The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-03-03

ranged practical joke the entire
neighbcrhood heard it before it came
off, if it were possible, or had not been
gotten up on too short notice. But in
any case it was told Of Immediately
after it was consumated. Some of
them were not remarkable for refine.
ment or delicacy but all were remark.
able for originality and Grollery.
1t was astonishing to what an ex-
tent their love Of this sort Of amuse
ment led them-to exercise their bodies
as well as brains. One time, in one
mining camp in California old doctor
Jones took it into his head to visit the
schoolmaster regularly every night,
with three friends, to real over peach
basket full of sheriff's reports which
they had come across by some means.
He was zone of them" so he knew
there was no use of rebellion, but he
studied vengeance. They would sit
around the basket of records and
smoke and drink an occasional glass
of whiskey, and dispute for the privi-
lege of reading them. Finally, one
or the other Of them would get hold
of a portion, mud commence reading
in sort of sing-song way, very exas-
perating to the nerves of the teacher,
who, of course, could not sleep. Oc-
easionally the amusement was varied
by song and chorus aud a jig or
dance.
For three weeks this was kept up
aud the teacher suffered. 1t was moon
light but after the moon had shut her.
self up for repairs in the unknown re-
gions, this teacher spent two days ar
ranging his plan. The second night.
the crowd, augmented by four more
Gall alive now aud prominent lawyers)
entered the yard. 1t was dark there.
and they found a great many barrel
hoops in the yard, and large stones to
hit their shins and stub their toes
against. They advanced, and all
stood on the porch ready to enter,
when the roof Of the porch suddenly
gave way, and let fourteen barrels of
water down upon them. In their haste
to get out, they stepped down and in
to ditch full Of water, and from
there they tumbled and stumbled over
the stones, every one now and then
getting rap ON the shins from step
ping on a hoop.
The records we're undisturbed after
that aBd the teacher slept in peace.
He had worked two days Ito arrange
that trap.
In Oakland near San Francisco, a
German had vegetable garden which
he was very proud of, for in 81 veg
stables were scarce. He planted fine
lot of melons, and raised a luxuriant
crop, which were every one stolen the
night before they were to be picked.
One member of the Legislature in
California. several lawyers and doc.
tors assisted that night ut soiree or
"swarry," as Sam Weller says where
melons were the salient point Of at
traction.
The next year, DR.. Ed. Gibbons, of
Oakland, raised fine crop of melons,
and he went down town one evening.
and boasted Of his 6ue melons, and
promised all the "hoys" feast out of
the second crop. He had sold these
he said.
He went home as usual, on his old
white horse, and whistling TO himself.
The next morning there we're no mel
ons in the patch, and q lot of lawyers
and judges sat silently around the
door of the principal saloon aud
smoked furiously. Aad in the back
yard lay lot of Chinese pumpkins
which exactly resemble water-melons
ON the outside, but not in taste-and
in several rooms lay muddy aud torn
clothes.
The doctor came riding down later
in the day, and, dismounting, asked
the boys in to drink. They did so
lugubriously. As they had their
glasses ia their hands, the doctor said !:
"Well, boys, how do you like
pumpkin raw"
They looked at him moment, and
then one said:
doctor, how long since you plan
ned this 'rig'f" gr.
"Just one year ago, when was help
ing you eat BOgge's watermelons."
"Boys, let's liquor. Doctor, here's
TO you" And they drank in silence.
PERPETUAI. PASTE,