The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-09
Our Joke on the Deacon.

Golden Days.
I'm proof against you this year, boys. Every
door and gate the place is locked up tight"
Deacon Bump stood at his gate, with good
humored smile, as we boys went along in the
early evening" intent on playing Halloween
jokes upon such neighbors as might have left us
any opportunity.
THAT isn't fair, Deacon. You ought to have
left us little chance"
Couldn't do it. I'm getting too old you see,
to be trotting all over town after my traps. Go
long with you all. You won't find anything
loose here"
We. went on and had the usual amount of
sport playing the same old tricks.
Passing the Deacon's on our way back, we
stopped on perceiving that his lights were out
sit would be jolly to play the good old soul
some sort of joke after all his care-wouldn't
itl" said Harry Grrunt
Tlrr,.11op Can't WEI" said another.
TIT was regular dare to us. We ought to do
something"
We consulted.
On the other side of the quiet village street
stood a wagon, loaded with cord wood large and
heavy.
''Tll tell you," said Jim Hart; 'let's pile that
wood-the whole load-in the Deacon's wood
she'd 1t would be the best thing. He'd be sure
to get into frstclass scrimmage with that
cross grained Pat Mallory. Both of 'em would
be completely durnbfounded as. to how it got
there, and when they came to settle as to how it
was to be got out, there would be no end OF tun."
&. 1t was soon agreed
AS we expected, we found the Deacon's gate as
well as his wood shed door locked; but we were
out for lark, and never thought of stopping for
the difficulties in our way.
A load of brick lay inside the fence, exactly in
our path, making it necessary to take an I'm
pleasant round among some thorny wild goose
berries
AT it we went Two boys climbed in the win
dow of the wood shed; two lifted the wood from
the wagon and passed it over the fence. while the
remainder of the force stumbled with it among
bricks and bushes, and hoisted it into the small
window.
Oh, what a task that was. We worked like
beavers, like galley slaves, or, if there is any
thing else in the world which worked harder.
we worked like that Lifting, stretching, carry
ing with lacerated hands and torn clothes if
ever boys were made to work for any useful end
as we worked that night for fun, they would
surely be considered proper subjects for the con-
sideration of the society for prevention OF
cruelty to boys.
Hist" said Jim, holding up a warning hand
when we were about half done
We all held our breaths and listened In dis
may.
little chuckle the Deacon always gives when he's
amused, whispered Jim, "but it couldn't have
been"
ut isn't laughing we'd be likely to hear from
the Deacon JUST now" said another
mo. He can scold, though, when he takes
notion to-"
AT laSt IL was all IN, plleu snug ana Close WIN
careful reference to making it as difficult as pos
sible to get it out, and then we went home to our
beds, the lamest, achingest set of boys ever
seen.
Most of US managed to be hanging about the
street at the time when Pat came with his
horses, next morning, to hitch on to his load,
but we missed the excitement we had hoped for.
He went into the Deacon's house for a few mo
ments then camo out again, and drove away
his empty wagon in the most matter-of-course
UaU
ones
How we did worry our brains with guesses and
surmises as to how the matter could have been
settled. We said nothing about it, however, to