, won't you tell us what
has ~happeneds"
That telegram was from poor Jack
Radburn's home said Abe professor.
6 His mother iE dead. He was a deli
cate boy, end tile doctor eaya-n
All, yasi" said the doctor. eyes.
yes-dropped dead at once, didn't ne
poor fellow 2"
"Dead n cried She boys.
"Dead " cried Tom Hurd. "Oh.
doctor no, no, mol Save
him save him ! It's n ioke--a wicked
His mother is alive. / sent the
telegram. Tell him that il will bring
to. Tell him tell aim Z,
dead people can't be brought TO-
the doctor. Are you speaking
The truth ?"
"0h, yes cried Tom, erovelinR in
he dust. "0h, yes. Oh, God forgive
mel VIII | DO hung9 O try 10 save
linn, doctor r. !
Thomas Hard, = cried the professor. /;
I stand up don't groval there. DO ,
ten mean Oil ahia did Won really 1
end a ying message so i Widows cnlv
on tC Tell him ghe was dead29 J
Yes, ain, said Tom. a0h. Ii am ia
orry. wish Twas dead. Can't some .
hing be doneq He may not be quite I
one oh, pray, pray, try. '
Why did you do such q thing az
his y asked Che doctor. !
"Only for fun, = answered Tom. 4
"Do you think It fun now p asked Q
le doctor. q
Pm . murderer E said Tom. "0h. G
ang me ! hang me r 4
8 De you think The Law would allow n
to do Il, dootorg asked The nrofes.
i. II should like very much 10
sk IA N
4 Please do, said Tom. seriously. =
IIe dropped Ua the ens III IN enoke q
Ws living ans hAg faa@ hasaAn IL pSnnp