The Arizona sentinel., 1886-10-30

and the twigs, and inspired the robbins and thrushes with spirited songs Just the right sort of day to put party of tired school-boys in good humor with themselves and all the world.
 "What are you going to do, LionelF' asked one of the party.
 '.I mean to play good joke on some one" replied Lionel, laughing in mysterious manner.
 Going to play it on boy or girl7" one asked.
 Neither" was the short reply.
 Man or a woman? Or are you go- ing to tease Lima Sydney's new dog?" questioned another
 Neither the first nor the last"
 "Then it must be woman. Come, Lionel, let us hear the plan; perhaps we can help"
 "Very well. replied Lionel, 'I will let you help; and I can promise that every one of you will have jolly time. Nothing bad. however; but no one shall ever find out who did it. I shall expect every one of you to meet me on the school ground at eight o'clock sharp and bring spades.
 But, see here, Lionel" spoke up Fred Morse, ''Pd like to know what the joke is first"
 ''rll tell at eight o'clock. Good afternoon,'' and he turned towards home.
 At quarter before eight six boys were lying on the grass in the play ground, six spades stuck in the turf near by, while a rake was seen hang ing on the fence.
 Well, guess we are all here, so what is all this racket about?" drawled Ed Wallace, rolling over to take q look at the full moon, which was flooding the country with sea of mel low light.
 'It is this," spoke Lionel. ''This afternoon at recess 1 was walking along the fence here, and 1 saw old Widow Martin out in the garden try ing to dig up a place to plant her onions; and just then (you know how she likes to talk to herselD saw her lean on her spade to rest her back, and heard her say: 'Oh, how I wish 1 had dollar to hire a man to dig up this hard groundr And then she went at it again. She didn't see me watch ing her, but was, and felt just as if I'd like to jump over the garden wall and do it for her; because she is so old and lame that it is impossible for her to do it Just then the bell rang and we went to school, but Iformed plan to give her a surprise tonight, or rather tomorrow morning. So, shall we commence?"
 ''Yesr' came from all quarters, and in a moment they were climbing the fence
 "Now, the first one that speaks aloud or hits his spade against another goes over the fence towards homer' commanded Superintendent Lionel And I want all the clods knocked fine"
 'All rightr' and the spades were stuck into the soil. Several men and boys passed along the street, which was quite distance from the garden; but, happily, no one saw them. An hour and half passed, and the garden had been dug deeply and thoroughly; and the rake had not been idle, either, for the fresh soil was raked fine and as nearly leveled as the iron teeth and a pair of willing hands could do it. The borders were carefully graded and patted hard with the spades, and all along the edges the trespassers wrote with their fingers:
 Mrs. Patience Martin, Mapleton," ''Onion beds," Potato Department" Cabbage Square" and Yours Truly"
 With light hearts and dirty shoes they leaped over the fence, and with little regard to military rules, the spade brigade" marched up town and disbanded.
 But do you think that Mrs. Martin never knew who played the joke on her? Of course she did! She saw them from her bedroom window all the while they were busy; and it nearly melted her old heart. Tears trickled down her wrinkled cheeks, and she was almost tempted to raise the win dow and thank them at once; but, kind old soul, she guessed their object, and wisely refrained from spelling their surprise" ,"
 But the next morning the school children were all looking over the fence and spelling out the rude capitals printed upon board, and nailed up in the center of the garden. God bless the boys. "-Our Sabbath Home.