The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1880-04-15

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NJ Tbomss Huplng, Who resided 10 q
village fee miles cot of New York
Bastiug kept store ler tae sac oi siwosi
ever srfirls known 10 do0estie and AZ
rlcohnrsl lis, from namber ten needle
up 10 hos.hairow aud from a mint
stick ap to bag u coffee, Consequently
he ~As prsuy vel acquainted With sll the
towHs people, who we're, likwise, pretty
well acquainted With him.
A. Bunting WAS constantly playing OF
Biz prank, upon Que aud then another, be
only kept bimssIi tree from enemies by
hi4 good temper and ability 70 .oolhe the
parties be somslimss irritAted beyond the
point Of endurance.
The Fiist Of April WAS never permitted
to come aud 20 without being well i'm.
proved by the Joke loving Thomas. IL
customer cent Tor apiut OF brandy on that
day, be would be very spt 10 get four
gills OF vinegar or, II Tor pound Of SUI
gar, bali 8 pound u New Orleans miIed
with 40 equAl weight Of silver saud. That
was a smart child VITO could come into
bic slore on the occasion aud esvs !, with
out being The victim OF some trick. So,
from morning llil nigbt Of the First OF
April, the face oi Thomas Bunting was
one brosd grin. Full OF inventions as to
the ways aud means Of playing of tricks
upon others, our merry friend was ex
ceedingly wide awake to any efforts At
retaliation, and Il generally happened
that most Of bose who sought TO catch
bin, got the hugh turned upon them.
selves.
Two years ago. as the First OF April
approached, Bunting began TO think Of
the sport awaiting him, aud to cast bis
eyes over he town TO see who was the
most httlng subject for a good Jest.
must make fool OF somebody, said
be TO himself; first rate fool. Pm tired
OF mean ehld's play 10 this business.
Who shall 1t beI There's Doctor Grimes
suppose send him to see the young
Widow Grsyi He'd like to make her a
visit exceedingly, ! know. Bntthe widow
knows me OF Old, aud will be sure to sus
pecl my agency. guess that wou't do.
Grimes is good subject; and I've got a
sort OF spite sgainst him. must use him
somehow The Widow Gray would be
first rate but Pm little afraid 10 bring
ber in The doctors as poor as Job's
turkey, and would be of TO visit her on
run. Let me see2 What shall do7 Tve
got iIl pil send him to York on tools
errAndl
Aud Bunting snapped bis thumb aud
finger 10 childish delight.
Doctor Grimes, to whom our Joker re-.
ierrtd, bad been in The village only about
year. aud, in that tune, had succeeded
In making but small practice. Not that
he was wanting ia ability; bat he lacked
address. 10 person, be was rather swk.
ward and, In manners tar from prepos-
sessiag. Moreover, he was poor, aud not
able in consequence, TO make very good
appearance.
We would not ike to say that, In se-
Letting Doctor Grimes as the subject OF
bis best joke for the First oil April, Bnnt.
ing acted On the principal of certain
worthy, who said of another
Kick him; he's no friendsl
But we rather incline to the opinion,
that some such feeling was inthe heart OF
the joker.
The First OF April came. Doctor
Grimes, after eating his breakfast, sat
down in his Office 10 await expected
morning calls for consultation, or TO re.
quest bic attendance on some suffering
invalid. But no such calls we're made.
The doctor sighed, under The pressure OF
disappointment, as be glanced 1T the
time piece on the mantle, the hands OF
which pointed to the figure ten.
A poor prospect here, be murmured
despondingly. All II there were none to
care for in the world but myself, .wonld
be conlented on bread aud water while
making my way in the confidence OF peo.
pie. But others are suffering while |
wait for practice. What hinders my pro.
gIessl understand my profession. 10
not lingle instance yet, have failed 10
give relief wbeH called TO the bed Of
sickness. Ah met feel wreiched.
Just then, the letter carrier OF the vii.
lage came In and handed him two letters.
The first one be opened was from dear.
ly beloved, widowed sister, who wrote to
know II he could possibly help her iu her
poverty and distress.
would not trouble you, my dear, kind
brother, she wrote, knowing. as do,
how poor your own prospects are, and
how patiently you are trying TO wait for
practice, did not want press on me and
my babies so closely, II you eau spare
me iittle~eyer 30 lIttle-brolher, It will
cone ~ a blessing, for my extremity Is
great. Forgive me for thus troubling you.
Necessity oflen prompts to acts, from the
thought OF which, IN brighter moments,
we thru with feeling OF pain.
For many minutes, after reading this
letter, Doctor Grimes sat with bic eyes
upon the noor.
\ Ny poor Mary be said at length, bow
much you have suffered; and yet more
drops of bitterness are given to yoar cup.
Oh, that il was in my power TO relieve
youl Bat my bands are stricken down
with paralysis. What can | dor Thus
far, bAve gone 10 debt instead Of clear
Ing nay expease1.
/ He toek ont bis pocket book aud saareh.