Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-05-30
CURING A JOKER.

CURING A JOKER
Not q thousand miles from where
live dwelt man named Sam Peabody
OK, a, least, 50 shall call him, for he il .
good man now and might not ike 10 have
the evil deeds Of his youth made known
among strangers Sam was an inveter-
ate joAer-what is denominated 'prac-
-ical joker" though he never meant
any real harm. yet he often caused much
mischief by his pranks. On one occasion
when he had gone out at night. envel-
oped In q white sheet to frighten some
girls. he started TO the roadside at the
approach Of chaise and frightened the
morse. 50 that the chaise was smashed up
and one Of the occupants ssvssely In
jured-
Sam had been talked with and argued
with. but to no purpose. He could not
bc made to see the wickedness Of his
pranks. Sometimes he would fasten lines
across the sidewalk, and thus trip up the
pedestrians; he would ring folks up in
the night and ask them if they had plenty
II bedding Once he called the doctor
out at midnight to come and attend =
man who had very bad fits. The good
old doctor arose and followed Sam till
they came TO Adam Ships little domicile,
and here the joker called up the little
bow legged tailor. and the moment Snip
poked his head out ut the window Sam
cried: There. doctor. Is man who
makes the worst fits you ever saw and
with this he ran away. and left the doc
tor and the tailor to settle the matter
This was serious business in one sense,
but it set the whole town in laugh and
Sam was delighted.
But Sans last practical joke was near
at hand At the edge Of the village
lived q man named Jerry Smith. He
was stone worker by trade. and as
strong as an OK. One evening JeTy's
wife had been to See neighbor. and in
returning she had to pass over a place
where the road was built along upon
sort Of morass. with willow trees upon
ZACH side. When she entered her house
he was pale and trembling, and sank
INTO chair almost out Of breath.
What's the natter asked her hus
band
I've been frightened" gasped the
woman, as soon as she could command
l.er speech.
But how? Where
Out by the willow trees. An ox.with
-r..at horns and fiery eyes, came out at
ls, walking on his hind legs"
BY thunder. it's Sam Peabody ex-
-ldmed Jerry He killed an OK this
l9ining.'
4 knew it was Sam as soon as had
me to think" returned the wife, for
MS voice was plain; but was SO fright
!rl, d at first that liked to have tainted
Jerry was angry. 1t did not suit his
aucy to SEE defenseless woman thus
'rrlted He took his hat at once. and
went over to small house on the oppo-
t.. side Of the street. where lived his
,s,,tncr in business. another stout. iron
coded man. named George Tyler.
Look here, Tyler" cried Jerry. Sam
Peabody is out in the willows, rugged up
in his OK skin, frightening poor women
Come with me and we'll punish him."
Tyler hesitated not moment, but
aking his hat he followed Jerry over to
the other house. In the first place Jerry
took fireboard. and with some marking
paint he painted out flaming placard,
with letters large and distinct. Then he
got some Of his wife's dresses, and babe
Tyler put one of them on. For" said
- H. h.,
run"
The dresses were thrown on after
fashion and pinned to the other cloth
ny. and then the men donned each one
bonnet. They then procured IA lot Of
stout cord, and, taking the fireboard they
sailed forth. AS they approached the
willows they began to giggle and litter
in squeaking tones. and ere long the
fearful nondescript made its appearance.
With a low, deep believing it walked
into the road and stood directly in front
Of the two pedestrians.
"Oo-oo-oo-oo" beloved Sam.
Mercy" screamed Jerry.
"1ih-oua-oo-oor
Save me- squeaked Tyler.
The OK hide approached another step.
and Jerry leaped forward and seized it,
and on the next moment Tyler was by
his side.
Now, Mr.. Peabody, | reckon you're
safe" uttered Jerry. giving him a grip
like wise
"Dou't-don't." cried Sam.
Don't what"
Don't hurt me-
We won't hurt you if you keep quiet.
but il you make any resistance you'll
run the risk of getting your head bro
KEN"
Sam knew that 1t was Jerry Smiths
wife whom he had frightened, and he
knew that Jerry could handle him as
child He begged and prayed. but to no
purpose The two stone cutters backed
up inst one of the willows. and then
proceeded to bind him to the trunk of
tree They dashed his hands behind him,
then dashed his ankles together. and then
they bound him to the tire at the sholl
ders, wrists. knees and feet. and they did
it securely too. After this they took the
.ireboard and placed 1t against the tree
above his head. securing it by nails
which they had brought for that pur-
pose.
Mercy" shrieked Sam, you aren't
A-goin' to leave me here|
Yes. sir" answered Jerry You have
had your share Of joking long enough
and now we'll have ours. l would rather
have You tie my wife as you are tied,
than to have had her frightened as you
came near frightening her. Mind you,
Sam. we only mean this for joke"
And with this, the two men went away,
taking no heed Of the joker's cries and
protestations. But they did not go far
away until they were sure there would
be no more passing on that road for the
night
On the following morning Jerry set the
news a-going Of Sans present situation.
and in half an hour after sunrise a hun
dred people were collected around the
willow tree. There stood Sam. just as
be had been left the night before, shak-
ing and shivering with cold. The OF
skin had been fixed so as to fit him nice
ly, and he did really look like an OF
fastened up there. He had sewed up the
hide 50 that his legs and arms fitted into
the skin Of the ox's legs, and his own
head was where the original caput had
been. while the horns arose majestically
above the whole. Just above him ap-
peared the broad fire board. and it bore
the following announcement in charac-
tiers which could be read with ease, even