Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-04-03
MY DOUBLE.
uAPPY RESULTS OF AN AMUSING
APRIL FOOL JOKE.

APRlL FOOL JUNE.
AL Fools Day Is a happy anniver-
sary to me; and, together with my
family, celebrate 1t regularly; not In
the customary off-hand manner OF the
world at large, but in a way and for
reason of my own. The way that this
particular observance of the Higginson
family first originated may be learned
from the perusal OF the following lines:
On the morning OF the first day of
April, 1882, L ate my breakfast at
little village hotel in one of the north
ern counties of Arkansas; and, after
paying the modest sum of "a dollar and
two bits assessed for the feed and
lodging OF myself and horse, L mounted
and resumed my journey along the
highway leading to Little Rock; and If
ever a poor, homeless. wayworn trav-
eler, carried a heavier, less contented
heart In his bosom than mine upon
this particular morning, l must say
that l commlserate him with my whole
soul.
To state the case plainly, I was COM
pletely disgusted with the rambling,
aimless life that 1 had led since drift
ing away from my old home IN the
Northern States; and, though my
business of cattle buying was quite
profitable, had found that 1 lacked
the disposition to save the money
gained, and, as a rule, had to do the
bulk of my trading on borrowed CAPT.
tai; paying the money-lender principal
and interest after each transaction was
completed, and then living extrava-
gantly on the surplus as long as 1t
las ed, when, reduced to my bottom
dollar, 1 would solicit another loan
and pin myself down to business again
for a few months.
On the trip from which 1 was just
returning / had been particularly
lucky-considering the earliness OF the
season-and was returning to head
quarters with enough in my purse to
luuiiate all claims and have couple
Of hundred left. But still l was heartily
sick of it all, and was debating seriously
with myself the ACCESSIBILITY OF selling
my horse and saddle at the first oppor-
tunIty and leaving the Southwest for
ever.
L was Just in such a frame of mind
that believe that should hardly have
besitated If an opportunity had Of
fered to change places with any person
happy enough to possess a home; and,
as / rode along the highway past the
comfortable houses OF the hardy noun
tain farmers, 1 made myself miserable
by noting the careless, contented faces
of the people L encountered, and com
pairing their lot in life TO my own, and
always to my own disadvantage.
At my feet, a gentle slope. OF per
haps a quarter of a mile, led down TO q
small stream that gurgled along past
cultivated fields on either side, hidden,
however, at the crossing by the growth
of small trees. Beyond was a second
ridge. somewhat similar TO the one
| upon which had paused, though some
| what lower; and near its summit, en-
yironed with a growth OF peacn-tree:
] radiant with bloom, stood snug little
| cottage, looking so home-llke and at
tractive with its glory of white pain
and blue cornices that L could have
strangled its happy owner for being 81
much more fortunate than myself.
At the tasty little picket fence thai
skirted the road horse was tied;
| big sorrel, with white stockings tha
reached well up the leg-and, as
| looked. / saw a man come running
toward it from the house, pursued. a:
far as the gate, by three female forms
and there came, waited on the morn
ing air. loud shouts of feminine mIrti
clear, ringing peals OF laughter tha
rang IN my ears like the sweetest o
music. If the man Joined in this mer
riment it was silently, for, lifting hi
hat with an extravaganza or courtesy
he rode down the hill to meet me; and
as the horse was impatient and full
fire, he passed the stream first, and WI
| met in the shade of the low elms
totally concealed by their branche:
from those he had Just left.
Somewhere 1 have read the state
ment that, il there are more people II
the world than there are hairs on th'
human head, there must, consequently
be two people in existence posses5in.
] exactly the same number OF hairs. HI
truth of this proposition is self-evident
By the same logical reasonlng-n tn
world contains more individuals thai
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. man must need
! have a double, and, unexpectedly,
found myself confronted with mine.
The recognition of this fact was IN
Simultaneous and mutual. When frs
, saw him pass from the house to til
gate / had detected something familla
) in his appearance; and now. when b
drew rein within ten feet OF me,
, could see that in form and face an,
general bearing, even to the cut of tn
, mustache and the lump on the toe
= prominent nose, he WAS exactly m
r image in every respect.
l was thunderstruck. II my ow
= astonishment had not been so complete
D 1 might have enjoyed Q laugh at th
} amazed. open-mouthed wonder wit
? which he regarded me. As It wa:
however, he recovered his self-posse:
2 sion first, and extended his hand.
, Il am awful glad to meet you, Dc
n Millerl' he said, with a grin. sam
you. Charley Higginsonp said