The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-06-12


my name is DIR. Scroggins,' y said he,
repeating his first introduction.
" 1 ami glad to see you, DOCTOR" said
s., bowling ngain.
II received a letter from your house
directing me to call here, as you had
something to communicate which would
be to my advantage"
There must be some mistake,'' said
Mr.. s., "no such letter has emanated
from us.''
Are you sure ?" said the victim,
turning pale, and handing Mr.. s., the
letter.
After looking over it he said:
" There is no truth in this letter; L am
sorry to say that you have been made
the victim of an idle and reprehensible
jest; to-day,you are aware, is the first day
of April"
"Is it possiblep ?" said the doctor,
clasping his hands. "Who could have
been SO unkind, SO heartless and cruel. -
rs 1t then very great disappoint-
mentY" asked the kind hearted mer-
chant, struck with the docter's manner;
and by few but adroitquestions he soon
found out more of his history than he
intended to communicate; he discovered
also that he was the son of his earliest
friends.
Would you be willing to take the
position of resident physician of the
Hospital ?" finally asked Mr.. s.
ITO one in my position,'' said he,
such place would be most desirable
but 1 do not suppose L could obtain it. I"
"Why not ?"
" 1 am stranger here.9'
Can you bring me testimonials of
professional ability ?"
:" L ean-testimonials of the highest
order"
"Bring them to me, doctor at the ear
lest possible moment. suppose you are
a man of family"
"No, sir"
"That may be an objection. A fur
nished house is provided for physician
and man of family is preferred.
" l have widowed sister who would
most gladly join me-"
60 That will do just as well. Bring your
testimonials as soon as possible. think
your April fool letter has turned out
something to your advantage, after all, :"
laughed Mr.. S.
Affairs turned out to the satisfaction
of both the doctor and the kind-hearted
merchant. In less than month he
found himself and sister settled in COM
Portable quarters, with salary of twelve
hundred dollars per annum; moreover,
for certaiA duties required of her at the
hospital, his sister received two hundred
dollars per year in addition.
Mr.. Top, in the meantime, looked in
vain for the Doctors return, and thought
that the modification at being made an
April fool, and the fear of being laughed
at kept him away.
"Where is DIR. Scroggins 2" he inquir-
ed of one and danother.
But no one had seen him. Finally he
told his friends that he had sent him to
New York on FOOLS errand, the first
day of April, and he was, no doubt
ashamed to come back.
Look out for next April" said they;
4" the doctor will be even with you then"
p" 1t will take brighter genius than
he is to fool me-" replied Top.
The first day of April came round
again, and Mr.. Top expected certainly
20 hear from Doctor Scroggins, who, he
thought, could never forgive him. Sure
enough, he received letter from New
York. He laughed aloud as he read it:
Mr.. BENJAMIN Tor Dear Sir =
If you will call at Messrs. w. & H. IS
No. wall street, New York, you
may hear something to your advantage"
b sour friend Scroggins is wit" said
he, " but he will find me too wide awake
to be caught in his trap. Catch me
trudging off to New York on FOOLS
errand Does he think haven't cut
my eye teeth? DIR. Scroggins don't
know this child, he don't !"
But still the idea haunted him that he
might be losing something by not heed
ing the letter, and that dampered In
some degree the pleasure he experienced
in having been too sharp for the doctor.
Five or six months afterward Top be-
ing in the city on business happened to
meet DR.. Scroggins.
F" How are you doctor :" said he,
grasping the hand of the physician, and
smiling one of the smiles peculiar to his
face when he felt that he had played q