Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-09-18


The doctor bowed to S. and said
"My name is DR. Scroggins-"
Mr.. S. bowed in return, remarking:
'Will you walk in and take chair, sir p
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, re-
peating his first introduction.
al am glad to see you, DOCTOR" said Mr..
s., bowing again.
81 received letter from your house, di>
recting me to call here as you had something
to communicate which would be to my adj
vantage"
''Thore must be some mistake" said Mr..
S. "no such letter has emanated from u.s."
care you sure 2" 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 aud reprehensible jest; to-
day, you are aware, is the first of April"
'.Is it possible !" said the doctor, clasping
his hands. "Who could have been SO un-
kind. so henrtless and cruel Z"
''Is it, then, a very great disappointment 2"
asked the kind>beartcd merchant, struck
with tho doctors manner and by lew but
adroit questions he soon found out moro of
his history than he intended to communicate;
he discovered also that he was the son OF one
of his earliest friends.
"Would you be willing to take the posi-
ton of resident physician at the - Hos
pital?" finally asked Mr.. s..
''To one in my position" said he, "such
place would be most desirable; but l do not
suppose could obtain it,"
"Why not?"
81 am stranger here"
''Can you bring me testimonials of profess
sional ability ?"
al can-and testimonials of the highest
order"
"Bring them to me, Doctor, at the ear
liest possible moment. suppose you are
man of family ?"
"I am unmarried"
''Tbat may be an objection. a furnished
house is provided for physician, and man
of family is preferred"
81 have a widowed sister who would most
gladly join me-"
That will do just ns we'll: Bring your
testimonials as soon possible. [ think
your April-fool letter has turned out some>
thing to your advantage, alter all, ," laughed
Mr.. s.
Affnrs turned ont to The satisfaction of
both the doctor and the kind hearted mer>
chant In less than a month he found him.
self and sister settled in comfortable quar-
ters, with salary of twelve hundred dollars
per annum moreover, for certain duties re-
quired of her at the hospital, his sister re-
ceved two hundred dollars per year in addi-
tion.
Mr.. Top. in the meantime, looked in vain
for the doctors return, and thought that the
In;u Fno1
aud the fear of being laughed at, kept him
away.
"Where is DIR. Scroggins ?" he inquired
of one and another.
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 thon."
at will take brighter genius than be is
to fool me-" replied Top.
The first day of April came around again,
and Mr.. Top expected certainly to hear from
DR.. Scroggins, who, he thought, could never
forgive him. Sure enough Le received let
ter from New York. He laughed aloud as
he read it:
Mr.. BENZ. ToP-Dear Sir: IF you will
call at Messrs. W. g. H.'s, No. - Wall
Street, New York, you may hear of some
thing to your anvsntage.
"Our friend Scroggins is a 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 I haven't cut my eye teethl DIR.
Scroggius don't know this child, he don't !"
But still the idea haunted him that he
- ~ bv han1ioo
the letter, and that damped in some degree
the pleasure he experienced in having been
too sharp for the doctor.
Five or six months afterward Top, being
in the city on business, happened to meet
DIR. Scroggins.
GLOW are you, Doctor? 2" said he, grasp
ing the hand of the physician and smiling
one of the smiles peculiar to his face when
he felt that he had played capital joke on
somebody.
81 am we'll And how are you, Mr. Top" !"
asked the doctor.
"First-rate," replied he with irrepressible
glce. You wasn't sharp enough last April,
doctor"
"What do you mean ?" asked the doctor.
"You didn't succeed in getting me to the
city on FOOLS errsnd."
Il don't understand you, Mr. Top" said
the doctor gravely.
"W. & H's, Wall street-sOmothiDg to
my advantage"
"The doctor looked puzzled.
"You needn't looked so innocent, doctor
1 sent you to New York in April, eighteen
months ago, and it is but natural that you
should wish to pay me in my OWE coin. But
was too wide awake for you to catch me-"
"You are certainly too wide awake for me
now. Will you please explain yourself?'' p
said Doctor Scroggins.
"April before last you received a letter to