News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-05-13
FOOLED HIS MOTHER.
BY SYDNEY DAYRE.

Billy Brands mother stepped out of
her little house after breakfast to go
away for her days sewing. Billy was
busy with hammer and nails in a corner
of the shed.
"What are you doing, Billy" she
asked.
"Oh, nothin'."
"Billy, want to know before I go.
You must tell me this minute"
She spoke in tone half suspicious,
half complaining. Billy looked up
without the scowl it might have seemed
to provoke.
"Why, mother, I'm going to April
fool Sue the biggest kind you ever saw. !"
Mrs Brands heart sank, if q thing
can be said to sink which is very far
down already. She had forgotten it
was the first of April, and Saturday
Where might not all the tricks and
pranks sure to be conjured up by Billys
active brains and carried out by his
restless limbs lead him by night7
"BilIy, don't do it. Don't, now, do
anything to torment Susy while I'm
gone. She's feeling bad to day, know,
for saw her crying when she tried to
move round. Now, Billy, promise me
you let that alone, whatever it is"
She pointed toward his work, which
he had hidden from view. Billy shook
his head stoutly.
81 couldn't do that, mother; but
don't you be scared-I won't do any
thing bad to Sue."
He jumped up and kissed her as he
spoke, proceeding which so astonished
her that, with another warning, she
went off, with fewer misgivings than
she had felt before.
Billy worked away very busily for an
hour. He was skillful with tools, and,
by the time he held up his work, it was
quite worthy of the approving nod and
smile he gave as he said to himself:
"That'll do. Wonder what she'll
sayr
1t was three small shelves rather
cleverly made of pine boards, hung to-
gether by leather straps. The edge OF
each shelf was finished with trimming
made of strips of red flannel which he
had found among his mothers carpet
rags. Pinked with pair of scissors
and nailed on with common silver plated
tacks set in at regul intervals, it gave
them an appearance OF neatness which
highly delighted Billy.
''Real style about it!'' he again re-
marked to himself as he carried il
toward the house. ''Now, if can only
get it in without her seeing"
Peeping cautiously in at the door, he
watched until he saw her go in with
slow and painful steps into the small
bedroom which opened off the kitchen
Darling noiselessly in, he hung the
shelves ON nail which he had driver
when favorable chance had offered {
| few days before Then with hasty
movements he brought few of his sis
ter's books and laid on one of th'
shelves, her work basket, and, lastly, g
q few pansies which he had gathered il
a neglected bed in the garden. Al
these arranged to his full satisfaction
he waited for the sound of the hesitat
ing steps returning, and shouted:
"April foolw
Susy gave little scream and said
peevishly:
''Oh, you teasel You gave me such
start. Why-Billyw
Her eyes fell on the shelves, ant
Billy, with his stumpy little fgur
drawn to its full height, watched wit
keen eyes and lost not ray of the sur
prise and pleasure which lighted up he
face.
''Billy, did you do it2"
Yes" little sheepishly, as she pu
arm about his neck.
"Why did you 2"
ooh, I'm so awfully sorry when
hurts you to walk. And | seen one o
them things down to the bookstore
only twas shiny and got up stylish: ant
| thought if you had such one yo
could keep lots of things handy righ
by you and wouldn't have to hurt you
foot gettin' Up. 'Taint very smooth
you see. Deacon Todd's cid plan
wouldn't work worth cent"
"It's beauty" Susy looked dow
at her poor crooked foot without fret
full scowl, for the first time, perhaps
since the cruel hurt had come to it year
ago, saying softly:
"You wouldn't a done it for me If
hadn't been lame, Billy"
Billy shuffled his feet, took fe'
lounging steps about the kitchen, poke
at the fire, gave the wood box kick
and then went back to his sister with
face which showed that something la
heavy on his mind.
"Sue, I've -well-thinkin'. Th
tallest kind of thinkin', Sue"
"What were you thinking abou
Billy 2''
"Thinkin' I'd like to April-foc
mother"
"Oh" said Sue, in rather disal
pointed tone.
''You see, Billy scratched his hcat
reached up to make sure the shelly,
hung evenly, and went on. laboriousl
az want to turn over a new leaf, Su
The biggest kind of a leaf"
He gazed anxiously at her, as if a
pealing for her help to go on. 81
wanted to help him.
"Why, what made you think of tina
Billv2"
ooh, somethin'. You see, last Su
J day, goin' to Sunday school, ] tripp,