The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-16
~7-~~~~-~@
A LUCKY JOKE.
Grandpa's Wallet Lay Untouched Bccau.
u Was the First Of April.

u Was the First Of April.
1T don't seem quite right to me.
said Gra.dma Fellows. Its deceiving
uary. why isn't it wrong the first Oil
Aprilo"
but it's surh fun said Phil, ian,
everybody knows you don't mean an,
harm"
Il guess your grandma is about right
Philip: she generally is said Grandpa
Bellows. looking up from his newspa
per. There is plenty Of fun that is
right without this. isn't there
YES. sir" said Phil. and he went
away whistiing Marching Through
Georgia. though he felt rather sober.
II had planned SO many good jokes
to play on the boys to-day" he said 10
himself n do wish it wasn't wrong,
but grandma thinks it is, SD there's an
end of it,
The other boys had no scruples. how
ever. and there were plenty of jokes
played, and Phil laughed with the 9TH
ers. :.
When he came home from school.
grandpa looked very sober. and grand
ma was slyly wiping her eyes on her
checked apron.
Are you quite sure you didn't leave
il in the storea" She asked, and grand
pa answered TREMENDOUSLY:
.'Yes. mother I'm sure. for missed
Il when | got to the gate. and hurried
back to the store and asked Mr.. scott.
and he said put it in my pocket.
felt little chilly coming home. and /
took out my handkerchief and tied il
around my neck, and may be it fell out
then"
What is it. grandma Has anything
happened?" asked Phil.
''Why. your grandpa went To the
store to buy some groceries. and took
the pocket-book with all the money
we've got in the house" said grandma.
land he lost it somewhere coming
home. / don't see how we can get
along without it. but there'll he some
way. Don't worry. father: the Lord
will take care of us. Besides. we may
find il yet"
1T amt likely" said grandpa, sadly.
''Fhere were a good many people on
the street. and some pretty rough
looking fellows Twas an old-loollinp
pocketbook. but somebody would be
sure to pick il up and keep the money.
There was about twenty dollars in it,
and how we are going to pay the rent
| don't know"
why don't you advertise it," asked
Phil.
Il don't s'pose it would do any good
grandpa answered. besides we haven
got the money to pay. I'm getting toe
old to do business, guess. I'd better
have let You done it. Philip, I'm SO for
getful.' and tear rolled down the ole
mans face.
20 grandpa. don't feel SO about it.
said Phil. III go and look for it
Where were You when you took ou'
your handkerchief?''
Right near the tool factory" wa.
grandpas answer. II remember be
cause the wind blew around the cor
ner"
..All right" said Phil. hopefully, III
find tiff l can. May be somebod,
picked it up. who is honest" and h,
hurried down the street. In front of tn.
factory. near the sidewalk. just wher.
grandpa had dropped it. lay an old ia,
wallet. Phil caught it up with low
cry of JOY.
lila. ha. April FOOL" called out som,
boys lounging near. We'll. You are /;
green one. More'n hundred folk
have looked at that and rememberet
what day it was. and wouldn't touch it
Haven't cut your eye teeth. have you
sonny?"
Phil laughed. Then they got fooled
instead of me- he said. I'm not S,
green as you think
Three minutes later he laid the peck
ct book in grandpa's lap.
Where did you find it. Phillip" aske,
the old man. joyfully. while grandm;
looked her surprise.
"Iou must have dropped it when yo,
put on your handkerchief, grandpa
near the factory Phil answered
There it lay. plain in sight. near tn
CURLING. but everybody thought it wa
an April fool joke and 50 no one touche,
it."
well. well" said grandpa. laughin.
heartily. If that don't beat everything
Its all :.afe-every penny of it. 1t is q
, good joke for rs. isn't it, mother?"
Yes, indeed" grandma answered
with beaming face. And Philip is
good boy. don know what we shoul,
do without him."
And. grandma. do You think it i
, wicked to have little fun. the frs
day of Aprilo" asked Phil. with twin
king eyes.
May be not, may be not" answere'
! the dear old lady. 1t does most seen
rs if there was Providence in it, afte
all. There may not beany harm if o,
don't carry it too far
And Phil kissed his grandmother, an
ran merrily away To Bob Whites wher
they had plenty of fun, but whether hi
jokes We're successful | have not bee
able to learn.-Julia ID. Peek. in Youth
Companion.