The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-08-07
RoD.S COSTLY JOKE.

COiHc again soon.
For shame. Rob! To want him to
como aga only because he gives us
money!" said Bessie, shaking her head
in gnificd rebnke.
oh, you know / don't mean that"
said Rob. but it's so jolly to have
dollar all to ones self! What are you
going to do with yours, Bes ~
oh. don't know. Keep 1t till want
something worse than any thing else.
What are you?"
Dear me! want lots OF things
worse than any thing else now. ] want
printing-press and a magic lantern
and a-oh! oh"-he looked up into the
tree they were standing under-'I wish
dollars grew on trees like those cher
RE ~
''llow do they grow" asked Bessie.
Did you ever see any growing?"
why. no." sad Bob, ''but you sec, I
never planted any" Bob was very
fond Of . joke, and thought this good
chance to make his little sister believe
a ridiculous tory.
"llow do you suppose they look,
Bob?' she half whispered.
why. / believe they would be on .
bush. and after the blossoms were gone,
We might see cunning little five-centses
| all over it." Bessie laughed and
| clarped her hands. .'And then l sup
pose they'd grow into ten cents"
'Yes! yes. cried Bessie, in great glee.
And what next?"
.'Then they'd grow into quarters, OF
L I'D H.. Ill Ill
And thcn?'-Ressie's eyes grew big
| as she waited to hear more.
Dollars! Hundreds Of them when
| they got ripe" said Bob. shaking his
head solemnly. ''And, Bessie, I've been
wonderin'-you know things turn yell
low when the frost comes-what If the
frost should turn the silver yellow:
Then it would be gold, worth-my.
don't know how much!'
Bessie was excited.
do BROTHER she said, ''let us plant
our money right away! just think how
much we'd haye!'
But Rob tossed his dollar up and down.
and said no; he wanted to spend his,
| and couldn't wait SO long. Bessie did
not exactly like the idea of hiding her
pretty. bright dollar in the earth. either.
SO, after showing them to every one
they met with. they were hidden care
fully away in the corner of drawer.
But, during the long. light after-tea
hours, when Rob was gone out to play
ball. Bessie's mind was full OF the won
could not cease thinking what delight
it would be to go out aud pick dollar
| whenever she wanted one! The more
she thought of 1t tho more she became
resolved to plant her precious piece OF
money.
As twilight gathered in she stole
quietly to the drawer and got it.
.I'll plant Rob's, too" she said. IF
he wants 1t before it grows, he can dig
it up How glad he'll be when he sees
the five CT ntses and the quarters and
things growing! Perhaps well have
| markct-ba ket full"
She chose a place in flower-border
in the back yard. A little ragged boy
| who had been selling matches in the
kitchen, came by and asked:
'.Wot We don'?"
Bessie did not tell him, and covered
up the money as fast rs she could,
smoothing the place nicely over, and
sticking in two little sticks exactly
over her seeds.
1t rained hard all the next day. Rob
got up late in the dark morning. and
had to hurry away to school, without
taking time for a peep at his wealth.
But as soon IA he got home at noon he
went to the drawer, and Bessie soon
heard him calling:
| where's my dollar? Who's got my
dollar.' She ran to him.
"stop. Robbie; planted yours when
1 planted .ne-last highland ]
shouldn't wonder If they had sprouted
by this time
you planted my dollaro" said Rob,
looking dismayed. "What did you do
that for? Come and show me where tits. :"
They got an umbrella and went and
poked and stirred the wet earth, though
BESSIE thought it q great pity to do so,
when it might be just sprout.ng.
| lsut no money was to be found! Rolls
face grew banker and banker. lie
spolk" some very angry words to Bessie
and then ran in to lay the case before
his father. Poor tile Bessie followed
with tears on q very woebegone face.
Papa heard her story and then asked:
WHO told you that money Eould grow
in the ground, my little grip"
lid, papa" said Rob, rather shame.
facedly.
rs that true?"
"Why. no, sir. only did it for fun"
I'D any one sec you plant the
money, Bess?"
| "No--yes, SRA match-boy came
along while was doing it, but didn't
tell him what was doing.
Il fancy he gathered your crop,
Bessie. Never mind, little daughter.
here"-he took dollar from his pocket
and gave hcr-.'you lost your money
through no fault OF your own. And as
for you, Master Robert II you have paid
only dollar for the knowledge that it
is neither wise nor witty to tell what is
not true. you have got it cheap ! am
sorry for your loss, but it serves you
right"
why. father!" again exclaimed Rob,
| with tears OF modification running
down his cheeks, II told you only
meant it for . joke"
Every we'll, sir. enjoy your joke. You
have bought and paid for it"-Sydney
Dayre, in Youths Companion.
i Curious and Useful.
You have . mill in your mouth for
grinding food, and good one it is. 1t
has twenty teeth in it on purpose to
grind up this food. and while this mill
| is at work there are little factories there
preparing fluid to moisten it, too.
| And just SO the food of plants needs
moistening Tho rain does that when
it falls and soaks into the ground. In
| the spring of the wear the farmer lOOsens