The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1877-08-30
A5PTactIeaI Joker.

~ - AANN4tAANaAA = VAANAe
eliyedina village not far from
New York citya gentleman, by
name Benjamin Top, who thought
there was nothing in life % equal q
good joke. He owned q small store.
and kept almost everything in do
mestic and dagricultural use and was
thereby pretty we'll acquainted With
all the townspeople, as they ave like
acquainted with him. Mr..
Top had played so many pranlis on
the people around him that hewculd
have made enemies but for his con-
stant good humor, and his ability %
soothe the party he had irritated, al
most beyond tlle e6er d idurance.
The first Of April was Nj. Tops es-
pecial delight, and. that was a smart
child whocould enter his store that
day without being made the victim
of some trick; SO that from morn till
night Of the first day Of April his
face was on a broad grin, and it hap
pened that all who sought to catch
him had the joke turned on them
selves. @
A few years ago, as the first Of
April approached, our merry friend
looked around to see who would be n
fitting subject for a joke.
II must have a first-rate one this
time," said he to himself. "Who
shall it be2 Let me think; all ] have
it-Dr. scroggins; yes; it shall be he.
What shall | senda a love letter? No
he looks too woe-begone for that"
After considering a while, Top
drew his pen and ink near him and
wrote as follows: ~
DIR. ScRoddtNs-DEAR SIR Please
call as early as possible at Messrs, s..
& B No. Wall Street, New
York, where you will hear something
TO your advantage. ~
Then folding and directing the let
ter, he snappe,lhis fingers with child
ish delight. l
"I'll send him to New York on u
FOOLS crrand," said he, Sand have a
good laugh at his expense"
DR.. scroggins, the subject of this
heartless joke, was a bachelor about
forty years fage; he had been living
in the village only six months, and
had thus fur gotten onlya very small
practice; not that he lacked ability,
but he was awkward ip his persQn,'
and IN his manners not very prcpo-
scssing, and being shy and reserved
in his disposition, was but little fit
ted to push his way into society
He seemed to be very poor, for he
rented a small Office, supplied him
self with the simplest fare, and his
lounge at night acted as his bed.
The first day of April arose bright
and clear; DR., scroggins, who was an
earlyriser prepared hiss simple break
fast, and after partaking of it and ar
ranging his Office, took his seat to
await expected calls for consulta-
ton, or to request his attention to
some suffering invalid. But no such
calls were made, and the doctor sigh
ed heavily under the pressure Of dis
appointment.
"What can hinder my progress2 /
understand my profession" he said;
"in not single instance have / fail
ed to give relief when called to the
bed of the suffering, All, me! If l
only had myself to care for, l would
be content to live on bread and wa
ter till I could gain the confidence of
the people. But you, my poor sister,
who have already drank deep of the
cup of sorrow, must have more added
to it. And what can | do? Moth
ingl"
The doctor pulled u letter out of
his pocket and read:
~ would not trouble you, my dear,
kind brother" wrote his sister,
"knowing, as ] do, how poor your
prospects are, and how patiently you
are trying TO wait for practice did
want not press on me and my child.
If you can spare me alittle-ever so
littlo-it will come as u blessing, for
my extremity is very great"
Just at this time the lottcr.carrior
stopped and handed the doctor a let
ter he opened it and looked at it in
perfect amazemcnt, and read it over
the second time,