The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-10-02
A LITTLE JOKE.

A LITTLE JOKE.
Two Merry Children.s sad Experience
with = Spool Of Thre I'd.
1t was q very pleasant evening party;
at least the children all thought so.
With music, games and refresh
ments, what could have been want
ing? They had gathered into cir
Gle for the last play Of the evening, for
1t was ten o'clock; and they had prom
ised not to remain late. Matte Vernon
was standing beside Charlie Benson,
and the two were very warm friends
She saw bit of thread on his shoulder,
but. instead Of brushing it of, she
said:
Charlie, there's ravcling on your
sleeve"
He looked at it down his cheeks. and
demurely said:
''Pick it of. Matte"
She caught the end OF the thread and
pulled. To her intense amazement she
drew out about ten yards OF the thread,
and it still kept coming. 1t seemed as
II Charlie was unraveling
Matte he said, with grin, IF
you insist on having THAT thread, why.
l might as we'll give you tho whole
spool"
As he spoke. he reached into . side
pocket of his coat, and handed her the
spool. All the childred laughed up
roariously, while Matte grew very red
in the face. and an angry sparkle came
into her eyes.
Charlie had poked the end Of the
thread through the seam in his sleeve,
with the spool hidden away in his
pocket. He had arranged it to trick
some one; Matte was the first to no
tice the raveling. but IS they we're
such famous friends, she thought he
might have spared her. She hated to
be laughed at, and was vexed enough
to cry about it. She lost her temper.
and angrily said:
Charlie Benson, you're too mean for
any thing"
Don't mind it Matte" Charlie pleas.
antly said. 1T was only little joke. "
but not q joke to my liking" she
sharply said, "And I'll never speak to
you again"
Charlie colored. but made no reply,
for he knew it would aggravate her all
the more. 1t was an unpleasant cpl
sode, and threw damper upon the
group. Charlie had brought Matte to
the party, but when he offered to walk
homo with her, she turned from him in
disdain.
lie tried to make peace, the next time
they met, but she would not listen to
him.
Il told you nevcr to speak to me-" she
said.
mo. Matte. you didn't" he gently
replied. You said you would never
speak to me. After all, it was . very
harmless joke. and caused good deal
OF fun"
''Ycs. at my expense" snapped Mat.
tie. 1t was mean in you TO set it w
on me-"
II didn't, Mattic." declared Charlie
"You happened TO be the first to motto.
1t. / hadn't the least idea that you
would get angry, or would have given
you warning really had meant that
stupid Joe Barber should fall into the
trap"
Il don't want to hear any more abou,
it." Matte resolutely said. I'VE can
never be friends again"
Matte, please don't say that,
pleaded Charlie. 1T makes me tesl
miserable. You play jokes yourself,
and thought you would enjoy one
put upon you. Didn't you hand me
bouquet with pepper on it at the
picnic? Didn't ! sit down on the
floor, at Nellie's birthday party, be.
cau>e didn't know that you had re-
moved the chair from behind me-? Every
body laughed, but ] didn't get angry.
laughed too"
"Yes, that's true" assented Matte, in
6 modified tone.
What did you think: Matte, when
the thread began to play out?" Charlie
roguishly asked.
II was almost dazed," Matte said.
AT first l couldn't understand 1t. ]
was afraid you were coming all apart
Then saw into the trick"
Anu gov Hdu, AHtcfJcctcu SudFll6.
II felt hurt" Matte said.
1.-The look on your face was absolutely
comical to see," Charlie remarked. III
was . cute little joke, and they all
thought it very funny"
Ho began to laugh, because he
couldn't help it. and his laugh was sc
contagious that Matte had 10 laugh
700.
Charlie, it was funny" she said.
"And we are friends again, Matter
'Why, yes" she replied, with smile
II have been silly. lost my temper
which you didn't, when ! played those
Jokes upon you. If we can't take I
Joke, we shouldn't play any. I'll no,
NEEDLE with your coat sleeve again
even If it is covered with lint"
II am glad you have forgiven me
| Matte" Charlie said, with brigh,
look on his face. And glad that we
are friends again. Frank II. Staufier
| in Interior