Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-09-05

directing me to call here. as you hat
something to communicate which woult
be to my advantage"
| ''There must be some mistake" sale
Mr.. S. ;''no such letter has emanatet
from u.s." ..-.
+! ''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
am sorry to say that you have beer
made the victim of an idle and reprehen
sible jest !; today, you are aware, is the
| first Of April"
SIS it possible Ell" said the doctor,
clasping his hands. ''Who could have
been so unkind, 50 heartless, and
cruelW
SIS it, then, very great disappoint'
ment ?" asked the kind hearted merch.
ant, struck with the DOCTORS manner
and by few but adroit questions he
soon found out more of his history than
he intended to communicate /; be dis
covered also that he was the son of one
Of his earliest friends.
"Would you be willing to take the
position Of resident physician at the
Hospital ?" finally asked Mr.. S.
''To one IN my position" said he,
such place would be most desirable ;
but 1 do not suppose I could obtain it.
"Why not?
l am stranger here"
Can you bring me testimonials OF
professional ability ?"
II can-and testimonials of the high
est order"
''Bring them to me, doctor, at the
earliest possible moment. suppose
you are man of family :"
Il am unmarried"
''That may be an objection. A fur
nished house is provided for physician.
and man Of family is preferred"
81 have widowed sister who would
most gladly Join me-"
''That will do just as we'll. 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 certain duties required Of
her at the hospital. his sister received
two hundred dollars per year in addi-
ton.
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 Doctor Scroggins," he in
quired of one and another. ..s.
But no one had seen him. Finally
he told his friends that he had sent him
to New York on a FOOLS errand, the
first day of April, and he was, no doubt,
ashamed to come back.
'Look out for next April, " said they;
''the doctor will be even with you
then.' -.... .-..-
SIT will take brighter genius than
he is to fool me" replied Top.
The first day Of April came round
again, and Mr.. Top expected certainty
to hear from Doctor Scroggins, who, be
thought, could never forgive him. Sure
enough, he received letter from New
York. He laughed aloud as he read
| it !: ~
ssMR. BENJMIN ToP-Dear Sir Il
you will call at Messrs. W. & HIS,
No.-Wall street, New York, you may
hear something to your advantage"
"Our friend Scroggins is w.t." sale
he. "but he will find me too wide
awake to be caught in this trap. Catch
me trudging to New York on a fools
errand Does he think I haven't cut
my eye teeth? Doctor Scroggins DOM
know this child, he don'tw
But still the idea haunted him that he
might be losing something by not heed
ing the letter, and that damped in some
degree the pleasure he experienced in
having been too sharp for the doctor.
Five or six months afterwards, Top
being in the city on business, happened
to meet DR.. Scroggins.
''How are you, doctor ?" said he,
grasping the hand Of the physician, and
smiling one Of the smiles peculiar te
his face when be felt that he had played
| capital joke on somebody.
II am well. And how are you, Mr.
Top?" said the doctor.
"Flrst-rate," replied he, with ire
pressible glee. ''You wasn't SHARP
enough last April, DOCTOR"
"What do you mean ?" asked the
doctor. lf
"You didn't succeed in getting me t.
the city on a. FOOLS Grand"
Il don't understand you, Mr.. Top
said the doctor, gravely.
Nv 3 Prs, Wall street-somethins
to my advantage"
4 The doctor looked puzzled.
4 "fou needn't look 80 innocent, doc
tor; 1 sent you to New York in April
eighteen months ago, and it is but ma