The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1877-03-28

.sThere must be some mistake said Mr..
S., mo such letter has emanated from us. =
"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 been made the vic
tim of an idle and reprehensible jest to-day,
you are aware is the first of April"
Is it possible :" said the doctor, clasping
his hands. Whocould have been SO unkind,
so heartless and cruel?"
us it then a very great disappointment 9'
asked the kind hearted merchant, struck
with the doctors manner; and by a 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
Of his earliest friends.
"Would you be willing to take the position
of resident physician at the 80 Hospital y
finally asked Mr.. s.
''To one in my position, said he, "such a
place would be most desirable but do not
suppose could obtain it,
"Why not?"
: AN StrdiiSel mere.
'sCan you bring me testimonials of profess
sional ability ?"
81 can testimonials of the highest order. y
Bring them to me doctor, at the earliest
possible moment l suppose you are a man
of family"
81 am unmarried"
"That may be an objection. A furnished
house is provided for physician, and a man
of family is preferred"
AZ have q widowed sister who would most
gladly join me-
"That will do just as we'll. Bring 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 uer-
chant. In less than a month he found him.
self and sister settled in comfortable 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 addition.
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 inquired
of one and another.
But no one had seen him. Finally he told
his friends thae he had sent him to New York
on fools errand, the first day of April, and
he was no doubt ashamed to come back.
Look out for next April said they I;
the doctor will be even with you then"
at will take brighter genius than he is
to fool me, replied Top.
The first day of April came round again,
and Mr.. Top expected certainly to hear from
Doctor Scroggins, who, he thought could never
forgive him. Sure enough, he received a
letter from New York. He laughed aloud as
he read it:
"MR. BENJAsnS Toe'-L,sar Sir III you VIII call at
may hear something to your advantage"
"our friend Scroggins is w.t." said he,
'sbut he will find me too wide awake to be
caught in this trap. Catch me trudging off to
New York on a FOOLS errand Does he think
/ haven't cut my eye teeth? DR.. Scroggins
don't know this child, he don't p
But still the idea haunted him that he
might be losing something by not needing
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 Dr.
Scroggns.
How are you, doctor?" said he, grasping
the hand Of the physician, and smiling one
of the smiles peculiar to his face when he fell
that he had played capital joke on somebody
81 am well. And how are you Mr.. Top?'
said the doctor.
"First-rate,' replied he with inepressible
glee. "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 errand."
81 don't understand you, Mr.. Top" said
the doctor gravely.
"W. & P's., Wall street--something to my
advantage"
The doctor looked puzzled
(" You needn't look so innocent doctor;
sent you to New York in April, eighteen
months age, aud it is but natural that yol
should wish to pay me in my own coin. Blu
4 was too wide awake for you to catch me.
" You are certainly too wide awake for M
now. Win you please explain yourself?
said DR.. Scroggins.
April before last you received a letter t.
the effect that il would call in Wall street yol
would hear something to your advantage"
Z" / did, replied the doctor.
"Well?"
81 called accordingly and hear something
to my advantage"
Wbat?" Top locked very much surprises
and disappointed at the same time. (" An
, did you no write me similaron last Aplil?'