Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-04-16
Our Young Folks.
HOW THE BOYS FOOLED UNCLE
BUDGE.


Rick and Karl always spent week
iii the spring at Uncle Budge's.
1t had Glanced for two or three years
that they were there on All-fools'
Day, and at the end OF the last visit
Uncle Bulge, on leaving them at
the cars, had urged them to come on
for the same time next year, adding,
"h you succeed in fooling me then, I'll
give you each gold piece ~
Uncle Badge as completely forgot
having made such an offer, five minutes
after the boys had waved their hats in
good by, as though there were no April
fool Days audho gold pieces in the world.
But not SO with the Barnes boys.
Gold pieces were not so plenty with
them that they would be apt to let
such an offer pass in one ear and out of
the other. Already seats at the circus,
tishing-rods and skates were in wild
confusion in their brains.
"A whole year to think up some
tnmgri- said Rick.
81 don't believe there's a hit of use
In trying" answered Karl "We've
come to the conclusion no end of times
that we can't fool Uncle Bulge, and
we can't. That's all there is about it. "
".No harm in trying yenturned the
not easily discouraged Rick, thinking
how often he had admired the gold dol
lar on Chan Holmes watch chain.
lN"Let' try, anyway a- 'l
y So next April-fools' Day finding them
at Uncle Budge's, Karl and Rick were
tiptoeing about very early. They
spread the Berkville Morning Argus of
April /. lSS0-whieh they had slipped
out of Uncle Bulge s file the day before
out on the floor, sprinkled some water
over it, folded it carefully, and Karl
went quietly down stairs, opened the
side door, laid the paper there, and took
up stairs the ArguS that the carrier had
just thrown.
About an hour afterward the break
fast-bell rang, and the boys went down
Stairs. There lay the paper by Uncle
Budgets place, which caused so prefer
naturally solemn an expression to come
over their faces that Aunt Budge was
quite worried. 4.-...-
''Now, l hope you're not getting
homesick,n she said to Karl; 81 know
there's not much goin' on for you, as is
used to large family and a good deal
of noise; still'--in more cheerful tone
--"we'l IL think of something after I've
done up my work.
An amused smile played about Rick S
| ips, to hide which he leaned his head
on his hand.
Your toothache ain'tcome on again,
Richard?" inquired Aunt Bulge, SYM
pathetically,
"Oh, Pm all right" said one, while
the other assured Aunt Bulge that he
didn't want to 90 home bit, and was
having the best sort.of time.
"Uncle Bulge has gone over to Will
sop's," said Aunt Budge, ''but may be
in any minute. He left word not to
wait breakfast. Can you reach the
Argus, KarlP"
"Well, well," began Aunt Bulge, ''ii
another of those Wilkinses isn't mar
ried! Amanda j. Why, now, l was
thinking that Amanda went last year;
but no, come to think, ii was Alvira. 1t
does seem that Just as regular as spring
comes round, off one on 'emgoe Now
Amanda is ="
But Aunt Budgets dissertation was
cut short by choking scene, in which
Rick pounded his brother with such
force on the back that it was wonder
they heard the front door open at all.
| There's Uncle Bulge" said Rick
hurriedly. Don't tell him anything
you've noticed in the argus, Aunt
Bulge, or he'll suspect"
1 "Suspect" echoed Aunt Bulge, hel
mind still on the Wilkinses. Suspect
"Sh-shr' implored. Karl "It's {
fool, Aunt Bulge. Help us to carry i
out Last year paper--don't you seeP
"Well, well, | declared said Aunt
Bulge, as the real state of the cast
flashed over her. "Then," collecting
her thoughts, 81 was right about it,
being Amanda, and But Aunt Bulge
interrupted herself by laughing SC
heartily that the boys found themselves
compelled to join her, though it ap
peared from the conversation, wher
Uncle Bulge came to breakfast, tha
Aunt Bulge had been recounting some
of the boys pranks of years before.
! "How old was | thenp" asked Karl
al mustn't forget to ask mamma, whel
| get home, if she remembers it,
Uncle Bulge seated himself, ant
asked for the paper. Squinted at tn
date rs Karl held it toward him, an,
then said: Il believe I'd rather have
little younger paper than that. Thi
comes within one of it, boys, but | CUES
J I'll take the one on the eighty"
i "Well, nowr' exclaimed Aunt Bulge
admiringly. "And he never so muc
as took it in his hand"
"We can't fool Uncle Budge," sal
! Kail, tutoring each word slowly. "Tha
may as well pass into proveru. II on
not be done" ,.e...
'l'm not so sure. We're not throug
trying yet, you know" put in Rick
with peculiar look at his brother
Karl motioned him aside after break
fast.
What did you meanP" he asked.
"That I've an idea. Just listen;
and great many questions and an
swers were exchanged in hurried ur
dertone.
"Grand-if it will work. Then W
must be all ready by the time he come
: down stairs?"
: Eyes, and before that send telt
gram to the boys" Egg N
1.-The boys" meant Hal and JAG
Putnam; "a telegram" a note pinne
to the string that went round woode
peg at one of the Budget window:
and another at the Putnams'.
"WhyP" querried Karl A
You'll see," replied Rick, as h
hastily penciled: