Arizona silver belt. [volume] (Globe City, Pinal County, Ariz.) 1878-19??, 1883-07-07
A Mean Prank.

probably unhappy result of practi-
cal joke, should read this article. A
well-known temperance lecturer went
to the house of prominent citizen
where he was to remain until the next
day when he would discharge the du-
ties of an appointment. The lecturer
was rather an old man who had seen,
as he expressed it, heap of fun in his
life, and at night, when the family
gathered around table strewn with
temperance papers and set with the
mother of pearl-a pitcher of water,
the old reformer related many anus
ing "pranks" played in the early days
of Arkansaw. The son of the host,
reckless youth who never stops to con-
slider consequences, listened with great
attention and wickedly entertained
the idea of heartless joke. Just be-
fore the old man went to bed, the boy
took pint bottle of fine brandy that
his father secured by means of pre-
scription and put it under the lectur-
er's pillow. 1t was such good joke
that he couldn't keep it, and when he
heard the bed screak, he told his faith
err. The parent in whom still lurked
streaks of mischief, laughed and slap
ped himself, but becoming serious
said:
John, if it were to get out that the
old man went to bed with a bottle un-
der his pillow it would ruin him, so
don't say anything about it outside
the family. In the morning before he
gets up, we'll go into his room and
have some fun"
Early next morning the parent and
son entered the lecturers room. The
old man lay awake, with his hands
under his head.
"How did you rest?' inquired the
host.
First rate; never slept better in my
life"
by the way, colonel, do you know
that | heard very slanderous report
about you the other day."
"Ah?"
"Yes. heard that when you went
out lecturing you always carried a
bottle with you and kept it under
your pillow at night"
''I'm getting along in years, but !
can whip the man that started the re-
port" and he arose in wrath and sat
on the bed.
''Of course l didn't believe it, con-
tinued the host, land defended your
honor at the time, but the fellow in
sisted that if l looked under your pill
low the next time you came to my
house, l would find bottle"
"The venemous liar!' exclaimed the
lecturer.
II told him that l would look just
to humor the thing along" continued
the host, land he bet me that if did,
and did not find a bottle, he would
give me ten dollars, but that if did, l
was to pay him ten. AS say, l do
not place the least confidence in the
report, believing that it was circulated
by the enemies of temperance, but you
have no objection to my looking, have
your
''Not the least"
The host lifted the pillow. The bot
tie was gone. The father and son
looked at each other. The lecturer
began to pull on his socks.
II err didn't believe the report
you know"
certainly not. AS friend of mine
you could not" and he began to draw
on his boots. "You have won the bet,
you see."
"Yes," faltered the host.
Shortly after l went to bed last
night" said the lecturer, Il felt some
thing hard under my pillow. Inves-
tigating, found a bottle which l
threw away"
''Great goodness That was the
finest brandy IN this country, and l
can't replace it,"
1T was not wasted. | knew that
you took great interest in my comfort.
and lay here and had splendid time
all by myself. You are right, she was
fine. The first drink was genial
warmth, the next glowing prospects,
the next inspiration, and the third,
which finished the bottle, undisturbed
slumber. Sorry you haven't got any
more. I'd like an eye opener this
morning. ARK. Traveller.
Who shall say that the principle of