The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-05-17

of an inOffensive man who could
barely support himself, on a needless
errand OF expense and trouble.
The doctor, as he wended his way to
the city, was fully possessed with
the idea that some old relative (for he
had seyeral) had died and left him a
fortune, and he had, in imagination,
made various dispositions of it before
he arrived at the end of his journey.
"Cau see one of the gentlemen be-
longing TO the frmP" asked the doctor
entering the store of S. q b,
''There is Mr.. s." said the individual
addressed referring to middle aged but
benevolent looking man.
The doctor bowed to Mr.. s., and said,
"My name is DR.. Scroggins."
Mr.. S. bowed In return and said :
"Will you walk in and take a chair"
Both gentlemen sat down. About Mr..
S. there was an air of expectancy which
the doctor did not fail to notice.
"My name is DR.. Scroggins," said he
repeating his first introduction.
81 am glad to see you, Dr." said S.
bOwing again.
81 received letter from your house,
directing me to call here, as you had
somethingto communicate which would
be to my advantage"
"There must be mistake" said S..
ono such letter has emanated from u.s."
care 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 been made the victim
ofan idleand reprehensible jest. To-day,
you are aware, is the first of April"
SIS it possible?" said the doctor,
clasping his hands. "Who could have
been so unkind, so heartless and
cruel"
sis it, then, very great disappoint-
ment?" asked the kind-hearted mer-
chant, struck by the DOCTORS manner
and by a few but adrOit questions he
soon found out more of his history than
he intended to communicate. He 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
- HOspitalH" finally asked Mr.. S.
"To one in my POSITION" he said,
"such place would be most desirable
but do not suppose l could obtain it. -
"Why notP"
81 am stranger here"
"Can you bring me testimonials of
professional ability?"
"T can-testimonials of the highest
order"
"Bring them to me, doctor at the ear
liest possible moment, l suppose you
are man of family"
'I am unmarried"
"That may be an objection. A fur
nished house is provided for the physi.
an, and man of family is preferred
'I have a W idowed sister who would
most gladly 10 IN me-"
"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 in comfortable
quarters, with salary of twelve hul'
dred dollars per annum; moreover, fol
certain duties required of her at the
hospital, his sister received two hun
dred dollars in addition.
Mr.. Top, in the meantime. looked II
vain for the DOCTORS return, ant
thought that the mortfcatihn of being
: made an April fool and the fear of being
laughed at kept him away.
"Where is DR.. ScrogginsH" he in
quired of one and another.
"But no one had seen him. FINAL!
l he told his friends that he had sent hin
7 to New York on fools errand, the frs
F, day of April, and he was, no donbt
: ashamed to come back.
"Look out for next April" ," said the.
= "tlle doctor will be even with yol
: then"
!, "It will take brighter genius thai
he to fool me-" replied Top.
The first day of April came aroun'
| again, and Mr.. Top certainly expecte'
!, to hear from DR.. Scroggins, who, h
4 thought could never forgive him. Sur
f enough, he received letter from NeV
y York. He laughed as he read it,,
t "MR. BENJAMIN ToP-Dear Sir ~
d YOU will call at Messrs. W. q HIS, NC
( = Wall Street, New York, you ma
Y hear something to your advantage"
;, "Our friend Scroggins is a wit" sal
4 he. "but he will find me too wide awak
to be caught in this trap. Catch m
IS trudglng off to New York on a fool
errand. Does he think l haven't Gu
r, my eye teethH DR.. Scroggins don
= know this child, he don'tW
3, But still the idea haunted him that h
o might be losing something by not heec
n ing the letter, and that dampened
Ie some degree the pleasure he experience
"A in being too sharp for the doctor.
y Five or six months afterward Top, bC
ing in the city on business, happene
'r to meet DR.. Scrogglns.
:; GLOW are you, Doctor" said 1t
ct grasping the hand of the physician, an