The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-04-13
"APRIL.FOOL'S" " DAY.

THE dtdine
"APRIL.FOOES" DAY.
A FUNNY little figure tripped up the
front doorsteps Of Miss Hitty Titus, and
stretched up her small fingers in vain at
tempts to reach the shining brass knocker.
1t was "April-fool's" day, and Prink's
hat was gay with the decorations Of the
season-Dunches of broom corn, shaving
streamers, and bits of feather dnster,
which had been slipped in slyly by more
than one roguish urchin, as placid little
Prink trudged along the street.
Quite a number of white placards, with
"April fool" written staringly on each,
were pinned on the back Of Prink's cloth
sack, and an unusual length of scarlet pet
ticoat famed out in the sunshine, because
of mischievous pnning up behind of
Prink's dress.
Serene little Prink knew nothing of the
tricks that had been played upon her, and
jumped, and clutched, and missed, then
clutched, and jumped, and missed again,
till, in happy moment, she brought down
the knocker-handle with an immense
clatter
"He! he! her' giggled half dozen
little fellows, peeping round the corner Of
the street.
AT the first clang Of the knocker, Sc
we're voice from the window over Miss
Titus door called out, "Who's there?"
Then appeared a black cap bristling
with green ribbons, and pair of specta-
cles glaring out of the midst Of the ilut-
tering millinery. The vision of the cap
and spectacles was followed by an out
stretched, bony hand and wrist, holding
forth great blue pitcher. A second
"Who's there?" caused the giggling
group at the corner to disappear in a
twinkling.
Who"
"Ms, ma'am m-Prinky Stanley" smiled
up the sweet little face from the doorstep.
ooh, you don't say so! | thought
mebbe twas boys come 'April-foolin'
again"
The cap and spectacles, the arm and
the pitcher vanished from the window,
and the next moment the great front door
creaked on its hinges, and Miss Hetty
Titus, with softened speech and manner,
stood before Prinky.
How do you do, Miss Titiss?" said
Prink, with polite little bow, that set
all the broomcorn, and shavlngs, aud
sticks in her hat trembling and shaking.
i've come to dinner, have"
Prink, in her delight at the thought of
dining out, showed every little pearly
tooth she possessed.
Not so Miss Titus Not pearl of hers
was visible. Her face was fairly gray
with Amusement.
A shadow had just begun to steal over
Prink's dimpled face, when Miss Titus
broke forth in cordial tones:
"WeIl, never mind; you're welcome.
You'll have nothing but picked-up one,
but I'll get out a mince pie TO help along"
What very queer old lady," thought
Prink, "inviting people, and then telling
them, before they get quite in at the door,
what's for dinner. S'posin', too, Miss
Titiss did drop the veg'bles and things on
the floor; she needn't have gone and told.
She may eat what she's picked up. fA
eat the pie"
Miss Titus, with grim smile on he1
face, was whisking off the placards, and
unpinning the skirt, and brushing away
the corn brooms, and shavings, and sticks
all unseen by Prink.
SomeJodys been April foolin' the in
nocent child with invite" said Miss I'll
tus to herself, as she led the way to hel
cosy sitting room.
To be sure, somebody had. Tha
somebody was Prink's own brother Joe
Prink, on receiving the funny, little, old
fashioned, three -cornered note through
the post, had rushed to READ it to Joe.
"See what it is, Joe Stanley, to be ia
vorite with old pussons!" said Prink, il
consequential tones, as she struggled witt
the fiery pink paper, to bring it back into
its original and puzzling foldings.
Joe, III his mirth, was near standing OF
his head and twinkling his feet in the air
but refrained till after the dinner shoult
have come off.
"You will excuse me, Miss Titiss,
said Prink, settling herself serenely OF
the precious silk patchwork of Mis-!
Titus one state-and- d-festival chair IA chail
which was not meant to be looked at
even, but from respectful distance), j
crochet as fast as ever can before din
ner. 1t is April fool, Miss Titiss, fo
Plum Packard. l don't like reglar Apri
fools. l think most always they are rea
rude; don't you? took this mat out o
Plum Packard's desk, to finish it for her
1t is birthday present. She's making i
for girl that's ten years old, nine O'CLOCK
tonight. So it must be finished somehow
this morning, SOS to be put back thi'
afternoon. Plum is writing composition
about duty. 1t must be finished to-day
and that's another thing. She's cried owe
it every morning this week. helped he
all could. l writ on the geography cover
Duty is proper large for duty, but
is most times disagreeablc.' She wri
that right down; but that's as far as she'
got. Now won't it be pleasant Apri
fool for her to 60 to her desk and say, %
dear me! that mat isn't done! 1t can't b.
done, and fifteen more misible lines 'bou
duty, toor Then all at once she'll see th'
mat is done, and she'll say, Wh-yr JUS
as 'stonished as anything, and shall peel
out behind my desk-cover and say, Apri
fooln Won't it be lovely, Miss Titiss?'
"You are an uncommon kind-feelinl
little miss, for nowadays" said Mis-
Titus, setting on the mince pie and dustinl
it with sugar.
Prink burst into a series of little gurg
| l;nr laurhs ovar tho Apri1 fool prpnarin