The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-04-16
Willie's April-FOOl Eggs.

There had been one continual cry OF
"April Fool |" from half-past eight until
Miss Earle rang the bell for school. And OF
course there had been lots of fun. But all
was very quiet how, as the scholars took
to their studies with relish.
Willie Blake especially seemed very
studious as he sat with his hands over his
face repeating the rule for division of frac-
tions. But every once in awhile his face
would break into smiles, as he thought OF
the joke he was going to perpetrate at
noon. Then he would stretch his hands
broader and repeat over and over again,
Invert the terms of the divisor, and pro-
coed as in multiplication" But all to no
purpose. The words wouldn't "stick,"
as he told his mother the following day.
When Willie's arithmetic class was called
he was asked to give the rule. He stood
up, hesitated, but finally began
Invert-invert the fractions and-mul-
tiply as-in the terms of, division"
40 Williel" laughed the teacher out
right. "What have you been so studious
about all the morning, your lesson or mis-
chief? We must be on our guard for him,
children. l have noticed he has been very
happy over something.
w Gil, w liiC3 chC SoheAhuSNt Al
more serious tone, "were it any other
day, should keep you in during recess to
learn this rule; but you must get it before
you go home"
al will, Miss Earle" Willie promptly
replied.
At recess the scholars were on the watch
for him, but as he was very quiet, they
soon forgot their teachers warning.
just as the bell rang he slipped out of
sight, and after they were seated in the
school.room, he stole noiselessly into the
entry.
There were all the dinner.pails and
baskets on shelf. How glad he was
Miss Earle I'D insisted upon their being
left there But could he open them, and
drop in his eggs without making noise 2
He must try.
"Good so far - he said to himself, as
he took out two genuine ones from the
teachers basket, and dropped in two of
his "sels." Tom Morris cover squeaked,
but Tom himself was repeating the multi
plication table so loudly that the squeak
was lost to all save Willie's now thrice
sensitive ears. Annie Ford's fell with
bang to the floor, but as luck would have
it, slam went somebody's slate at the
same instant 30, take it "all in ALL" as
people say, Willie had very good success
in nesting his April-Fool eggs in the din
ner-pails of his schoolmates. Fortunately
this was the eggseason, 30 their presence
would not create suspicion. Indeed he
had found some in nearly all. These he
carefully put in his own pail until the
fun should be over. Then he fastened to
the school-room, blushing trife, but not
at his hardness, we fear.
At noon of course there was rush for
the dinner.pails. AS the air was quite
chilly, the scholars took seats. around the
stove, in which there was little fire, and
were very social.
ooh, goodyl" cried Nellie Bailey, in
delight, "mamma has given me an egg.
l guess they've gone down. They've
been so high she sold them all" and Mel
lie rolled the smooth round treasure in
her hands.
Little Johnny Wilson drew the same
conclusion as his cousin at finding two in
his basket, but the other children ex.
pressed no surprise.
"Pd like to know which one of our
hens laid this egg," said George Downs
trying in vain to crack the shell against
the edge of his pail; "rd wiring hel
neck"
"And would do the same to ours, CRIED
halfdozen others, now pounding away
at their eggs with some desperation.
"Here, try my rule to it," said Willie
to George. He then broke it with blow
and out few-not the golden yolk, bu
many white seeds in their silken GOV
erings, while Willie shouted in glee
"April Fool "
All were amazed; even the teache
looked at the white egg.shaped things il
her basket again, almost sure she had no
been deceived. But more careful ez
animation told her she was.
She laughed most heartily. al toll
you Willie had joke on foot. II was
good one. We shall hear of his taking
fort yet. thought / heard slight dis
turbance among the dinner-pails jus
after recess"
All enjoyed the joke amazingly, saw
little Nellie Bailey and her Cousin john.
To them the mock eggs were a grieyou
disappointment, and they concluded thu
eggs hadn't "come down."
"But here are your eggs, boys, and u
fooling," said Willie, distributing the rel
article, and he gave to Nellie and john
the two his mother had put up for h
dinner.
"Now, Willie," began the teache
"you must tell us about this strange eg
not the golden one, but still quite wo
derful. | confess my Ignorance"
DWELL, when we were coming hon
from grandpa's, a year ago last winter a
old Dutchman on the cars gave Sist
Fannie one to play with, she was cryir
SO. 1t looked just like an egg, and
thought it was. But he told me it W
an egg.gourd, and if l would open it al
get the seed could raise some. And
did, and you ought to see them gro,
ino Thev orow On vinea that RIM in