The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-05-12
HOW FRED AND TEDDY WE'RE
APRIl.-FOOLED.

"It's too badln declared little Flo
Stetson, pulling off her hat. She had
come to spend the sunny half-holiday
same as her own. but who didn't begin
to be so rosy and dimpled. 81 don't
call such doings as that funv'
"Whatpo asked Flora, CHANGING up
listlessly from lapful of canvas and
worsteds.
And Flo told her. 1t was at school
the day before. which had been the last
day Of March, that the boys were ie-
counting the tricks they had played in
other years, and little Micky Lanahun
asked in his funny way: Sure, an who
bees April-Foolpn
Micky was new boy. He stood
leaning against the school-yard fence as
he spoke, with his small red hands in
his pockets and an anxious look on his
face as he gazed down mt his boots.
Those boots were sad trouble to
Micky; they were very large, and the
toes turned up and CAPPED wofully, and
they were all he had.
A shout arose in answer to Mickys
question from that merry, thoughtless
group.
.'He don't know April-Fool, boys
ooh, Bootsn'
"We've been acquainted with him
ever so long
"And Wen give you an introduction
when the time comes,' laughed Fred
Stetson. won't we. boyspn
"And they're going to- said Flo
81 Fred and Teddy Blake and / don't
think it, IS fair. His folks are real poor,
and his mothers sick almost all the
time. They make fun of his boots, you
know--and they are dreadful things
really and so they're going to- hang
one of the boxes that new shoes come in
ON the door, with bundle of papers in
it, and .April-Fool' printed on the in
side piece. And they re going to look
in the window and see Micky when he
gets it. Fred's fooled me lots Of
times to-day, but don't care for that.
don't think it's much fun, though,
and it's mean TO fool that little Micky
Lanahan. Sov'
Flo's cheeks glowed cherry red, and
she talked rapidly. Flora listened with
kindling eyes.
Flo she cried, "Tll tell you what
to do. All the time my ankles been
sprained you know, haven't spent my
pockt-money. I've got two dollars now,
and was going to buy you birthday
present, but l. II spend ii for pair Of
shoes for Micky instead, if you're will
ing.
Was Flo willingp She almost screamed
with delight
"Oh, you dear Flora" she cried.
"And I'll change the boxes! Oh, Flora
Millings, what fun! Such joke on
Fred and Teddy! And Fred said he
wouldn't be fooled once this April. Oh,
oh!'
Flo could not wait She put on her
hat and flew down to the shoe store and
home again. Fred's box neatly tied up
was on the hall table waiting for night,
and it was only the work Of moment
to replace the little bundle of papers
with pair Of stout shoes.
''Such funr' said Flo to herself, and
she almost burst out laughing when,
after tea, Fred took the box from the
hall table and went off with Teddy
Blake.
'.After all, don't half like this" he
said to Teddy. IF it was any other
fellow / wouldn't care snap. But Of
course it's only in fun. told him we d
introduce him"
"Of course" laughed Teddy; and so
they made their way down cross street
and through an alley to the little tum-
ble-down house Micky Lanahan called
homes
Fred put the box down quietly at the
l.
time to dodge around the corner Of the
house to window; and they were look
ing in even before Micky had his hand
On the latch.
1t was such poor little room, bare
vailed, bare-foored and scantily fur
nished! A thin-faced woman sat boil
stored up in the only rocking-chair it
contained, and a lamp burned dimly on
the rickety table. The big boots stood
in corner, and when Fred's gaze fell
upon them he suddenly turned it the
other way.
.sTed,'' he whispered, II wish we
hadn't. do wish we hadn't, Ted
There was shrill cry of joy from
Micky then. He had opened the door
and discovered the box, and his freck-
led face was beaming with delighted
surprise when he came back into the
room.
"Och, mother, it do be shoes!" he
cried
The thin white face in the rocking
chair was turned eagerly toward the
boy.
.Sure it can't be the truth, Mickyp"
deed it is, Mother" cried Micky,
Juggling at the string what else should
it be nowf"
Fred at the window groaned in
wardly.
"Such a miserable thing to dol" he
said. "Td give dollar to be out of it,
Ted. 1 don't see"
You did it yourself" said Teddy,
not very good-naturedly. "You thought
Of it, and all, but I'd give another dollar
If we hadn't, and that's fact. Let's
go.'
"Wait," said Fred "We'll make
this up. ''Hullo! Why, Ted--Ted
Blake!"