The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-08-02

from us.
care you sure?' asked 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 been made
the victim of an idle and reprehensible
jest; to-day, you are aware, is the first of
April
ing his hands. "Who could have been
so unkind, so heartless and cruel?'
I" Is it, then, very great disappoint
ment ?" asked the kind-hearted merchant, |
struck with the doctors manner and by |
few but adroit questions he soon found |
out more of his history than he intended |
to communicate; he discovered also that |
he was the son of one 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 do not suppose I could obtain it."
"Why not?"
am a stranger here"
Can you bring me testimonials of
professional ability?'
est order"
" Bring them to me, Doctor, at the
earliest possible moment. l suppose
you are a man of family?''
/" am unmarried"
"That may be an objection. A fur
nished house is provided for physician,
and man of family is preferred.
have a 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
all, laughed Mr.. S.
Affairs turned out to the satisfaction
of both the doctor and the kind-hearted
merchant. In less than a month he
found himself and sister settled in COM
Portable quarters, with a 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 of being made an
April fool, and the fear of being laughed
at, kept him away.
"Where is DIR. Scroggins%' he in
quired of one and another.
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.
"a. "Look out for next April" said they,
"the doctor will be even with you
then"
at will take a brighter genius than
he is to fool me-" replied Top.
The first day of April came around
again, and Mr.. Top expected certainly
to hear from DIR. 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 ToP-Dear Sir: If you
| will call at Messrs. w. & HIS, No. - Wall
Street, New York, you may hear of some
thing to your advantage.
"Our friend Scroggins is w.t." 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 er-
S rand? Does he think 1 haven't cut my
| eye teeth? DIR. Scroggins don't know
;. this child, he don'tp'
t But still the idea haunted him that
S he might be losing something by not
needing the letter, and that damped in
v some degree the pleasure he experienced
S in having been too sharp for the doctor
Five or six months afterward Top
Il being in the city Oh business, happened
:, to meet DR.. Scroggins.
u "How are you, Doctorw said he
grasping the hand of the physician anc
= smiling one of the smiles peculiar tt
; his face when he felt thathe had PLAYED
capital joke on somebody.
s "1 am well. And how are you, Mr.
II Top" asked the doctor.
: First-rate,'' replied he, with ire
IS IS pressible glee. '' You wasn't shar]
II enough last April, Doctor"
n "What do you mean?' asked tn
"a doctor.
G. G. "You didn't succeed in getting m
!e to the city on FOOLS errand."
Is "I don't understand you, Mr.. Top,
e said the doctor, gravely.
a, "W. & HIS, Wall something
70 to my advantage"
Dr The doctor looked puzzled.
:. "You needn't look so innocent, Dot
Li' tor; sent you to New York in Apri
II eighteen months ago, and it is but ma
~ II, ural that you should wish to pay me i
y my own coin. But 1 was too wild
,;s lu awake for you to catch me-"
oJ "You are certainly too wide awake fe
,is Ti me now. Will you please explain you
nt self?' said Doctor Scroggins.
~ "April before last you received a lie
;s Ei ter to the effect that if you would ca
10 at Wall Street you would hear somethin
T to your advantage"
in ~ did," replied the doctor.
IN IN WellY'
II of 81 called accordingly and did he.
W. something to my advantage"
70 "Whatp' Top looked very muc
i'm in surprised and disappointed at the san
VI time. "And you did not write me
NJ similar one last April?'
va az am above such cold-hearted cr
o9 city, sir" said the doctor, in a to1
" that marked his real feelings. CIT
his person who could do such thing mu
have something bad about his characte
ar and l want to have nothing to do wi
az him."
cts ,t I" Good morning, Doctor" said NJ
70 Top.
aSS @ The two gentlemen bowed stif1y al
are parted. Top felt very uncomfortabl
me me He finally decided to call at the pla
NV referred to in his letter. Thinking
mlgnI sIlll De an Apfll-1OOl trlck,
ier made few purchases for his store al
or. gave his name.
ect " Benjamin Top" said the pers
md with whom he was dealing, "do you
side in the city?"
hat Top told him the name of the villa
-ar in which he lived.
ore "Did you ever receive letter frc
.;tb this house?''
civ 81 did; but as it was dated the fiji
red day of April, 1 thought it was an Apr
fool trick. and never replied to it"
ion =" Far from it," answered the me-
on. can old gentleman from Ohio cal
ufd here about that time, and said he had
ing brother living in this State, and he W
civ in search of him or his children. Y
Of heard that gentleman by the name
Benjamin Top lived in your village, a