The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-08
"APRIL-FOOL I"

THERE was one boy in the Merritt
Academy who never joined in any of
the games; never went skating; never
went swimming; never made snow
man or threw snow-balls; never came
to the meetings of the debating society,
where such questions as, elf a fellow
ask a fellow for a bite of a fellows APP
pie, which is the potter way to give it
to fellow-to bite off a piece your
self, or let fellow bite for himself?"
were debated with much mock gravity
and real fun.
He looked with horror ON all kinds
of fighting; had no admiration for
great Generals; thought war should be
abolished; shuddered at tales of cruelty
and suffering; was constitutionally
timid and extremely credulous; hated
thunder and lightning; liked birds,
flowers, pretty verses and fairy tales;
believed in ghosts and supernatural
beings; was very fair-haired, very blue
eyed, tall, slender, and was named
Harold Lord. But after the first week
or two of his attendance at school-he
was day scholar-his real name was
never heard, for his school-mates,
quickly finding out his peculiar char
acteristics, skDlfully turned it into
Lady Harriet" and Lady Harriet he
remained for many a long year. OF
course, being so girlish in his appear
ance, ways and tastes, and of so re-
served and gentle a disposition, the
other boys rather looked down upon
him, and, after the manner of boys,
made him the subject of much chaff
and many practical jokes; and so it
came about when Charley Bennett and
Ned Morningstar and Hen Rowe began
on the afternoon of the 31st of March
to talk about the LIST of April, they hit
upon Lady Harriet as boy who would
make capital "April-fool.
1--WE can have no end of fun with
him." said Charley. "You know he
lives all alone with his grandmother
"A Little Red Ridinghood," inter-
rupted Hen Rowe.
down by the cedar woods" con-
tinued Bennett. "But the question
now in order is, what kind of fun shall
it beP'
DRESS up like Indians, and pretend
you're goin' to scalp him." proposed
little Al Smith, who had Joined the
party-a thing no other small boy in
that establishment would have dared to
do; but then Alfred, as his aunt called
him-and a very cross old aunt she
was, too-had no father nor mother,
and was such good-natured, willing,
reliable young chap that his older
school-mates made quite pet of him,
and allowed him many liberties they
would have allowed to no one else in his
class.
Nonsense, Smithey," said Hen
Rowe. Ghosts is the thing" and strik-
ing an attitude, he quoted:
81 am thy fathers spirit;
Doomed for certain term to walk the night:
And for the day, confined to fast in fires "
| could tale unfold, whose lighteSt word
Would harrow up thy soul; fre-e-e-ze thy
,,o, young blood;
"That's quite enough of that, Rowe"
said Bennett. "a band of young des-
peradoes is my idea. The papers are
full OF 'em just now-fellows living in
caves and other queer places, and rob-
bling right and left (result of reading
too many dime novels, heard the Pro-
lessor say SO this morning). Been
round here, too; stole Uncle Jeff's calf
day before yesterday; and his grand
mother goes to sewing society to-mor-
row night
1.-The calf's grandmother" asked
Hen Rowe.
Didn't know you had any grand
mother" said Bennett.
Charley's hit on the very thing.n
declared Ned Morningstar. Gwen let
three or four other fellows into the Joke,
and I'll be Captain, and we'll wear
masks, and all the old clothes we can
beg, borrow, or take, and get ourselves
up prime as No. band of regular
young villains. Aha! your money or
your life?' making a lunge at small AL.
"But you won't really hurt Lady
HarrietP' said the little fellow, an
anxious look coming into his soft brown
eyes. "He's good to me, and gives
me candy, and took me fishin' once.''
"Took you fishin'r repeated Char
ley Bennett, counterfeiting the greatest
establishment. elf he did, I'll bet he
never let you catch a fish. He'd
a-fainted when he saw it a-wriggling on
the hook
"He did, too,' answered AL, stout
ly. 81 caught four. and six crabs, and
he got eight" adding, frankly, "but
he said he didn't like to catch them,
only his grandmother said he must"
VERY reprehensible old lady," said
Hen Rowe, gravely, "to allow her
greediness for fish to trample on the
softest feelings of her grandson's head
i mean heart. But don't be afraid.
Smallbones" -stroking AIS dark curls
tive won't hurt him, not bit; make
your mind easy about that. He shall
live to take you a-fishin' again.
sit does him good to wake him up
once in awhile" added Ned Morning
star, "he's such turtle. l think see
his face when we all shout April
fooPr'