St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-04-12
then read it over for the sec

amazement, then read it over for the sec
ond time.
"Something to my advantage! What
can it be 81 said he. "Dear sister,
should there be anything good in store
fol me, how freely will share it with
you and your darling Emma! Surely
the good God has heard and answered
my prayer"
The doctor, who had little prepara-
ton to make, started for the city, and
Top. who was on the lookout for him,
could scarcely hide his exultation at
sending off an inoffensive man who
could barely support himself on a need
less errand of expense and trouble.
The doctor, as he wended his way to
the city, was so fully possessed with the
idea that some old relative (fOr he had
severaD had died and left him fortune,
that he had, in Imagination, made va
rious dispositions of it before he arrived
at the end of his journey.
''Can l see one of the gentleman be-
longing to the firm % asked the doctor,
entering the store of S. & B.
s'TIere is Mr.. ST." said the individual
addressed, referring him to middle
aged but benevolent looking man.
uG uOCIOI UONcd W ttnu ohiU
MY name is Dr.. Scroggins."
Mr.. S. bowed in return, and said =
"Will you walk in and take chair,
sir?n
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 the first introduction"
81 am glad to see you doctor," said
S., bowling again.
81 received a letter from your house,
directing me to call here, as you had
something to communicate which would
be to my advantage"
''There must be some mistake" said
Mr.. S., ''no such letter has emanated
from u.s."
care you sure 7" said the victim,
turning pale and handing Mr.. s. the
letter.
After looking it over, he said -
ssThere 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"
as it possible ?" said the doctor, clasp
ing his hands. "Who could have been
so heartless and cruel ~
''Is it then Il very great disappoint-
ment ?" asked the kind hearted mer-
chant, struck by the doctors manner;
and by 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
Hospital ?" finally asked Mr.. S.
''To one in my positiOn," said he,
''such place would he most desirable !;
but do not suppose | could obtain it."
"Why not 2"
81 am a stranger here"
"Can you bring me testimonials of
professional ability 7"
81 cau-testimOnals of the highest
Order"
"Bring them to me, doctor, at the
earliest possible moment. / suppose
you are IA man of family ~
II am unmarried"
"That may be an objection. A fur
nished house is provided for the physi-
clan, and a man of family is preferred" ;"
81 have Il widowed sister who would
most gladly join 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 MIR. 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 in addition.
Mr.. Top in the meantime, looked
in vain for the doctors return, and
thought that the modification of being
laughed at kept him away.
"Where is DR.. 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
then"
alt will take a brighter genius than
he to fool me-" replied Top.
The first day of April came round
again, and Mr.. Top expected certainly
to hear from DR.. Scroggins, who, he
thought, could never forgive him. Sure
enough, he received letter from New
York. He laughed 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 somthing to your advantage"
"Our friend, ScrOggins, is wit" said
he, "but 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 1 haven't cut my
eye teeth ? DR.. Scrogging don't know
this child, he don't ~
!, But still the idea haunted him that be
might be losing something by not heed
ing the letter, and that dampened in
some degree the pleasure he expert
enced 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.
"How are you, DOctor?" said he
, grasping the hand of the physician, and
smiling one of the smiles peculiar to his
face when he felt that he had played q
capital joke on somebody.
81 am well. And how are you, Mr.
, Top ?"
"First rate" replied he, with ire
pressible glee. "Yeu wasn't SHARP
; enough last April, Doctor"
"What do you mean 2" asked the
f doctor.
7 "You didn't succeed in getting me tt
t the city on fools errand,n