Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-05-05
POOLING UNCLE H

POOLING UNCLE JOHN.
Gail FOOLS Day-nonsense!' said
Uncle John Tyler, with his hands
pushed into his pockets. ''Not all
FOOLS day! Now, Ill give any body
two silver quarters to fool mel"
Uncle John Tyler's voice sounded
very deep, and his face was sober
enough in all conscience; but his eyes
laughed.
sTwo silver quarters to fool aac,"
said he.
'Honest ?'asked Ben, looking up.
.sHonest true," answered Uncle John
Tyler, looking down. ga quarter
apiece all round"
"That'll be three" said Ben. "One
for me''-
"And one for me-" said Daffy.
"And two ones for me-" piped
Tommy, "to buy peanuts"
ga quarter all round" said Uncle
John Tyler. "And I'm going to thrash
oats for your father to-day, so you'll
have q good chance"
This was in the morning, and before
long Uncle Johns fail was thump,
thump, humping on the barn floor.
Daily washed the dishes, and Ben
filed the wood-box, and Tommy stood
round in the way, just as he always
was doing when folks were busy. When
everything was done, and he couldn't
get in the way, he would sit down in
the corner, cas- nice as any body's boy"
Daffy said.
So it was this time; and while
Tommy was sitting On his cricket in the
corner, and Daily was untying her
''dishes apron" and Ben was squeezing
the place where a splinter had stuck
into his hand, they all tried to think
how to fool Uncle John Tyler.
"We couldn't have a sawdust pud-
ding or anything, could we, now?'
asked Ben. "'Cause he'll be a-looking
out, and taste Of everything fore he
eats a whole lot"
"Of course he'll taste before he eats
it, said Dafy, laughing. "We can't
fool him any common way"
"Well, how can we, then?" asked
Ben; and he wrinkled up his nose and
thought of the quarters.
elm sure I don't know" said Daily
and she sighed and thought of the quar-.
tiers.
II can'tknow, too," chirped Tommy,
cheerily.
II don't believe we can, anyway
said Daily.
"Then we won't get the quarters, ,
said Ben, soberly, "and Tommy CAM
have his peanuts"
"Oh dear me-e!" burst forth
Tommy, coming out of his corner. 81
Want some peanuts! Couldn't yor
shoe the old black sheep at him
Daffy, N he'd think twas a 6ear!!"
Then they thought they should die
a-laughing, Daffy and Ben.
"You're the beat-a-most boy, Tommy
Pulsifer,'' cried Daily; and She wiped
her eyes and gave Tommy a loving
squeeze. "In buy you five cents
over-app1es money, 10 Ben, I've
thought how may be we can! But We
must try some other ways, too, SO I'm
Gle John won't mistrust."
They put their three small heads to.
gether and talked it over. And all the
forenoon, up in the shed-chamber, they
pounded, and whispered, and tied bits
of rope together and laughed.
They tried some other ways.
Once Ben carried an empty Jug out
where Uncle John was at work in the
barn.
"Don't you want a drink of water,
Uncle John?" asked he.
Uncle John picked up the jug and
shook it, before he would put it to his
lips.
"Well, I guess not this Time" said
he, sober as a Judge. And Ben, feel
ing very foolish, carried the jug away
again.
Then there were egg-shels on with
the boiled eggs for. dinner, fixed so Datfy
was sure nobody would notice the little
holes in each end.
But though even Ben himself was
fooled, Uncle John didn't touch a
single one; nor take any salt in his
tea; nor any corn-meal mustard on his
meat.
But he rolled his eyes at Daily and
Ben and Tommy when he said: "No.
thank YOU" in a way that set them all
a-laughing.
One thing they kept for the last.
elf We don't fool him with that
said Daily, a good many times, we
can't with anything"
Well, it was two hours after dinner
when Daffy skipped out through the
long wood-shed to the barn with a very
eager, excited face, indeed; and it was
at that same minute that Ben ran in al
the side door. all in a f1utter.
80 Uncle john" cried Daffy, "lool
OUT
Sand sect this isn't Colonel F%orney's
new turn-out?' put in Ben.
"stoppcd before the barn." begged
\ Daily, almost out of breath. "Quick
lnfn,., Il c.a4o- auaaiil